This certificate will give students an introduction to tailings and mine waste concepts and practices with this four-course series that instills key core competencies and skills needed to practice as a tailings engineer. Students learn how, and why, to apply aspects of tailings engineering. This certificate program prepares engineers or other professionals in the geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering needed to practice the environmental stewardship of mine waste from planning through implementation to post closure.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion, students will be able to:

  1. Identify fundamental components tailings management.
  2. Define fundamental properties of tailings and mine waste that govern engineering behavior.
  3. Analyze engineering performance of tailings and mine waste storage facilities.
  4. Assess strength, volume change, and fluid flow behavior of tailings.
  5. Collaborate on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) aspects of tailings management.

Effective Fall 2023

Additional coursework may be required due to prerequisites.

CIVE 555Mining Geotechnics3
Select 3 courses from the following:9
Slope Stability, Seepage, and Earth Dams
Containment Systems for Waste Disposal
Special Topics in Geotechnical Engineering
Advanced Soil Mechanics
Advanced Topics in Geo-Engineering
Program Total Credits:12

*This certificate may have courses in common with other graduate certificates.  A student may earn more than one certificate, but a given course may be counted only in one certificate program.