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As technology and practices evolve, the scope of mining engineering has shifted toward sustainability and influencing the developments of tomorrow. Missouri University of Science and Technology’s (Missouri S&T) online master of science in mining engineering anticipates these changes, equipping you to create safer, lower-emissions operations that minimize impact on our world’s natural resources. Candidates in this applied, non-thesis program advance their technical training, participate in research and prepare for leadership roles while learning from some of the field’s most prominent experts.
Interested in taking your mining engineering knowledge to the next level? Apply directly to the master’s programs, begin in one of Missouri S&T’s graduate certificate programs or stack two certificate programs toward their degree. Related graduate certificate programs include aggregates management, mine reclamation, mining engineering, mining project evaluation and sustainability in mining.
Top-ranked programs in two categories
Missouri S&T’s online master’s in engineering programs are included among the nation’s finest in two U.S. News & World Report 2023 rankings:
Quick facts
Official name
Master of science in mining engineeringCampus
Program type
Master's degreeAcademic home
College of Engineering and Computing | Department of Mining and Explosives EngineeringDelivery mode
100% onlineAccreditation
Higher Learning CommissionCredit hours
30Estimated cost
$36,000.00*This cost is for illustrative purposes only. Your hours and costs will differ, depending on your transfer hours, your course choices and your academic progress. See more about tuition and financial aid.
Why earn an online master’s in mining engineering?
Crucial to planning, operations and safety, mining and explosives engineers pull from multiple science and engineering disciplines to extract minerals from the earth. These raw materials then aid various processes of our modern society — be it transforming iron into steel beams or supplying energy and power.
Growing emphasis on sustainability and decreasing emissions is overhauling this process. Particularly, gradually switching to green energy systems has increased demand for rare earth elements, lithium, cobalt and copper. In response, mining engineers help lead the industry through these changes, with the goal of developing safer, lower-emissions operations that incorporate sustainability and automation, preserve population health and place less strain on our world’s resources.
Missouri S&T’s Department of Mining and Explosives Engineering positions students to pioneer and direct these technological and design advancements. The online master’s in mining engineering:
- Enhances your understanding of mining processes, including their characteristics, impact and use
- Provides a holistic perspective of the mining process, starting from planning and development through assessments and sustainability to closing and reclamation
- Equips you to design mining processes and select related equipment based on operation
- Exposes you to the latest engineering tools for addressing issues in the mining industry while factoring in costs, timeframe and safety
- Positions you for leadership in mining engineering, including introducing and developing new technologies
- Encourages you to improve extraction, processing and waste management operations
- Incorporates guidance from faculty whose research influences the design, safety and sustainability of the mining industry
- Continues your interdisciplinary exploration of the science, technology and design behind mining engineering, covering topics in geology, mechanics, blasting, materials handling, preservation and equipment usage
Career prospects
In leading the shift toward sustainable practices, our graduates assume more responsibilities and direct operations for blasting and mining companies, as consultants or for original equipment manufacturers. Positions may be related to:
- Raw material production
- Mining (coal, metals, aggregates and industrial minerals)
- Highway, dam and power station construction
- Weapons systems
- Sustainability and environmental preservation
Program structure
The online master’s in mining engineering requires 30 credit hours divided between core courses (15 credit hours), technical electives (12 credit hours) and a semester project (three credit hours). Students enrolled in a laboratory section should be prepared for a potential three-day to one-week on-campus session.
While the program involves limited research, the online format does not require a thesis. The Department’s research focus spans (i) surface mining methods and heavy mining machinery; (ii) mine ventilation and mine atmospheric control; (iii) explosives engineering; (iv) sustainable development and mine optimization; (v) rock mechanics and ground control; (vi) mineral, coal and materials processing; (vii) minerals and energy economics; and (viii) underground mining methods and equipment.
Course work is 100% online and based upon a semester schedule. Students typically take one or two classes each semester and finish in two to three years.
Learn more about the structure of the online master’s in mining engineering.
Delivery
100% onlineCalendar system
SemesterTypical program length
3 yearsTypical course load
1-2 classes per semesterPathway to a master's degree
Missouri S&T structures distance learning programs around the needs of working professionals. This includes flexible formats and 100% online learning, as well as our pathway to a master’s option.
For candidates who don’t have time to take the GRE, you’ll begin in a related graduate certificate program. In the case of the online master’s in mining engineering, you’ll complete the certificate, apply to the master’s program and transfer your credits to continue with this course of study without submitting GRE scores. You can also stack two graduate certificates toward a master’s. Speak to an adviser to explore different pathways.
For the online master’s in mining engineering, transferable and stackable graduate certificates include:
- Aggregates management
- Mine reclamation
- Mining engineering
- Mining project evaluation
- Sustainability in mining
- Others depending on adviser approval
Please note that the completion of a graduate certificate does not automatically guarantee admission to a corresponding graduate degree program. If interested in a master’s degree program, you must apply after earning your graduate certificate. A minimum 3.0 GPA for each course is required to continue with the master’s degree sequence.
If you are applying to a Ph.D. program, you are still required to submit GRE scores.
Accreditation
Missouri University of Science and Technology is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States.
Faculty spotlight
Areas of interest: Sustainability, mine reclamation, modeling, simulation and optimization
Areas of interest: Mineral processing, surface chemistry, water management, nanotechnology, rare earth metals, liquid membranes, separation science, oil sand processing, artificial intelligence and machine learning tools
Areas of interest: experimental high pressure waterjet use, modeling of mining processes supported by waterjets, nanotechnology, reconfigurable systems and system integration
Dr. Perry earned a doctorate in mining engineering from the University of Kentucky and a bachelor’s in civil engineering from the University of Missouri-Columbia. His research interests include: explosion protection, mine blasting effects, dust explosions and ground control.
