Two master's degrees are available from the Department of Mining Engineering:

1. Master of Science in Mining Engineering with Thesis (M.S.Min.E. Plan A – 24 credit hour option)

A minimum of 24 semester hours of coursework plus a thesis are required. In no case will independent work, taken as MNG-780 or MNG-790 and used for part of the thesis, be counted as part of the 24 hours of coursework. The thesis must be actively supervised by a member of the graduate faculty.

2. Master of Science in Mining Engineering without thesis (M.S.Min.E. Plan B – 30 credit hour option)

The faculty in the Department of Mining Engineering suggest that this degree be reserved for the extraordinary student who is allowed to work directly on Ph.D. studies. Such a student may be one who has obtained an M.S. without coursework (such degrees are common in foreign universities) or an M.S. in a foreign language. Also, during the course of the M.S. study by a superior student, it may become apparent that the research can be expanded to a doctoral dissertation. At that time, the graduate faculty may approve a Plan B Master of Science and allow the student to continue onto a Ph.D. In that case, the degree will be approved only after the candidate submits a Ph.D. program plan and has a committee appointed.

For an M.S. under Plan B, a minimum of 30 credit hours of coursework plus one or two written reports are required. The report(s) should represent the total equivalent of approximately six (6) semester hours of work; no credit for this effort may be included in the minimum 30-hour requirement. The report(s) must be written with a level of content and style which may be reasonably expected of a graduate student. Examples of suitable reports include: (1) a description of results of a research study; (2) a description of the development of a new and significant computer program; (3) a state-of-the-art paper; and (4) a design report.