Mining engineering probably doesn't need much explanation. It's in the name of the School. It was the first degree offered at Mines. It's done all over the world. Without it, cars, computers, and the Internet wouldn't exist. But mining is far from just getting materials from the ground; it's high-tech, environmentally aware, and important.

What's different about it?

Go anywhere in the world and ask people to think about mining engineering and name a school. More often than not, the first school they'll say will be the Colorado School of Mines. Going to a school that's well known is pretty special.

The Mines mining degree is all about giving you the skills to hit the ground running. The program stresses hands-on experience -- in fact, we're one of the few schools in the world to operate our own experimental mine. During your summer field session there, you'll get practical experience in, drilling, blasting, and surveying, plus you will spend time on field excursions throughout Colorado and the western United States.

Did we mention high-tech? Mining engineers rely on computers for everything from data analysis to mine design, including production scheduling and optimization. They also work with sophisticated systems using GPS and wireless networking technologies, and CAD is used in all of our mining engineering courses.

What can I do with it?

You'll have lots of choices. The job market for mining engineers has been good for as long as we can remember. You can work in the U.S. or internationally. You can go to graduate school in law or business. You can work for a small local company or a major international corporation. It's really up to you.