Program Overview

Bachelor's Degree in Metallurgical Engineering

The bachelor's degree in metallurgical engineering trains students to apply technology in converting natural mineral resources into useful products for society. The metallurgical engineering major covers three areas:

• Mineral processing: The engineer takes advantage of differences in physical and/or chemical properties to develop, manage, and control processes for liberating, separating, and concentrating valuable minerals or metals from ores.
• Extractive metallurgy: The engineer produces and purifies metals from concentrates and ores, plus metal recycling using hydrometallurgy (aqueous processing), bio-hydrometallurgy, electrometallurgy (electrochemical processing), and pyrometallurgy (high-temperature processing).
• Physical metallurgy: The engineer processes metals into products by various means, such as casting, forging, extrusion, and powder techniques. He/she controls engineering properties of metals, such as strength, hardness, and fatigue, by alloying, annealing, and heat treatment.

Program Details

In order to learn to process and extract ores to concentrate, then refine their valuable components, students will take courses in advanced chemistry; metallurgical process, modeling, and control; pyrometallurgy; and hydrometallurgy. Graduates are ready to work in industry, research, and management or go on to further study in graduate school.

Learning Outcomes

Students majoring in metallurgical engineering learn to:

• Demonstrate proficiency in the mathematics, science, and engineering areas necessary to identify, formulate, and solve practical engineering problems.
• Demonstrate proficiency in engineering topics related to metallurgical engineering.
• Demonstrate the ability to plan and design a technically sound extractive metallurgical and mineral process in an ethically, environmentally, and socially responsible manner. Moreover, students will be able to communicate plans, designs, and operational practices to mine representatives, regulators, and the public.
• Prepare for entry-level positions in the operations and management of metallurgical and mineral processes, or for graduate-level study in engineering.

Graduate with Industry-Ready Experience

Practical experience is a key part of the program. The department maintains close relationships with the mineral industry, and as a student, participants will take part in field trips throughout their courses. Students are required to work in the minerals industry during at least one summer break. During their senior year, students take the Fundamentals of Engineering examination, administered by a State Board of Engineering Registration, which is the first step toward professional licensure.

Specializations in the Metallurgical Engineering Program

Students majoring in an engineering major (except metallurgical engineering) may choose to minor in metallurgical engineering to expand their skills in metallurgy.

Careers with a Degree in Metallurgical Engineering

Metallurgical engineers involved in extractive metallurgy work in laboratories, ore treatment plants, refineries, and steel mills. Though steel, iron, and precious metals are common, metallurgical engineers can also attain specializations in aluminum, copper, metal fabrication, exotic alloys, and applications.

Metallurgical engineers are considered a type of materials engineer by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which reports a median annual salary of $98,300 in 2021 for that occupation. The BLS projects that metallurgical engineers with internship experience and computer modeling skills should see the highest demand for their skills in coming years.

A degree in metallurgical engineering can also prepare students for a career as a mining engineer, specializing in the extraction and processing of metals. According to the BLS, mining engineers had a median annual salary of $97,090 in 2021.

Related Programs

• Mining engineering
• Chemical engineering
• Materials science and engineering
• Mechanical engineering