<p>Is it a difficult field? Which schools are at the best for it? Is it a popular field? Is it something still applicable to the everyday world?</p>
ken285
September 4, 2010, 10:00pm
2
<p>Colorado School of Mines comes to mind. I believe Penn State has a good program as well. </p>
<p>I would not say it’s a popular field. Not that many schools offer it.</p>
<p>[Sloan</a> Career Cornerstone Center: Careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math & Healthcare](<a href=“http://www.careercornerstone.org/mining/mining.htm]Sloan ”>Career Cornerstone Center: Careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math and Medicine ) <– Look here firsthttp://www.alaska.edu/uaf/cem/min/]Mining ”>http://www.alaska.edu/uaf/cem/min/ )http://mining.mines.edu/]Department ”>http://mining.mines.edu/ )http://www.mge.arizona.edu/]Department ”>http://www.mge.arizona.edu/ )http://www.eme.psu.edu/mng/]Mining ”>http://www.eme.psu.edu/mng/ )</p>
<p>Lots of good info in those links.</p>
<p>EDIT: <a href=“http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos027.htm[/url] ”>http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos027.htm</a> ;
Mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers, find, extract, and prepare coal, metals, and minerals for use by manufacturing industries and utilities. They design open-pit and underground mines, supervise the construction of mine shafts and tunnels in underground operations, and devise methods for transporting minerals to processing plants. Mining engineers are responsible for the safe, economical, and environmentally sound operation of mines. Some mining engineers work with geologists and metallurgical engineers to locate and appraise new ore deposits. Others develop new mining equipment or direct mineral-processing operations that separate minerals from the dirt, rock, and other materials with which they are mixed. Mining engineers frequently specialize in the mining of one mineral or metal, such as coal or gold. With increased emphasis on protecting the environment, many mining engineers are working to solve problems related to land reclamation and to water and air pollution. Mining safety engineers use their knowledge of mine design and practices to ensure the safety of workers and to comply with State and Federal safety regulations. They inspect the surfaces of walls and roofs, monitor air quality, and examine mining equipment for compliance with safety practices.
Mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers, are expected to have employment growth of 15 percent over the projections decade, faster than the average for all occupations. Following a lengthy period of decline, strong growth in demand for minerals is expected to create some employment growth over the 2008–18 period. Moreover, many currently employed mining engineers are approaching retirement age, a factor that should create additional job openings. Furthermore, relatively few schools offer mining engineering programs, resulting in good job opportunities for graduates. The best opportunities may require frequent travel or even living overseas for extended periods as mining operations around the world recruit graduates of U.S. mining engineering programs.
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<p>University of Alaska Fairbanks has an excellent mining engineering program. Alaska is abundant in job opportunities for Mining Engineers because of all of its natural resources such as Gold, Coal and other minerals. In fact a new zinc mine is starting to be built.</p>
<p>The only negative thing I have heard about Mine Eng. is that some of the professors are international and although experts in their fields they can sometimes be difficult to understand.</p>