Mining Engineering

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413 Laxalt Mineral Engineering Building
(775) 784-6961
Fax: (775) 784-1833
e-mail: mine-eng@mine.unr.edu
internet: http://www.unr.edu/science/academic-departments/mining-engineering

The department offers a bachelor’s degree in mining engineering, which is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org. The program includes courses in mine design, mining technology, computer applications to operations control and management, environmental concerns, industrial safety and health and mineral economics. The curriculum is arranged to provide students with a broad background for a career as a modern mining engineer. Graduates are prepared for industrial employment or further advanced study.

The goals of the program are to train students so that graduates are qualified to perform the various functions typically exercised by mining engineers: plan, design, operate, and close mines. Engineering topics are selected to meet these objectives. Introduction to mine planning, design, operations and closure is pursued further in the mining methods course. Students are introduced to detailed mine design in the mine design courses. Engineering sciences underlying the mine planning, design, operation and closure requirements are studied in several basic areas: thermodynamics, electrical circuits, hydraulics, strength of materials, etc. The design experience is capped in the mine feasibility study, the senior capstone design course.

The department maintains a close liaison with the mineral industry. Field excursions for students are arranged during the academic year, and they are required to work in the minerals industry during at least one summer vacation. Some cooperative work study programs are arranged for this purpose.

The Fundamentals of Engineering examination, administered by a State Board of Engineering Registration, must be taken by all mining engineering students during the senior year of study.

Objectives

The Educational Objectives of the Mining Engineering Program are:

1. Graduates will demonstrate the basic knowledge to be able to plan and design mines technically sound, moreover in an ethically, environmentally and socially responsible manner.
2. Graduates will be able to apply mathematics, science, and engineering to identify, formulate, and solve practical mining engineering problems.
3. Graduates will be prepared for entry-level positions in operations and management of mines.
4. Graduates will be able to communicate plans, designs, and operational practices to colleagues, mine managers, regulators, interveners, and the public at large.
5. Graduates will demonstrate proficiency in engineering topics such as rock fragmentation, materials handling, mineral processing, mine surveying, ventilation, and resource/reserve estimation.

Advisement

Students will be assigned a faculty advisor upon entering the program by the department chairman. Changes in faculty advisor can be made at the request of either the student or the faculty member at any time. Advisement is required of all students prior to the start of each semester. It is the student’s responsibility to discuss and adhere to the course of study agreed upon with the advisor.

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