Program Overview

Introduction to the Mineral and Energy Economics Program

The Mineral and Energy Economics (MEE) program at the Colorado School of Mines is designed to prepare students for careers in industry, banking and investment, government, international organizations, and consulting firms. The program provides training in economics, management, and policy relating to mineral and energy industries.

Program Overview

The MEE program offers a Master's degree that can be completed in 3 semesters (minimum 36 credits) and a PhD degree that can be completed in 4 to 6 years (minimum of 48 hours of course work plus 24 thesis credits). The program is highly quantitative and provides students with a thorough understanding of energy, minerals, and related environmental and technology issues.

Admission Requirements

To be accepted into the program, students must have high intellectual abilities, strong integrity, a good work ethic, and developed quantitative skills. The Statement of Goals should illustrate a strong interest in energy, minerals, or related environmental and technological issues, as well as examples of strong leadership potential.

• GRE or GMAT scores are required, and the minimum TOEFL or IELTS requirements for students with English as a second language must be met.
• Students must have completed a course in Principles of Microeconomics, a course in Probability and Statistics, and one semester of college-level calculus, all with a grade of B or better.
• For spring semester entry, students must have also completed a course in mathematical economics and a course in natural resource economics, and hold a degree in economics.

Program Structure

The program is designed to provide students with a strong foundation in economics, management, and policy relating to mineral and energy industries. The recommended course sequence for the first semester includes:

• EBGN509 Mathematical Economics
• EBGN510 Natural Resource Economics
• Two electives

GPA Requirements

All graduate students must maintain a 3.0 (B) Grade Point Average (GPA). No credit is given for courses with an earned grade below 1.7 (C-).

Transfer Credits

The MEE Committee at Mines must review and approve all graduate level-transfer credits. These credits must not have been used as credit towards a Bachelor Degree. The committee allows up to 6 hours of approved graduate-level course work to be transferred from other graduate programs towards a non-thesis Masters Degree and up to 9 hours towards a thesis-based program.

Funding

A limited amount of financial aid is available, awarded competitively, in the form of teaching assistantships (TAs) or faculty classroom support. Most awards begin in the fall term, and students must have their application complete by March 1 (to begin in the fall) or by Oct. 1 (to begin in the spring).

Dual Degree Program in Petroleum Economics and Management

The Mines/IFP Dual Degree program is a unique graduate program offered by the Colorado School of Mines and the IFP School in Paris. The program is designed to provide the economic and business skills, along with international cultural experience, required to become a leader in government and industry in the area of petroleum.

• The program consists of 48 semester hours, with 24 hours taken at each institution, and can be completed in 16 months.
• Students will earn two distinguished degrees: a Master of Science Degree in Mineral and Energy Economics at Mines and a Diplôme d'Ingénieur in Petroleum Economics and Management from IFP.
• The program is highly structured, but students may choose their elective courses and specialize in either economics/public policy (EPP) or quantitative business analysis (QBA).

Research Areas

The MEE program provides students with a thorough understanding of energy, minerals, and related environmental and technology issues. Research areas include:

• Energy economics
• Mineral economics
• Environmental economics
• Technology management

Career Prospects

Graduates of the MEE program are highly competitive and can work in a variety of fields, including industry, banking and investment, government, international organizations, and consulting firms. The program provides students with a strong foundation in economics, management, and policy relating to mineral and energy industries, making them well-suited for careers in these fields.