Graduate admissions information

Admissions cycles: Fall, spring
Application deadlines: Feb. 1, Sept. 15
Assistantship types available: Contact the department
Graduate Director: Raj R. Kallu

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university is required in order to be accepted as a graduate student. For full graduate standing, at least 30 credits of undergraduate work in mining engineering or related sciences must have been completed.

In addition, students must meet the following requirements:

• Hold a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 for four years of undergraduate work.
• Earn acceptable scores on the verbal and quantitative portions of the GRE test, and present letters of recommendation from former instructors indicating capability for advanced course work and research.
• International students are required to meet the English test requirements (TOEFL/IELTS/PTE). Refer to UNR Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) webpage for specific English requirements.

Prospective graduate students should send all their application material directly to the Graduate School. The department does not accept any application material directly from the prospective students.

Graduate assistantships

The department offers several graduate fellowships i.e. Research Assistantships (RA) and Teaching Assistantships. Requests for teaching assistantships should be submitted to the department prior to March 15, but all applications will be considered regardless of date of submission. Requests for research assistantships must be submitted directly to the corresponding professors in the department.

M.S. in mining engineering options

Students must choose between the following two options (Plan A or Plan B):

Plan A: thesis option

This plan requires students to write and successfully defend a thesis. General university requirements for graduating with Plan A:

• Students must complete at least 30 credits of acceptable graduate courses.
• Students must complete 6 thesis credits (MINE 797)
• Student must complete 12 non-thesis credits at the 700 level.
• Student must complete at least 21 credits through on-campus courses at the university. For transfer credits, please consult the Graduate Director.

Plan B: non-thesis option

This plan requires students to pass a written comprehensive examination (MINE 795 – 1 credit) given by the department covering recommended core courses. The candidate will have the option to choose four courses out of total six courses listed under recommended core courses. Students must earn a passing grade/satisfactory grade on each of those four subject areas with only two attempts allowed. Students who do not pass the exam after two attempts will be dismissed from the graduate program. Requirements for graduating with Plan B are:

• Students must complete at least 32 credits of acceptable graduate courses.
• Students must complete at least 18 credits of 700 level courses.
• Students must complete at least 23 credits through on-campus courses at the university. For transfer credits, please consult the Graduate Director.
• Students must complete 1 credit comprehensive exam course (MINE 795).

Other program requirements

The following deficiencies to be made up by students with B.S. degrees other than mining engineering:

1. Students who have a B.S. degree in physical science or other fields (e.g., geology, physics, chemistry, economics, etc.), must:
   • pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, or satisfactorily complete (i.e., with a cumulative B average) a minimum of 12 credits of basic engineering courses to have a reasonable chance of passing the FE (e.g. this requirement can be met by taking courses such as Statics, Dynamics, Strength of Materials, Fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Electricity).
   • have an adequate preparation in geology, i.e. a minimum of 6 credits in geology, taken from GEOL 211, GEOL 332, GEOL 385, or equivalent.
   • have basic mining knowledge, e.g., a course in mining methods or broad varied industrial mining experience, and, prior to or as part of the graduate program, no fewer than 6 credits of mining engineering classes.
2. Students, who have a B.S. degree in Engineering from an accredited or equivalent engineering school, must:
   • have an adequate preparation in geology, i.e. a minimum of 6 credits in geology, taken from GEOL 211, GEOL 332, GEOL 385, or equivalent.
   • have basic mining knowledge, e.g., a course in mining methods or broad varied industrial mining experience, and, prior to or as part of the graduate program, no fewer than 6 credits of mining engineering classes.

General remarks

• Students who have completed some or all of the recommended core courses as upperclassmen during their bachelor’s degree at the University of Nevada, Reno may be exempted from some or all of the core course requirements. The program director/graduate committee must then approve any such changes in writing.
• *Any student wishing to change recommended core courses must petition the program director/graduate committee of the Department of Mining & Metallurgical Engineering in writing. The program director/graduate committee must then approve any such changes in writing.
• The program director/graduate committee has to approve in writing any changes in the requirements for the comprehensive exam topics for any graduate student.
• Graduate students with the help of their advisor must form a graduate committee and submit his/her initial program of study for approval before the start of their second year as a graduate student in the Mining and Metallurgical Engineering Department.

