The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), a professional accrediting organization, reviews educational programs. The ABET accreditation process, a voluntary, non-governmental process of peer review, helps assure quality in educational programs. ABET-accredited educational programs must meet certain defined standards.

Accreditation serves to notify ...

• parents and prospective students that a program has met minimum standards;
• faculty, deans, and administrators of a program's strengths and weaknesses and of ways to improve the program;
• employers that graduates are prepared to begin professional practice;
• taxpayers that their funds are spent well; and
• the public that graduates are aware of public health and safety considerations.

The present accreditation process requires each educational program to participate in a loop of self-examination and improvement:

• Definition of desired program objectives and outcomes.
• Collection and evaluation of data regarding how well objectives and outcomes are being reached.
• Formulation and pursuit of appropriate means of better accomplishing objectives and outcomes.
• Repetition of the process beginning with re-evaluation of objectives and outcomes.

Mining Engineering Program Educational Objectives

Interactions among industry, alumni, students and the faculty led to the following specific program educational objectives:

1. To provide graduates with a firm foundation in mathematics, the basic sciences, and general engineering. This objective addresses outcomes related to ABET Criterion 3a.

2. To provide graduates with a strong foundation in the core mining engineering fundamentals. This objective addresses outcomes related to program criteria.

3. To provide graduates with the knowledge of relevant technologies as well as techniques, skills, and tools needed for modern mining engineering practice. This objective addresses outcomes related to ABET Criterion 3k.

4. To develop problem solving and design capabilities in graduates. This objective addresses outcomes related to Criteria 3b, 3c, and 3e.

5. To instill in graduates a sense of creativity and enthusiasm for life-long learning. This objective addresses outcomes related to ABET Criterion 3i.

6. To instill in graduates a sense of effective professional attributes. This objective addresses outcomes related to ABET Criteria 3d, 3f, and 3g.

7. To provide graduates with a breath of knowledge. This objective addresses outcomes related to ABET Criteria 3h and 3j.

8. If selected, to provide graduates with a strong foundation of working knowledge in an area of emphasis, i.e., explosives or quarrying engineering or coal mining.

Mining Engineering Program Outcomes

A Mining Engineering B.S. graduate from the Missouri S&T will achieve the following program outcomes:

