The SDSM&T Mining Engineering Program has a solid history of providing quality Mining Engineers to education, government and industry. It is our goal to continue to do so for the future. Historically, our Mining Engineering graduates have been highly successful in their fields, and are in great demand.

It is our vision to be the Premier Mining Engineering Program in the United States. This includes offering a selection of courses which provide a well-rounded mining engineering education to the students; obtaining and utilizing state-of-the-art laboratory and research equipment; providing innovative leaders for the US mining industry; and providing opportunities for professional development to the faculty and students through research, participation in professional meetings, and access to current literature and software.

Mining Engineering is the application of engineering and scientific principles to the discovery, appraisal and extraction of minerals from the earth and the sea. The curriculum provides the student with fundamental training in the basic sciences, engineering sciences, engineering design, geology and the humanities, as well as training in the student's specialized branch of mining engineering. Principles of mine operation, rock mechanics, economics, computer applications and management receive special emphasis.

Students are expected: to be proficient in the use of the computer, to develop problem-solving skills, and to be proficient in communication skills. Today, the mining world needs problem solvers, proficient in the use of state-of-the-art computer technology. The mining engineering program places an important emphasis on the students acquiring special skills that will help them advance successfully in their professional career. Setting this as the most important goal, the engineering design concept is introduced in a number of courses leading to two mine design senior capstone courses. The capstone design courses are structured as feasibility studies.