The mining industry will hire countless professionals who will oversee the building and planning of underground and above-ground mines, not to mention mining equipment. If you are interested in entering this field, you can get a mining engineer degree from a college or university that will qualify you to work in such a capacity. You will, of course, need to graduate from high school or earn an equivalent qualification before you can earn a mining engineer degree, and while you are in high school, it is a good idea to pay close attention to math and science coursework.
Before you graduate from high school, you will need to start researching various educational institutions that will offer a mining engineer degree. Find a few programs that interest you and apply to more than one so you can have a back-up plan should you not be accepted to your first choice. You can also start exploring options for paying for your education, as tuition rates can be quite high at some schools. Scholarships, grants, and loans are usually available for students in need, and your senior year of high school is a good time to start exploring such options if you want to earn a mining engineer degree.
Once you are accepted to a particular program, it is a good idea to meet with an academic advisor who can help you structure your course schedule. Think carefully about what types of careers interest you, as this will have an impact on what coursework you take. This is especially important if the school you attend does not offer a mining engineer degree, but instead a broader engineering degree such as structural, mechanical, or even chemical engineering. An academic advisor can help you decide which courses will most appropriately prepare you for a job in mining engineering.
Find out what types of qualifications you will need to get the jobs you want. In some cases, you may need to continue on to get a master's degree once you have earned your bachelor's degree. This is common if you want to teach or do research in the field. Sometimes it is possible to get hired by a mining company after your earn your mining engineering degree; you can then work toward a master's degree as you work. The mining company may even help you pay for your additional education, though this is not always the case.
