Program: Geological Engineering, BS - South Dakota School of Mines & Technology

Apr 16, 2025

2018-2019 SDSM&T Academic Catalog

Contact Information

Dr. Laurie Anderson, Department Head
Department of Geology and Geological Engineering
Mineral Industries 303
(605) 394-2461
E-mail: Laurie.Anderson@sdsmt.edu

For more information on the geological engineering bachelor’s degree see the Department of Geology and Geological Engineering page under Undergraduate Studies in this catalog.The bachelor of science program in geological engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org, 415 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, Phone +1.410.347.7700.

GEOE Flowchart

Geological Engineering Curriculum/Checklist

It is the student‘s responsibility to check with his or her advisor for any program modifications that may occur after the publication of this catalog.

Freshman Year

First Semester

CHEM 112 General Chemistry I Credits: (3-0) 3 (Goal 6) ⁴
MATH 123 Calculus I Credits: (4-0) 4 (Goal 5) ⁴
ENGL 101 Composition I Credits: (3-0) 3 (Goal 1) ⁴
GEOE 110L Introduction to Geological and Mining Engineering/Lab Credits: (0-1) 1
General Education Goal 3 or 4 Elective(s) Credits: 6 ⁴

Total: 17

Second Semester

CHEM 112L General Chemistry I Lab Credits: (0-1) 1 (Goal 6) ⁴
CHEM 114 General Chemistry II Credits: (3-0) 3 (Goal 6) ⁴
MATH 125 Calculus II Credits: (4-0) 4
PHYS 211/211A University Physics I/Recitation Credits: (3-0) 3
GEOE 221/221L Geology for Engineers/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3
CEE 117/117L Introduction to CADD/Lab Credits: (1-1) 2

Total: 16

Sophomore Year

First Semester

EM 214 Statics Credits: (3-0) 3
MATH 225 Calculus III Credits: (4-0) 4
MEM 201L Surveying for Mining and Geological Engineers Credits: (0-2) 2
PHYS 213/213-A University Physics II/Recitation Credits: (3-0) 3
General Education Goal 3 or 4 Elective(s) Credits: 3 ⁴

Total: 15

Second Semester

ENGL 279 Technical Communications I Credits: (3-0) 3 (Goal 1) ⁴
EM 321 Mechanics of Materials Credits: (3-0) 3
GEOL 212/212L Mineralogy and Crystallography/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3
MATH 321 Differential Equations Credits: (3-0) 3
General Education Goal 3 or 4 Electives Credits: 3 ⁴

Total: 15

Junior Year

First Semester

ENGL 289 Technical Communications II Credits: (3-0) 3 (Goal 2) ⁴
GEOL 331/331L Stratigraphy and Sedimentation/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3
GEOL 341/341L Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3
CEE 346/346L Geotechnical Engineering/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3
MET 320 Metallurgical Thermodynamics Credits: (4-0) 4

Total: 16

Second Semester

GEOL 322/322L Structural Geology/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3
GEOE 324/324L Engineering Geophysics I/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3 ¹
EM 331 Fluid Mechanics Credits: (3-0) 3
GEOL 416/416L/516/516L Introduction to GIS/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3
MEM 302 Mineral Economics and Finance Credits: (3-0) 3

Total: 15

Summer

GEOE 410 Engineering Field Geology Credits: (6-0) 6 ¹
(SD Mines students must take GEOE 410 for 6 credits.)

Total: 6

Senior Year

First Semester

GEOE 466/466L/566/566L Engineering and Environmental Geology/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3 ¹
GEOE 475/475L/575/575L Groundwater/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3 ¹
GEOE 464 Geological Engineering Design Project I Credits: (3-0) 3 ¹
Approved Elective(s) Credits: 3 ²
Professional Elective(s) Credits: 3 ³

Total: 15

Second Semester

MEM 304/304L Theoretical and Applied Rock Mechanics/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3
Professional Elective(s) Credits: 3 ³
GEOE 465 Geological Engineering Design Project II Credits: (3-0) 3 ¹
GEOE 461/561 Petroleum Drilling and Production Engineering Credits: (3-0) 3 ¹
Upper Level Humanities or Social Sciences Elective(s) Credits: 3

Total: 15

130 credits required for graduation

Curriculum Notes

Additional coursework in mathematics and statistics is encouraged. MATH 381 and MATH 382 are recommended statistics courses. MATH 432/532 is recommended for students interested in numerical modeling of partial differential equations.

