Jack Groppo, Ph.D.
Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies
Department of Mining Engineering
john.groppo@uky.eduMining engineers find, develop, and recover the resources needed to support the daily needs of society from the minerals required to support our daily health to the materials used for roads, buildings, computers, cell phones among most other items used daily. The mining engineering discipline requires a broad range of foundational engineering skills along with the ability to apply specialized technical knowledge in the areas of geotechnical engineering, explosives engineering, ventilation, mine power systems, automation and control, environmental engineering and extractive metallurgy.
If it can’t be grown, it must be mined and safe, effective and responsible mining relies on intelligent, skillful practitioners who can operate highly sophisticated mining devices. The Mining Engineering program at the University of Kentucky is one of only thirteen accredited programs in the United States. The faculty members are well known and highly respected in their specialized areas throughout academia and the industry. Thus, students receive the highest quality education and training from instructors with practical knowledge of the discipline. Hands-on instruction is provided in state-of-the-art laboratories that house modern equipment used in each of the specialty areas of mining engineering.
Industries Looking for You
"Everything I learn about mining engineering makes it even more cool to me. You do a little bit each field of engineering—chemical, electrical, civil—all in one major."
Mining Engineering Junior
The Pigman College of Engineering offers multiple pathways to undergraduate admission -- both as an incoming freshman or transfer student.
Admission requirements for incoming freshmen can be accessed here.
Admission requirements for transfer students can be accessed here.
Engineering Standing
All incoming freshmen and transfer students admitted to the Pigman College of Engineering have their major listed as "Pre-Aerospace Engineering", "Pre-Biomedical Engineering", etc. on their admission letter and in our academic system, myUK. Engineering Standing will be achieved, and the pre- designation will be dropped from the major name, once the student achieves a minimum cumulative GPA and a minimum GPA in select courses. You may view the select courses in the University Bulletin.
The smartest, most talented engineers around the world are devoting themselves to tackling immense global challenges. As a student in the UK Pigman College of Engineering, you get to join them!
In 2008, the National Academy of Engineering identified 14 “Grand Challenges for Engineering in the 21st Century”—opportunities to greatly increase humanity’s sustainability, health, security and joy of living. Themes include making solar energy economical, enhancing virtual reality, reverse-engineering the brain, securing cyberspace, providing access to clean water and more.
These ambitious goals demand engineers roll up their sleeves and get to work, which is why we put them front and center during your first year as an engineering student. We have designed the First-Year Engineering (FYE) program to inspire you. We want you to discover your passion. We want you to explore where you might make your unique contribution. We want you to get your hands dirty and make stuff that might, one day, lead to a breakthrough.
Why wait until you’re taking upper-level classes to figure out what interests you? Through real engineering classes taught by top faculty and exposure to engineering’s greatest challenges, the FYE program gets you into the game from day one.
The following curriculum meets the requirements for a Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering, provided the student satisfies the graduation requirements of the Pigman College of Engineering.
2023-24 Curriculum Previous Curricula
In addition to scholarships from the Office of Admission and the Pigman College of Engineering, undergraduate students who enroll in mining engineering are eligible for scholarships from the Mining Engineering department too. You may contact Academic Advisor Lesley Brenner (lesley.brenner@uky.edu or 859-257-4596) for more information about mining engineering scholarships.
Thanks to special agreements through the Academic Common Market, residents from the following states may enroll in the University of Kentucky Mining Engineering program and qualify for in-state tuition rates:
These agreements are subject to change without notice. For the most up-to-date information on the Academic Common Market, click here.
Student organizations are an outgrowth of student interest and serve the needs of a variety of students. Many provide programs that supplement the classroom experience and extend into areas of service for the community. All provide learning and leadership training for participating students. Student organizations that are typically of interest to Mining Engineering students include: Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME), the International Society of Explosives Engineers (ISEE), Women in Mining, and the Mu Nu Gamma Honor Society. Significant participation also occurs regionally and nationally with the professional societies through attendance and active participation at professional meetings that are held across the United States.
The mining engineering program offers numerous opportunities to obtain hands-on experience through summer internships and co-operative education programs with mining companies that have operations throughout the U.S. These experiences often lead to full-time engineering professional positions upon graduation. For those interested in research, the program offers numerous undergraduate research opportunities in each of the specialized areas of mining engineering. Self-funding of all undergraduate education expenses is achievable by combining the funds earned from internship, co-op and research positions with the numerous scholarships that are available from the department and national societies and associations.
The Engineering Career and Co-op Center is a valuable resource for assisting you with developing job, co-op and internship search skills; participating in education-abroad programs; participating in research endeavors and career network development so you can secure a rewarding career in your chosen field of study.
Retirements and growth in the mineral sector over the next 5 – 10 years are expected to create many openings for talented mining engineering graduates at annual starting salaries in the range of $60,000 to $72,000, which are among the highest of any B.S. graduate. As a result of the number of expected retirements, advancing up the career ladder is sure to be faster than most other professions. Opportunities in the mining engineering profession will always be available due to the need to provide resources for the nation and the world in a safe and environmentally-friendly manner.
Mining and geological engineers design mines to safely and efficiently remove minerals for use in manufacturing and utilities.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics | Click the link for more info.
Median Salary
$100,640
per year in 2023
Number of Jobs
7,500
in 2023
Many mining and geological engineers work where mining operations are located, such as mineral mines or sand-and-gravel quarries, in remote areas or near cities and towns. Others work in offices or onsite for oil and gas extraction firms or engineering services firms.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
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Jack Groppo, Ph.D.
Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies
Department of Mining Engineering
john.groppo@uky.eduPigman College of Engineering
Department of Mining Engineering
230 Mining and Mineral Resources Building
Lexington, KY 40506-0107
(859) 257-8026
