Mining Engineering (B.Eng.) (144 credits)
Offered by: Mining & Materials Engineering (Faculty of Engineering)
Degree: Bachelor of Engineering
Program credit weight: 144 credits
Program Description
***Enrolment in this program is subject to departmental approval, please consult with an Academic Advisor within the appropriate program further to discuss your suitability in this program.***
The Department offers a Major in Mining Engineering Program leading to an accredited B.Eng. degree in Mining Engineering. The program focuses on the science and engineering of sustainable extraction of mineral aresources. It contains two streams: English for non-CEGEP students and Bilingual (six courses in French) for CEGEP students, in collaboration with the mining engineering program at Polytechnique Montreal. The program includes projects that are reinforced by field trips to industrial operations.
B.Eng.; Major in Mining Engineering
Program credit weight: 144-145 credits
Program credit weight for CEGEP students: 115-116 credits
Entry into the Major in Mining Engineering
Students in Mining can be admitted only into the B.Eng.; Co-op in Mining Engineering. There is no direct entry to the Major in Mining Engineering (which does not include the work terms required for the Co-op program).
Students may enter the Major in Mining Engineering if they wish at any point in time during their study. To transfer into the Major program, students must obtain approval from the department adviser and submit a Request for Course Authorization form to the McGill Engineering Student Centre (Frank Dawson Adams, Room 22).
Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.
Required Year 0 (Freshman) Courses (29 credits)
Generally, students admitted to Engineering from Quebec CEGEPs are granted transfer credit for these Year 0 (Freshman) courses and enter a 115- to 116-credit program.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 110 | General Chemistry 1. | 4 |
General Chemistry 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A study of the fundamental principles of atomic structure, radiation and nuclear chemistry, valence theory, coordination chemistry, and the periodic table. | ||
| CHEM 120 | General Chemistry 2. | 4 |
General Chemistry 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A study of the fundamental principles of physical chemistry. | ||
| MATH 133 | Linear Algebra and Geometry. | 3 |
Linear Algebra and Geometry. Terms offered: Summer 2025 Systems of linear equations, matrices, inverses, determinants; geometric vectors in three dimensions, dot product, cross product, lines and planes; introduction to vector spaces, linear dependence and independence, bases. Linear transformations. Eigenvalues and diagonalization. | ||
| MATH 140 | Calculus 1. | 3 |
Calculus 1. Terms offered: Summer 2025 Review of functions and graphs. Limits, continuity, derivative. Differentiation of elementary functions. Antidifferentiation. Applications. | ||
| MATH 141 | Calculus 2. | 4 |
Calculus 2. Terms offered: Summer 2025 The definite integral. Techniques of integration. Applications. Introduction to sequences and series. | ||
| PHYS 131 | Mechanics and Waves. | 4 |
Mechanics and Waves. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The basic laws and principles of Newtonian mechanics; oscillations, waves, and wave optics. | ||
| PHYS 142 | Electromagnetism and Optics. | 4 |
Electromagnetism and Optics. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The basic laws of electricity and magnetism; geometrical optics. | ||
AND 3 credits selected from the approved list of courses in Humanities and Social Sciences, Management Studies and Law, listed below under Complementary Studies (Group B).
Note: FACC 100 Introduction to the Engineering Profession. must be taken during the first year of study.