¹A grade of “C” or better is required in these courses for graduation with a Geological Engineering BS Degree.

Approved Electives (3 credits required):

²The purpose of the approved elective is to allow students to gain knowledge that will support their chosen area of expertise through a course that may or may not have significant engineering content. Commonly, students will enroll in a GEOE or GEOL course, co-op credits, or other advisor-approved courses to satisfy these three credits. All of the courses listed in the “Professional Elective” list below will also satisfy the approved elective requirement, but courses cannot be double-counted.

Professional Electives (6 credits required):

³Professional elective courses must contain significant engineering content. The list below includes courses that satisfy the GEOE professional elective requirement. Students may take a course that is not on the list if it is approved by their advisor (including 600-level graduate courses).

^*denotes courses whose prerequisite is also on this list and would be taken as a pair.

^ψdenotes courses that have MEM 304/304L Theoretical and Applied Rock Mechanics/Lab as a prerequisite (typically taken during the spring semester of senior year).

GEOE 412/512 Science and Engineering Field Applications Credits: 3 to 6
GEOE 421/521 Aqueous Geochemistry Credits: (3-0) 3
GEOE 425/425L/525/525L Engineering Geophysics II/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3
GEOL 451/451L Economic Geology/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3
GEOE 482/482L/582/582L Applied Geomorphology/Lab Credits: (3-0) 3
CEE 325 Introduction to Sustainable Design Credits: (3-0) 3
CEE 326 Environmental Engineering I Credits: (3-0) 3
CEE 327/327L Environmental Engineering II/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3 ^*
CEE 337 Engineering Hydrology Credits: (3-0) 3
CEE 347 Geotechnical Engineering II Credits: (3-0) 3
CEE 425/525 Sustainable Engineering Credits: (3-0) 3
CEE 426/526 Environmental Engineering Unit Operations and Processes Credits: (3-0) 3
CEE 427/527 Environmental Engineering Biological Process Design Credits: (3-0) 3
CEE 428/528 Oil and Gas Development and the Environment Credits: (3-0) 3
CEE 437/437L/537/537L Watershed and Floodplain Modeling/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3 ^*
CEE 447/547 Foundation Engineering Credits: (3-0) 3
CEE 448/548 Applied Geotechnical Engineering Credits: (3-0) 3
MEM 305 Introduction to Explosives Engineering Credits: (3-0) 3
MEM 307 Mineral Exploration and Geostatistics Credits: (3-0) 3
MEM 405 Mine Permitting and Reclamation Credits: (3-0) 3
MEM 420/520 Advanced Tunneling and Underground Excavation Credits: (3-0) 3 ^ψ
MEM 425/525 Advanced Rock Mechanics Credits: (3-0) 3 ^ψ
MEM 430/530 Resource Industry Mergers and Acquisitions Credits: (3-0) 3
MEM 433/433L/533/533L Advanced Mine Planning & Design Credits: (2-1) 3
MEM 435/535 Resource Industry Finance and Accounting Credits: (3-0) 3
MEM 445/545/445L/545L Advanced Geostatistics and Grade Estimations/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3 ^*
MEM 450/550 Rock Slope Engineering Credits: (3-0) 3 ^ψ
MEM 480/580 Advanced Explosives and Blasting Credits: (3-0) 3 ^*

General Education Requirments (30 Credits)

⁴ Fulfills General Education requirement. Students should consult the “General Education Requirements ” section of this catalog for a complete listing of all general education requirements.