Admissions cycles: Fall, spring
Application deadlines: Feb. 1, Sept. 15
Assistantship types available: Contact the department
Graduate Director: Carl Nesbitt

The department of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering offers graduate programs leading to the degree of Master of Science in Metallurgical Engineering with only thesis option. The students can elect to pursue in one of the following specialization fields, such as, physical metallurgy, extractive metallurgy, and Mineral Processing.

A B.S. in an engineering discipline is recommended. Applicants without an undergraduate engineering degree are required to pass of the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam as part of the Master’s degree. This may necessitate taking basic undergraduate engineering courses that do not carry graduate credit.

For general admission requirements, visit the Graduate School webpage for admission requirements by student type. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required. The deadline for completed applications (online) for fall semester is March 15; for spring semester, the deadline is September 15.

Program objectives and student learning outcomes

The program aims to provide students with a strong foundation in extractive metallurgy, pyrometallurgy, and hydrometallurgy, as well as in more specialized areas of metallurgical engineering. Students completing the program will have worked on a basic or applied research project that has an impact on metallurgical engineering practice, and will have successfully communicated their results through written and oral presentations.

Admissions cycles: Fall, spring
Application deadlines: Feb. 1, Sept. 15
Assistantship types available: Contact the department
Graduate Director: Javad Sattarvand

This program comprises faculty and resources from the University's Department of Geological Sciences and Engineering and the Department of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering. It offers a broad range of possible dissertation research topics, including soil and rock slope stability, rock mechanics, geologic fracture mechanics, volcano hazards, urban geo-engineering, aerospace remote sensing, pure and applied geomathematics/geostatistics, mine ventilation, materials handling, and surface and underground mine design.

Possible fields of specialization for students include:

• Applied geophysics
• Geologic hazards
• GIS
• Geomechanics
• Geostatistics
• Hydrogeology
• Mine ventilation
• Open-pit and underground stability
• Planetary geology
• Remote sensing
• Rock mechanics
• Rock slope instability processes
• Rock mass characterization and design
• Structural analysis
• Structural geology
• Tectonics
• Waste containment

The University is also home to the Nevada Seismological Laboratory, which uses a statewide network of seismographic stations to investigate the sizes, frequency and distribution of earthquakes in the region. To learn more about the University's earth science research, visit the Department of Geological Sciences and Engineering research page.

In terms of careers, there is no shortage of possible endeavors geological engineers may pursue, including:

• Mine development and planning
• Oil and gas production
• Groundwater studies
• Highway construction
• Railway construction
• Dam construction and irrigation projects
• Residential or commercial structures
• Landfill management

How do I apply?

Applicants must meet the University's Graduate School admission requirements and submit their application through the Graduate School. For entry into the geo-engineering Ph.D. program, the department requires a combined GRE score of 1,200 or higher for the verbal and quantitative sections and an undergraduate degree in any branch of the geological sciences, physical sciences, or engineering. To attain full graduate student standing in the program, at least 30 credits of undergraduate work in geology or related fields must be completed.

Prospective students must submit the following when applying:

• Copy of Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores - sent directly to the University Graduate School, with unofficial copies sent separately to the Department of Geological Sciences and Engineering
• Three letters of recommendation certifying ability to perform graduate-level work at the Ph.D. level - sent directly to the department
• A two-page personal statement of interest stating why the University of Nevada, Reno is their school of choice, why they wish to pursue the desired degree, and what specialties and/or faculty the applicant is interested in - sent directly to the department
• Copies of GRE scores, transcripts and TOEFL scores (if applicable) - sent directly to the department

The admissions committee gives comparable weight to each item in the application package, so applicants will not be denied admission based solely on their GPA or GRE scores. Applicants should contact prospective faculty advisors to discuss their interests prior to applying. Applicants are also encouraged to visit the University to see the department and meet with their prospective faculty adviser.

Completed applications and all materials must be received by the department no later than:

• Feb. 1 for fall semester admission
• Sept. 15 for spring semester admission

To ensure full consideration, GRE scores and official transcripts should arrive at the University Graduate School well before these deadlines.