<p>Does anyone know anything about this? What exactly do mining engineers do? Is it a hard major? I've only heard of Virgina Tech offering this major though, so it must not be that popular.</p>
<p>Google it. Lots of schools offer it. Even Penn State.</p>
<p>Better yet, go to the ABET web site and do a search by discipline for accredited programs.
[url=<a href="http://www.abet.org/accrediteac.asp%5DABET%5B/url">http://www.abet.org/accrediteac.asp]ABET[/url</a>]</p>
<p>I wouldn't go so far as to say a lot of schools offer it, but there are a few around (13 ABET accredited programs). </p>
<p>As for what they do, The</a> Sloan Career Cornerstone Center is a pretty good resource. I suspect it's not that popular because there aren't that many jobs in mining engineering and it's a pretty dangerous industry.</p>
<p>"Career Path Forecast
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers, are expected to have good employment opportunities, despite a projected decline in employment. Many mining engineers currently employed are approaching retirement age, a factor that should create some job openings over the 2004-14 period. In addition, relatively few schools offer mining engineering programs, and the small number of yearly graduates is not expected to increase substantially. </p>
<p>Favorable job opportunities also may be available worldwide as mining operations around the world recruit graduates of U.S. mining engineering programs. As a result, some graduates may travel frequently or even live abroad. Employment of mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers, is projected to decline through 2014, primarily because most of the industries in which mining engineers are concentrated -- such as coal, metal, and copper mining -- are expected to experience declines in employment"</p>
<p>the mining engineers in my school make an avg. starting salary of 55k.</p>
<p>I've heard the Colorado School of Mines has the top mining engineering program.</p>