Required Non-Departmental Courses (37 credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CIVE 205 | Statics. | 3 |
Statics. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Systems of forces and couples, resultants, equilibrium. Trusses, frames and beams, reactions, shear forces, bending moments. Centroids, centres of gravity, distributed forces, moments of inertia. Friction, limiting equilibrium, screws, belts. | ||
| CIVE 207 | Solid Mechanics. | 4 |
Solid Mechanics. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Stress-strain relationships; elastic and inelastic behaviour; performance criteria. Elementary and compound stress states, Mohr's circle. Shear strains, torsion. Bending and shear stresses in flexural members. Deflections of beams. Statically indeterminate systems under flexural and axial loads. Columns. Dynamic loading. | ||
| COMP 208 | Computer Programming for Physical Sciences and Engineering . 2 | 3 |
Computer Programming for Physical Sciences and Engineering . Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Programming and problem solving in a high level computer language: variables, expressions, types, functions, conditionals, loops, objects and classes. Introduction to algorithms such as searching and sorting. Modular software design, libraries, file input and output, debugging. Emphasis on applications in Physical Sciences and Engineering, such as root finding, numerical integration, diffusion, Monte Carlo methods. | ||
| COMP 250 | Introduction to Computer Science. 2 | 3 |
Introduction to Computer Science. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Mathematical tools (binary numbers, induction,recurrence relations, asymptotic complexity,establishing correctness of programs). Datastructures (arrays, stacks, queues, linked lists,trees, binary trees, binary search trees, heaps,hash tables). Recursive and non-recursivealgorithms (searching and sorting, tree andgraph traversal). Abstract data types. Objectoriented programming in Java (classes andobjects, interfaces, inheritance). Selected topics. | ||
| ECSE 209 | Electrotechnology. | 3 |
Electrotechnology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. DC and AC circuit analysis with application to electrical instrumentation, motors, and other common devices. Equations describing exponential and oscillatory behaviour of basic circuits and automatic control loops, with application in diverse engineering contexts (transportation, processing plants, environmental surveying). Overview of common devices including sensors (pH meters, photoresistor, photodiode, thermocouple, strain gauge, gas detection), actuators, and motors (single- and three-phase). In-class demonstrations involving programmed microcontrollers to activate LEDs and stepper-motor based actuators. Introduction to hierarchical control, linking low-level sensor-driven adjustments to higher-level control. | ||
| EPSC 221 | General Geology. | 3 |
General Geology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An introductory course in physical geology designed for majors in civil and mining engineering. Properties of rocks and minerals, major geological processes, together with natural hazards and their effects on engineered structures are emphasized. The laboratory is an integral part of the course which includes rock and mineral identification, basic techniques of airphoto and geological map interpretation, and structural geology. | ||
| EPSC 225 | Properties of Minerals. | 1 |
Properties of Minerals. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Survey of the physical and chemical properties of the main mineral groups. Discussion of their relationships to the chemical composition and structure of minerals. The practical exercises emphasize the physical and chemical properties that relate to industrial uses and environmental issues, and the identification of hand specimens. | ||
| FACC 100 | Introduction to the Engineering Profession. 1 | 1 |
Introduction to the Engineering Profession. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Introduction to engineering practice; rights and code of conduct for students; professional conduct and ethics; engineer's duty to society and the environment; sustainable development; occupational health and safety; overview of the engineering disciplines taught at McGill. | ||
| FACC 250 | Responsibilities of the Professional Engineer. | 0 |
Responsibilities of the Professional Engineer. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A course designed to provide all Engineering students with further training regarding their responsibilities as future Professional Engineers. Particular focus will be placed on three professional characteristics that future engineers must demonstrate: i) professionalism, ii) ethical and equitable behaviour, and iii) consideration of the impact of engineering on society and the environment. | ||
| FACC 300 | Engineering Economy. | 3 |
Engineering Economy. Terms offered: Summer 2025 Introduction to the basic concepts required for the economic assessment of engineering projects. Topics include: accounting methods, marginal analysis, cash flow and time value of money, taxation and depreciation, discounted cash flow analysis techniques, cost of capital, inflation, sensitivity and risk analysis, analysis of R and D, ongoing as well as new investment opportunities. | ||
| FACC 400 | Engineering Professional Practice. | 1 |
Engineering Professional Practice. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Laws, regulations and codes governing engineering professional practice. Responsibility and liability. Environmental legislation. Project and organization management. Relations between engineer and client. Technical practice - analysis, design, execution and operation. | ||
| MATH 262 | Intermediate Calculus. | 3 |
Intermediate Calculus. Terms offered: Summer 2025 Series and power series, including Taylor's theorem. Brief review of vector geometry. Vector functions and curves. Partial differentiation and differential calculus for vector valued functions. Unconstrained and constrained extremal problems. Multiple integrals including surface area and change of variables. | ||
| MATH 263 | Ordinary Differential Equations for Engineers. | 3 |
Ordinary Differential Equations for Engineers. Terms offered: Summer 2025 First order ODEs. Second and higher order linear ODEs. Series solutions at ordinary and regular singular points. Laplace transforms. Linear systems of differential equations with a short review of linear algebra. | ||
| MATH 264 | Advanced Calculus for Engineers. | 3 |
Advanced Calculus for Engineers. Terms offered: Summer 2025 Review of multiple integrals. Differential and integral calculus of vector fields including the theorems of Gauss, Green, and Stokes. Introduction to partial differential equations, separation of variables, Sturm-Liouville problems, and Fourier series. | ||
| MECH 289 | Design Graphics. | 3 |
Design Graphics. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The design process, including free-hand sketching; from geometry construction to engineering construction; the technology and standards of engineering graphic communication; designing with CAD software. The role of visualization in the production of engineering designs. | ||
| WCOM 206 | Communication in Engineering. | 3 |
Communication in Engineering. Terms offered: Summer 2025 Written and oral communication in Engineering (in English): strategies for generating, developing, organizing, and presenting ideas in a technical setting; problem-solving; communicating to different audiences; editing and revising; and public speaking. Course work based on academic, technical, and professional writing in engineering. | ||
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Note: FACC 100 Introduction to the Engineering Profession. must be taken during the first year of study.
