Metallurgical Engineering at University of Utah

Program Description

Metallurgical engineering involves the study, innovation, design, implementation, and improvement of processes that transform mineral resources and metals into useful products that improve the quality of our lives. This includes processing materials, like metals and alloys, to extract, refine and recycle metals. Without metallurgical engineering, we would not have the components we need to build buildings, aircraft, trains, ships, or even mountain bikes. Accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, the Metallurgical Engineering curriculum consists of coursework across the three main areas of metallurgy: mineral processing, chemical metallurgy, and physical metallurgy. Additional classes cover topics like metallurgical thermodynamics, fluid flow, kinetics, and heat and mass transport, as well as the general sciences (chemistry, engineering, physics, and math). Because society is so dependent on metals, metallurgical engineering has become an increasingly important area of study: continued economic and technical progress will depend on further advances in metal and mineral technology. This program additionally offers students the option to complete one of 6 emphases, allowing them to tailor their program to best fit their strengths and interests. Emphasis areas include:

• Biomedical Devices & Sensors
• Chemical Processing
• Energy Conversion & Storage
• Mineral Particle Processing
• Nuclear
• Physical Metallurgy

The Student Experience

For a more enriching academic experience, consider completing an internship or undergraduate research project, allowing you to gain real-world experience while still in school. The Crus Scholar program funds undergraduates to work directly with metallurgical engineering faculty on hands-on projects for year-long appointments with financial support for travel to present at a conference. Outside the classroom, students can get involved by joining a professional organization or club. Options include the department’s Student Advisory Committee, the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), the Society for Mining Metallurgy & Exploration (SME), the Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS), or the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management student chapter.

Career Opportunities

A degree in metallurgical engineering will prepare you to pursue a career in a great number of professional fields—including metals extraction/processing, aerospace, semi-conductors, nuclear energy, manufacturing, alternative energy, recycling, and biomedical engineering. Our program requires students to select an emphasis from 6 options that will allow them to specialize in a sub-field of their interest. Undergraduate student in metallurgical engineering is an excellent pre-cursor to graduate study in a number of different fields including nuclear engineering, chemical engineering, materials science and engineering, and metallurgical engineering. Students with degrees in metallurgical engineering are also qualified to be considered for positions posted for chemical engineers and materials scientists, since similar skill sets are used between these majors.