Materials & Metallurgical Engineering

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Forge the future with Metallurgical Engineering at South Dakota Mines, where students turn raw minerals into the materials that power modern technology. From surgical implants and superconductors to automobiles and spacecraft, metallurgical engineers create the advanced alloys that shape our world.

At South Dakota Mines, you’ll explore the full lifecycle of materials — from extraction and processing to sustainable recycling and innovation in new alloys. With a strong emphasis on hands-on learning, students gain experience through internships, co-ops, and research alongside faculty and industry partners. As one of the few specialized programs of its kind, accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, the Metallurgical Engineering degree opens doors to high-demand careers in industries spanning aerospace, electronics, and energy.

Related Programs

Meet Our Faculty and Staff

Department Overview

Discover the Materials and Metallurgical Engineering Department and explore opportunities to get involved through hands-on activities and organizations like the Back in Black Blacksmithing Club and the American Welding Society.

TMS - The Minerals, Metals and Materials Society
The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS) is a professional association that connects minerals, metals, and materials scientists and engineers who work in industry, academia, and government positions around the world. 

SME - Society of Mining Engineers
Explore the exciting career paths integral to the modern mining industry, now playing on SME Studios.

ASM International - The Materials Information Society
ASM connects materials professionals with the finest resources available - to solve problems, improve materials performance, and support professional development.

AIST - Association for Iron & Steel Technology
The Association for Iron & Steel Technology (AIST) is a non-profit organization with 16,600 members from more than 70 countries. With 29 Technology Committees representing all facets of the iron and steel manufacturing process and 22 Local Member Chapters spread across six continents, AIST represents an incomparable network of steel knowledge and expertise.

ACerS - The American Ceramic Society
The American Ceramic Society announces has return to in-person meetings for Q4 of 2021 and beyond.

AIME - The American Institute of Mutual Equality 

Materials Advantage
Material Advantage provides a single low-cost membership that provides access to the materials science and engineering professional’s most preeminent societies.

Research Focus Areas

Below are a few examples of a couple of the research projects that will be offered with the BACE summer camp.
Characterization of ceramic pastes for processing and performance optimization of high solids loading in additive manufacturing
Materials processing is a key component of all manufacturing, and additive manufacturing in particular. Knowing the history of a material (origin of the material, the crystal structure, the chemical formulation, any prior processing exposure, etc.) and influencing the processing process is integral.
Reconstructing paleoenvironment and paleoclimate with White River Group sediments and fossils
Western SD, particularly areas like Badlands National Park (BADL), preserve one of the best archives of past climate from the Eocene-Oligocene, an interval of geologic time marked globally by cooling and increased aridity.
Understanding poor performance of structural concrete mixes
Structural concrete mixes for transportation infrastructure in SD in recent years have not met specified strength requirements. The cause of the poor performance mixes remains a mystery.

Have more questions?

Department Head:
Dr. Michael West
(605) 394-1283
Michael.West@sdsmt.edu