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Note: Students choose either COMP 208 or COMP 250.
Required Mining Engineering Courses (47 credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MIME 200 | Introduction to the Minerals Industry. | 3 |
Introduction to the Minerals Industry. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Economic importance of the minerals industry. Mining: legislation, regulations, criteria for exploiting an ore: mining methods, equipment. Extractive metallurgy: mineral processing, hydrometallurgy, pyrometallurgy. Environmental protection. | ||
| MIME 203 | Mine Surveying. | 2 |
Mine Surveying. Terms offered: Summer 2025 Introduction to surveying. Definitions and mathematics. Measurement of levels, angles and distances. Fundamentals of control surveying. Underground mine surveying. GPS and laser applications. | ||
| MIME 209 | Mathematical Applications. | 3 |
Mathematical Applications. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Introduction to stochastic modelling of mining and metallurgical engineering processes. Description and analysis of data distributions observed in mineral engineering applications. Modelling with linear regression analysis. Taylor series application to error and uncertainty propagation. Metallurgical mass balance adjustments. | ||
| MIME 260 | Materials Science and Engineering. | 3 |
Materials Science and Engineering. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Structure properties and fabrication of metals, polymers, ceramics, composites; engineering properties: tensile, fracture, creep, oxidation, corrosion, friction, wear; fabrication and joining methods; principles of materials selection. | ||
| MIME 322 | Fragmentation and Comminution. | 3 |
Fragmentation and Comminution. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Principles of drilling, penetration rates, and factors affecting the choice of drilling method. Characteristics of explosives, firing systems and blast patterns. Blasting techniques in surface and underground workings. Special blasting techniques at excavation perimeters. Vibration and noise control. Mechanical and continuous approaches to fragmentation, including longwall shearing and fullface boring. Economics of drill/blast practice, interface with transport and crushing systems, drivers for mine-to-mill integration including energy considerations. Modelling of fragment and particle size distributions; comminution as a transfer function. Comminution technology: crushing, grinding, size classification. Integrated analysis of fragmentation and comminution operations. | ||
| MIME 323 | Rock and Soil Mass Characterization. | 3 |
Rock and Soil Mass Characterization. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Characteristics of soil and rock masses and the stability of mine workings. Mechanical properties of rocks and soils related to physical/chemical properties. Characterization of rock mass discontinuities. Laboratory and in-situ techniques to define mechanical properties of soils, rocks and discontinuities. Permeability and groundwater flow principles. In-situ stresses and their measurement. Rock mass quality and classification systems. | ||
| MIME 325 | Mineral Industry Economics. | 3 |
Mineral Industry Economics. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Geographical distribution of mineral resources. Production, consumption and prices of minerals. Market structure of selected minerals. Economic evaluation aspects: grade-tonnage considerations; capital and operating cost estimation; assessment of market conditions; estimation of revenue; taxation; sensitivity and risk analyses; economic optimization of mine development and extraction. | ||
| MIME 333 | Materials Handling. | 3 |
Materials Handling. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Physical and mechanical characteristics of materials related to loading, transport and storage. Dynamics of particles, systems and rigid bodies, mass-acceleration, work-energy, impulse-momentum. Types and selection of excavation and haulage equipment. Layout of haul roads. Rail transport. Conveyor belts and chain conveyors. Mine hoists. Layout of mine shafts. | ||
| MIME 340 | Applied Fluid Dynamics. | 3 |
Applied Fluid Dynamics. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Flow analysis and manometry. Conservation of mass and momentum. Flow in pipes and ducts, analysis of pipe networks. First and second law of thermodynamics and their applications. Open channel flows. Dimensional analysis and similitude. Flow measurements. Settling and separation of particles. Non-Newtonian flow and slurry transport. Fluidized beds. Filtration of liquid/solid mixtures. Conduction heat transfer. Convection heat transfer. Principle of heat exchanger. | ||
