This degree program offers coursework that prepares students to plan, operate, design, and close mines.
*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Mining and Geological Engineers, on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/mining-and-geological-engineers.htm (visited March 24, 2022).
First, you’re going to have to take a set number of credits at minimum each quarter or semester. If you have chosen a major in Mining Engineering without any concentrations, you’ll likely be able to complete your courses and earn your degree sooner.
Even better, one university will allow you to earn academic credit for several forms of applied education and real-world experience including job-related courses and military training.
This university requires its Mining Engineering majors to earn at least 120 semester hours for a Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering. For those students who want to earn a Mining Engineering Bachelors, they will need to take at least 120 semester hours to graduate. If you take at least 12 credit hours per semester, you’ll earn your degree in five years; if you take 15 credit hours per semester, you’ll graduate in closer to four years.
Before choosing a major there are some important facts you should know about.
In general, you can begin your career as a Mining Engineer by earning a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) or a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Mining Engineering, but in many cases for the position you are seeking you may need to obtain a master's degree in Mining Engineering. Furthermore, there are numerous specializations and subfields associated with a major in Mining Engineering. You will want to research the college or university to determine if they have the major you are considering.
This is a very important question to ask yourself. Your major should play a big part in the schools you are considering. Not every college may offer the major of your choice, so doing your homework is the first step of the selection process.
Before you declare a major in Mining Engineering, you should have an idea of what kind of timeframe you’re looking at. If you are trying to achieve an associate degree, you will only need to finish about 60 credit hours over 2 years. However, if you are going for you bachelor's (B.S. or B.A.) degree in Mining Engineering, you will need to complete 120 credit hours over four years. And, if you want to attain a master’s degree as well, you will have to finish your bachelors first and then spend around 2 years completing 60 more credit hours. Some of the coursework you will find in a typical Mining Engineering degree are:
The graduation rate is an important piece of information. It measures the performance of the entire student body, and it is a good predictor of the experience each applicant can expect. Time is money when it comes to an education in Mining Engineering. The longer time for completion means more tuition and fee payments. Each year in addition to the expected four years, adds about 25% to the total costs of a Mining Engineering degree. The longer it takes to graduate also means the less time a student is in the workforce earning an income from their Mining Engineering Bachelors investment.
National statistics measure on-time degree completion using four-year and six-year marks. Private schools across the US and for all majors have a range of 53% on-time graduation and 65.6% within six years. In these schools, students can expect to finish on time if they attend full time and within six years with some part-time attendance. Public schools show a 35% on-time rate at four years and 59% at the six-year mark. Students at these schools must plan carefully to ensure that they can complete the requirements for on-time graduation.
When looking for a college program to attend, you need to look at all the potential advantages of a Mining Engineering program. Post-graduate job assistance should rank high on the list of important things to consider when selecting where you will enroll. A good job placement program, while it cannot guarantee you a position in Mining Engineering, will help you make sure you have the best classes and experiences under your belt. That way, you will have the best possible chance of getting the position you want. The time spent in school is a great time to prepare for your future career in Mining Engineering. That can begin with a great internship, referral, mentorship, or hire. Schools that offer extensive job placement and career assistance can help you get all those things and more.
