Program Description
Because metallurgical engineers are needed all over the world, graduates of our program experience a higher job placement percentage and larger starting salaries than they would in nearly any other undergraduate program. Our program has world-renowned faculty in their respective fields whose teaching expertise supports a creative learning environment. Undergraduate research positions are also available to help prepare students for their future careers.
Metallurgical Engineering involves the study, design, implementation, and improvement of processes that transform rocks and minerals into metal and mineral products that make our life better.
Metallurgical engineering students take courses in:
- particle separation technology, which focuses on particle separation, processing, and recycling, and includes particle characterization, comminution, size separation, flotation, coal preparation, remediation of nuclear materials, automatic control and process engineering of particles including metal powders, energy-related minerals, pigments, and ceramics;
- chemical metallurgy, which focuses on metal removal, processing, and recycling into a purified metal and includes heterogeneous reaction kinetics, transport phenomena, computer modeling, leaching, solution purification, ion exchange, solvent extraction, precipitation, roasting, reduction, smelting, ironmaking, and steelmaking;
- and physical metallurgy, which focuses on metal casting, forming, joining, and metal property evaluation and optimization and includes phase transformations, powder metallurgy, metallography, functionally graded materials, composites, magnetic materials, thin-film processing, fatigue, positron annihilation, rapid solidification, metal failure analysis, and corrosion.
Emphases
- Biomedical Devices And Sensors
- Chemical Processing
- Energy Conversion & Storage
- Mineral Particle Processing
- Nuclear
- Physical Metallurgy
Mission Statement
The central theme of the program is the study of all aspects of metallic materials, from their initial recovery and production through their development, manufacture, and use. The primary academic goals of the program include undergraduate and graduate education as well as research training of undergraduate and graduate students. The program strives to produce graduates with the necessary breadth of technical skills in extraction, process, and plant design, and development, characterization, and manufacture of all metallic materials and components, that will make them strong competitors in the job market created by the mining, metallurgical, materials, manufacturing, and electronics industries. The program offers exceptional opportunities for graduate students to undertake research in a wide range of fields at a level that extends the frontiers of knowledge.
Career Opportunities
Metallurgical Engineers play a key role in the nation’s well-being because of the importance of metals and minerals in modern society.
The broad use of metals and minerals in our society leads to a wide array of job opportunities.
Our graduates work for companies such as Lockheed-Martin, BHP Steel, Rio Tinto, Nucor Steel, Aker Kvaerner, Freeport McMoRan, Chevron, GSC Foundries, Westinghouse, US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Boart Longyear, Barrick, 1M Flash Technologies, Williams International, Newmont Gold, IBM, National Semiconductor, MEMC Electronics, Fluor Daniel, Samsung, Parker Aerospace, Johnson Matthey, Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory.
The average starting salary for students graduating with a bachelor's degree in Metallurgical Engineering is approximately $60,000/yr. Job placement for metallurgical engineers is typically near 100%.