Mining Engineering and Management, M.S.

Contact Information

Dr. Purushotham Tukkaraja
Mining Engineering and Management Department
MI 229
(605) 394-1267
E-mail: Purushotham.Tukkaraja@sdsmt.edu

Mining Engineering

The Master of Science in Mining Engineering is designed to provide a program of advanced study in either management-oriented or technically-oriented disciplines for candidates planning a career in the mining, mine management or underground construction field. The available course work and current faculty expertise support the following emphasis areas:

1. Mining engineering technical track, including advanced rock mechanics, advanced ventilation, and advanced geostatistics; and tunneling;
2. Mining engineering management track, including mineral economics and finance, and mining business management.

The course delivery is geared towards both campus and hybrid-distance delivery modes.

Background Requirements

The mining engineering coursework is geared primarily towards the working professional in the mining industry who requires distance delivery of the courses, although students can be admitted directly to the on-campus program. In either case, the student should have completed an appropriate undergraduate engineering degree. For those holding a non-mining engineering undergraduate degree, the applicant should have significant experience in the mining or underground construction industry. Additionally, an undergraduate course in probability and statistics is highly recommended.

Thesis Option

• A minimum of 30 credits of which a minimum of 6 credit hours of core courses (must be 500-level, or above), 2 credit hours of seminar (MEM 790), 1 credit hour of Research Methods (GEOG/MEM 700), a minimum of 9 credit hours of elective courses and  a minimum of 6 or a maximum of 12 research credits.

• A thesis and a final examination is required.

• Selection of a graduate advisory committee and completion of a program of study by end of the first semester at SDSMT.

• Completion of a master’s thesis. The thesis must adhere to the format and content guidelines as set forth by the graduate school, and be approved by the student’s graduate advisory committee and the Dean of Graduate Education.

Non-Thesis Option

• A program of at least 32 credits of course work (including 2 credit hours of seminar) which must include 9 credits of core courses in either the technical or management track.

• At least 18 credit hours of approved graduate-level elective coursework (500 level courses and above).

Other Program Requirements

• A maximum of up to 9 credit hours may be transferred from another accredited institution (400 level or above).

• For SD Mines undergraduate students only: Students admitted to the “accelerated” MS program may apply for up to 9 credits of SD mines 400/500 level course work taken as an undergraduate to their master’s degree requirements.

• Students entering the  program  with  a  bachelor’s  degree  in  fields  outside  of mining engineering must take the undergraduate  level  deficiency  courses  recommended  by  the student’s graduate advisory committee. These deficiency courses will not count towards the graduate degree credit requirements.  Additional coursework  may  be  determined  by  the student’s graduate advisory committee.

• Meeting or exceeding prescribed academic standards.

• Complying with all rules and regulations of the Graduate Office, which are presented elsewhere in this catalog.