• a. Be proficient in mathematics to a level of differential equations.
• b. Have an understanding of physics, including mechanics, electric circuits, and thermodynamics.
• c. Be knowledgeable in basic chemistry.
• d. Be competent in the knowledge of and applying engineering science in mining engineering.
• e. Understand the engineering method.
• f. Solve both closed-end (single solution) and open-ended (multiple solution) problems with increasing difficulty throughout the curriculum.
• g. Have ability to identify and formulate problems from a verbal or written statement including defining objectives and constraints.
• h. Be capable of conducting a literature survey and collect data and background material from appropriate sources.
• i. Have the ability to formulate and solve engineering analysis problems.
• j. Have a firm understanding of the design process.
• k. Appreciate the non-technical aspects of a design including environmental, socio-economic and regulatory impacts and constraints.
• l. Have the ability to successfully consider ambiguity and poorly defined problems.
• m. Be able to design experiments to efficiently collect data to test a hypothesis or design a component using:
  • i. Mathematical and/or statistical methods.
  • ii.Basic sciences and engineering science background.
  • iii. Knowledge of the scientific/engineering method.
• n. Be able to conduct experiments and collect information with:
  • i. An understanding of equipment and measurement systems.
  • ii. Knowledge of the process through background of engineering/basic sciences.
• o. Be capable of drawing and presenting conclusions from experimental results through data analysis using:
  • i. Experience in mathematical and statistical methods.
  • ii. Appropriate forms of graphical presentation of data.
  • iii. Skills in data interpretation to draw important conclusions.
  • iv. Ability to transmit information effectively in verbal and written forms.
• p. Be able to function effectively on a team by understanding:
  • i. Team dynamics.
  • ii. Team communication.
  • iii. Social norms.
  • iv. Conflict management.
• q. Regarding engineering ethics, students will
  • i. Possess knowledge of the engineering code of ethics.
  • ii. Possess knowledge of the impacts of mining engineering solutions on safety and quality.
  • iii. Be exposed to mining engineering case studies that include an ethical component.
  • iv. Possess knowledge of the steps required to obtain professional registration.
  • v. Possess an awareness of the need to maintain knowledge of the current advances in mining engineering.
• r. A Mining Engineering graduate from the Missouri S&T will communicate effectively:
  • i. In written form, to include use of graphs and tables.
  • ii. Orally, to include use of graphs and tables, in prepared presentations and extemporaneously.
  • iii. In preparing technical material for a non-technical audience.
  • iv. By accepting and understanding others communications
• s. A Mining Engineering graduate from the Missouri S&T will:
  • i. Demonstrate exposure to issues in the humanities.
  • ii. Be experienced in informal discussions on current issues.
  • iii. Interact with students and faculty from other disciplines and cultural backgrounds.
  • iv. Possess an understanding of how to bring global/societal issues into design criteria and constraints.
• t. A Mining Engineering graduate from Missouri S&T will:
  • i. Have an ability to identify and utilize resources independently.
  • ii. Appreciate the need for participating in continuing education and pursuing the professional engineer examination after graduation.
• u. A Mining Engineering graduate from the Missouri S&T will have knowledge of contemporary engineering issues, as demonstrated by:
  • i. Completion of the general education requirements.
  • ii. Involvement in professional societies.
  • iii. Participation in student activities.
  • iv. Reading of professional journals.
  • v. Successful completion of Min 151 and Min 322, which involve web page browsing
• v. A Mining Engineering graduate from the Missouri S&T will:
  • i. Have a working knowledge of computers, including the following tools:
    • a. The ability to use an equation solver such as MATLAB or MATHCAD.
    • b. The ability to use visualization and 3-D simulations.
  • ii. The ability to use a spreadsheet.
  • iii. The ability to use a word processor.
  • iv. The ability to use contouring, mapping and graphical software.
  • v. The ability to use modern mine design and planning tools.
  • vi. The ability to use CAD software.
  • vii. Knowledge of and proficiency using email.
  • viii. The ability to access and effectively collect information from the worldwide web.
  • ix. Be capable of effectively using engineering science techniques.
  • x. Have a working knowledge of mining equipment/instrumentation.
• w.A Mining Engineering graduate from the Missouri S&T will appreciate the impact of economics and safety issues on engineering designs, as demonstrated by:
  • i. Student work/portfolio in Min 151, Min 218, Min 231, Min 270, and Min 322.
  • ii. Student work/portfolio in design projects in Min 217, Min 322, Min 325, and Min 343.
  • iii. Student work/portfolio in the capstone design course.
• x. Upper Division Mining Engineering Students will be responsible for mentoring of lower division students, as demonstrated by:
  • i. Membership in the student chapters of professional societies.
  • ii. Participation in student activities.
  • iii. Participation in joint activities at the Experimental Mine
• y. Mining Engineering Classes Emphasize Faculty Teams and Innovative Learning, as demonstrated by:
  • i. Faculty team participation in courses.
  • ii. Use of open-ended case studies in the curriculum.
  • iii. Required use of technical and non-technical literature in courses.
  • iv. Encouragement of discussion, role-playing, and debate in courses.
  • v. Course materials integrate new electronic media such as interactive web pages and CD-ROM resources.
  • vi. Faculty members serve as student chapter advisers and facilitators of student activities.
• z. Mining Engineering Students are exposed to practical engineering practice, as demonstrated by:
  • i. The use of open-ended case studies in courses.
  • ii. Internships and coops in industry.
  • iii. The use of industry-driven design projects.
    • aa. Mining Engineering Students appreciate the importance of professional activities, as demonstrated by joining professional societies,attending technical meetings, activities in student chapters.
    • bb. Engineering design motivates and drives the learning process, as demonstrated by an integrated design experience throughout thecurriculum