College of Engineering

Mining & Minerals Engineering

Overview

The Department of Mining and Minerals Engineering offers an engineering program containing aspects of mineral science, engineering, and technology that is professionally related to the minerals industry. Graduates of this program find domestic and international employment opportunities with hardrock, coal, industrial minerals, and construction aggregates producers, as well as with government agencies and equipment vendors.

The mission of the department is to produce high quality, rigorously trained mining engineers, whose background and education reflect the current level of technology and thought of the profession, and who can enter directly into engineering practice or, alternatively, graduate school for further study. Specifically, the Department of Mining and Minerals Engineering seeks, as its educational objectives, to prepare graduates:

• to solve engineering problems using the fundamental principles of science, mathematics, and engineering, in conjunction with state-of-the-art tools;
• to function in a professional and ethical manner, and understand the social, environmental, regulatory, and safety considerations of the mining profession;
• to be effective communicators, leaders, and team members;
• to understand the practical aspects of the mining industry and possess an appreciation for mining as a business; and
• to engage in life-long learning and professional development.

The mining engineering curriculum utilizes the basic and engineering sciences to develop the various areas of activity of the mining engineer: mineral exploration, evaluation, development, extraction, mineral processing, conservation, protection of the environment, and mineral economics. Course work in these areas provides a unique background for engineering and management positions in industry and government, as well as for continuation of specialized graduate studies.

Intrinsic to the curriculum is the development of a meaningful, major engineering design experience that builds upon the fundamental concepts of mathematics, basic sciences, the humanities and social sciences, engineering topics, and communication skills. This design experience is stressed within the major and grows with the development and progression of the student. Ethical, social, safety, economic, and environmental considerations are emphasized in the design experience throughout many courses, including the capstone senior design course. Finally, the major engineering design experience is a focal point of the mining engineering curriculum and is consistent with the objectives and goals of the program.

The program has an emphasis on the application of computers to mining and minerals processing operations. Furthermore, it exposes students to laboratory courses which focus on conducting experiments, understanding the principles involved in each experiment, and analyzing and interpreting experimental data.

Information on the mission, goals, and curriculum of the program is continuously updated on the departmental website.

The Cooperative Education Program, as well as opportunities for financial support in the form of scholarships, loans, awards, and summer employment, are available to undergraduate and graduate students. Graduate programs are available leading to the M.S., M. Eng., and Ph.D.

Students majoring in mining engineering who are residents of Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee may be eligible for the Academic Common Market, a program whereby residents of these states are eligible for Virginia in-state tuition. Those students falling into this category should contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions for information.

Program of Study

First Year
First Semester
CHEM 1035: General Chemistry		3
CHEM 1045: General Chemistry Lab		1
ENGE 1024: Engineering Exploration		2
ENGL 1105: Freshman English (Area 1)		3
MATH 1205: Calculus (Area 5)		3
MATH 1114: Elementary Linear Algebra		2
Free Elective		2
Credits		16
Second Semester
ENGE 1114 or ENGE 1104: Exploration of Engineering Design or Exploration of Digital Future		2
ENGL 1106: Freshman English (Area 1)		3
MATH 1206: Calculus (Area 5)		3
MATH 1224: Vector Geometry		2
PHYS 2305: Foundations of Physics I (Area 4)		4
Free Elective		3
Credits		17
Second Year
First Semester
ESM 2104: Statics		3
MATH 2224: Multivariable Calculus		3
GEOS 1004: Physical Geology (Area 4)		3
GEOS 1104: Physical Geology Lab (Area 4)		1
MINE 2504: Introduction to Mining Engineering		3
ENGE 2824: Civil Engineering Drawings and CAD		1
Liberal Education Area 2 Elective		3
Credits		17
Second Semester
ESM 2204: Mechanics of Deformable Bodies		3
ESM 2304: Dynamics of Particles & Rigid Bodies		3
MATH 2214: Intro. to Differential Equations		3
MINE 2514: Mining Surveying		1
MINE 2524: Elements of Mine Design		3
Liberal Education Area 6 Elective		1
Liberal Education Area 7 Elective		3
Credits		17
Third Year
First Semester
ESM 3024: Introduction to Fluid Mechanics		3
ME 3114: Engineering Thermodynamics		3
MINE 3504: Rock Mechanics and Ground Control		3
MINE 3514: Rock Mechanics Lab. (Area 1, WI)		1
MINE 3524: Excavation Engineering		3
MINE 3534: Mineral Processing		2
Credits		15
Second Semester
GEOS 3104 or GEOS 3404: Elementary Geophysics or Elements of Structural Geology		3
MINE 3544: Mineral Processing Lab. (Area 1, WI)		1
MINE 3554: Resource Recovery		2
MINE 3564: Underground Mine Design		3
MINE 3574: Surface Mine and Quarry Design		3
MINE 3584: Ventilation Engineering		3
Credits		15
Fourth Year
First Semester
ECE 3054: Electrical Theory		3
MINE 4504: Materials Handling and Power Sys.		3
MINE 4514: Health, Safety and Risk Management		3
MINE 4524: Project Engr. and Mine Management		3
MINE 4535: Senior Design Project (Area 1, WI)		1
Liberal Education Area 3 Elective		3
Credits		16
Second Semester
GEOS 4624: Mineral Deposits		3
MINE 4536: Senior Design Project (Area 1, WI)		2
MINE 4544: Mine Reclamation and Environmental Management		3
MINE 4554: Mining Engr. Leadership Seminar		1
Liberal Education Area 2 Elective		3
Liberal Education Area 3 Elective		3
Credits		15

A total of 128 semester credits are required for graduation.


Foreign Language Requirement: Students who did not complete 2 units of a foreign language in high school must earn 6 credit hours of a college level foreign language, such credits to be in addition to those normally required for graduation.

Eligibility for Continued Enrollment: Upon having attempted 72 hours (including transfer, advanced placement, advanced standing, and credit by examination), "satisfactory progress" toward a B.S. will include the following minimum criteria:

a grade point average of at least 2.0, and


passing grades in MINE 2504, MATH 2214 and MATH 2224.

Area 7 Elective: If the Area 7 requirement is fulfilled with a course which double counts with another course on this checksheet, an additional three credit hour free elective must be completed.

Undergraduate Courses (MINE)

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