Mining Graduate Program Overview

The Mining Engineering program concentrates on teaching and research involving the broader field of excavation and processing of ore to obtain the mineral products required by contemporary society.

The program is designed to produce engineers and specialists qualified to assess, design and operate both underground and open pit mines, to design and operate complex processing plants and to evaluate and maintain the mechanical equipment required by these mining or processing facilities.

Graduate students at the Masters level may follow research (M.A.Sc.) or non-research programs (M.Eng.). Naturally, at the Doctoral level, only research is supported.

Master's Program

The Masters' program enables qualified students to study advanced courses in their field of interest in the mining industry. The non-research program (M.Eng.) requires that several more courses be taken, but the project, which may be completed by the student, is not defended formally, as is the case for the research program. The objectives of the program are to provide the mining industry with specialist personnel capable of solving broad problems either as mining or research company employees or consultants.

M.A.Sc.  

The minimum requirements are four (4) term length courses, satisfactory participation in the graduate seminar (MINE 897) and completion of a research thesis (MINE 899). At least three of the term length courses must be graduate courses of which two term length courses must be from within the department and one term length course from outside the department. One term length course can be from the 400-series in another department but this course must be selected according to Division III regulations. All students must take CHEM-801*, a noncredit course in laboratory safety, at the first opportunity after their initial registration.

M.Eng.

The minimum requirements are eight (8) term length courses and satisfactory participation in the graduate seminar (MINE 897). The student must select courses from the departmental list, with a minimum of four (4) being taken within the Department. One term length course must be taken outside the department. Students are encouraged to take the project course (MINE 898), which requires a formal report, as part of their program. A maximum of two (2) term length, 400 series courses can be taken instead of two of the graduate courses. All students must take CHEM-801*, a non-credit course in laboratory safety, at the first opportunity after their initial registration.

PhD Program

The Doctoral program is designed to provide specialists capable of conducting advanced research in mining at universities, for mining and research companies and for consulting.

The minimum academic requirements are four term courses beyond the M.Sc. (Eng.) degree, satisfactory participation in the graduate seminar (MINE-897), and completion of a research thesis. All courses must be taken at the graduate level. For this minimum academic requirement, three term courses must be taken within and one term course must be taken outside the Department. In certain cases, the number of courses required will be larger than the minimum. The selected academic program must be approved by the Department. All students must take CHEM-801*, a non-credit course in laboratory safety, at the first opportunity after their initial registration.

The comprehensive examination, an assessment of the student's understanding of the major areas of Mining Engineering, must be taken by any Ph.D. candidate in two parts. The initial examination reviews the candidate's general background in Mining Engineering and is held in the fall term of the second year of the program. The second examination is used to assess the candidate's research potential and is held at the end of the second year in the program. In this part, the candidate prepares a document, outlining the proposed research, preliminary findings, literature review and a plan for its successful completion, which he/she presents to a committee.