| MIME 341 | Introduction to Mineral Processing. | 3 |
Introduction to Mineral Processing. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Theory and practice of unit operations including: size reduction-crushing and grinding; size separation-screening and classification; mineral separation-flotation, magnetic and gravity separation. Equipment and circuit design and selection. Mass balancing. Laboratory procedures: grindability, liberation, magnetic and gravity separation, flotation and solid-liquid separation. | ||
| MIME 413 | Strategic Mine Planning With Uncertainty. | 3 |
Strategic Mine Planning With Uncertainty. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Strategic decision-making for mine planning given uncertain metal supply from orebodies and commodity demand. Stochastic optimization techniques in mine design and production scheduling. Uncertainty quantification and orebody representation. Stochastic mine optimization in applications from open pit and underground metal mines. Introduction to sustainable development and utilization of mineral resources. | ||
| MIME 419 | Surface Mining. | 3 |
Surface Mining. Terms offered: Summer 2025 Choice of a surface mining method. Analysis of soil and rock mass properties related to surface mining. Calculation and monitoring of stripping ratios, ultimate pit depth, slope stability, rock reinforcement, bench and berm dimensioning and ramp design. Loading and hauling systems. Surface layout and development. Water drainage systems. Production and cost analysis. Computerized design techniques. | ||
| MIME 422 | Mine Ventilation. | 3 |
Mine Ventilation. Terms offered: Summer 2025 Statutory regulations and engineering design criteria. Occupational health hazards of mine gases, dusts, etc. Ventilation system design. Natural and mechanical ventilation. Measuring and modelling air flow in ventilation networks. Calculation of head losses. Selection of mine ventilation fans. Air heating and cooling. Aspects of economics. | ||
| MIME 425 | Applied Stochastic Orebody Modelling. | 3 |
Applied Stochastic Orebody Modelling. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Representing uncertainty in orebody models and shortcomings of conventional methods including reserve reporting and mine planning. Stochastic spatial sequential simulation methods. Joint simulation of multiple correlated elements. Simulation material types. Introduction to geometallurgical modelling. Additional drilling, reserve classification, grade control and mine planning optimization. Risk quantification in life-of-mine production schedules. | ||
| MIME 426 | Mine Design and Prefeasibility Study. | 6 |
Mine Design and Prefeasibility Study. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A case study design exercise. Design and selection of the facilities required to start production. Use of design criteria dictated by mining plans, geography, geology and government regulations. Professional appraisal of the technical and economic prefeasibility of developing a mineral deposit. Students prepare a professional-level report and seminar presentation. | ||
Complementary Courses (31-32 credits)
17 credits from one of Stream A or Stream B
Stream A - CEGEP Students
CEGEP students must take the following courses:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MPMC 321 | Mécanique des roches et contrôle des terrains. 1 | 3 |
Mécanique des roches et contrôle des terrains. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Pressions de terrains au pourtour des excavations: solutions analytiques et numériques. Stabilité des excavations souterraines et à ciel ouvert: analyse des instabilités structurales par projection stéréographique méridienne, analyse des instabilités causées par les excès de contraintes. Soutènement. Surveillance. Études de cas. | ||
| MPMC 326 | Recherche opérationnelle I. 1 | 3 |
Recherche opérationnelle I. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Logistique minière. Modèles de localisation optimale: Steiner, HAP, construction itérative. Modèles de détermination des contours optimaux des exploitations à ciel ouvert: conventionnels, Lerchs et Grossman, Ford et Fulkerson. Programmation dynamique et modèles d'optimisation du taux de production et de la teneur de coupure. Modèles de planification: cheminement critique et PERT, programmation linéaire et non-linéaire, théorie des graphes. Modèles de capacité: théorie des files d'attente, simulation, silos et stockage. Modèles de mélange. | ||
| MPMC 328 | Environnement et gestion des rejets miniers. 1 | 3 |
Environnement et gestion des rejets miniers. Terms offered: Summer 2025 Effets du milieu de travail sur l'homme (hygiène du travail) : législation; contraintes thermiques, problèmes de bruit, de contaminants gazeux et de poussières; techniques de mesures. Effets de l'exploitation d'une mine sur le milieu (environnement et écologie) : législation; études d'impacts; effluents miniers: origine, nature et traitement des effluents; entreposage des résidus; restauration des sites. | ||
| MPMC 329 | Géologie minière. 1 | 2 |
Géologie minière. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Méthodes de cartographie minière, de sondages et d'échantillonnage. Notion de teneur de coupure, calcul des réserves par les méthodes conventionnelles. Évaluation des réserves par les méthodes géostatistiques. | ||
| MPMC 330 | Géotechnique minière. 1 | 3 |
Géotechnique minière. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Propriétes mécaniques des matériaux meubles. Conception d'empilements et de digues de rétention pour les matériaux miniers. Conception de structures enfouies. Problèmes particuliers avec les résidus miniers: liquéfaction, déposition, etc. Écoulement gravitaire des matériaux meubles. | ||
| MPMC 421 | Exploitation en souterrain. 1 | 3 |
Exploitation en souterrain. Terms offered: Summer 2025 Étude des caractéristiques des principales méthodes d'abattage utilisées en souterrain. Méthodes d'analyse simplifiée d'un gisement quant à son exploitation en fosse ou en souterrain. Dimensionnement des ouvrages et choix des équipements. Calculs des quantités, des équipements et des coûts reliés aux excavations souterraines. Conception d'un circuit de remblai hydraulique. | ||
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Mining courses taken at Polytechnique Montréal
Stream B - Non-CEGEP Students
Non-CEGEP students must take the following courses:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CIVE 208 | Civil Engineering System Analysis. | 3 |
Civil Engineering System Analysis. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Introduction to civil engineering systems; system modelling process; systems approach and optimization techniques; application of linear programming; simplex method; duality theory; sensitivity analysis; transportation problem; assignment problem; network analysis including critical path method; integer linear programming method. | ||
| MIME 329 | Mining Geology. | 2 |
Mining Geology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Methods of field mapping (e.g., geology, structure), drilling and sampling; concept of cut-off grade; resource estimation by conventional and geostatistical methods. | ||
| MIME 330 | Mining Geotechnics. | 3 |
Mining Geotechnics. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Properties of soils; permeability and seepage; effective stress concept; compressibility and settlement; lateral earth pressure; soil compaction; stability and design of embankments and mine tailings dams; problems related to mine tailings: liquefaction and disposal; gravitational flow of soils; buried structures. | ||
| MIME 421 | Rock Mechanics. | 3 |
Rock Mechanics. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Stresses around excavations: analytical and numerical solutions. Stability of underground and surface excavations: structural instability analysis with stereonet, instability due to high stress. Rock supports. Monitoring. Case studies. | ||
| MIME 424 | Underground Mining Methods. | 3 |
Underground Mining Methods. Terms offered: Summer 2025 Fundamentals of underground mining methods; orebody characteristics and host rock; drilling and blasting procedures; general and specialized equipment; mining method selection criteria; cost estimation; calculation of cut-off grade, ore recovery and dilution; mine developments and underground infrastructure: raises, chutes, loading pockets, dump points, raises, and ore bins; mine safety practice. | ||
| MIME 428 | Environmental Mining Engineering. | 3 |
Environmental Mining Engineering. Terms offered: Summer 2025 Effect of mining on the environment: ecology, legislation, effluents and wastes, environmental impact. Acid mine drainage: prediction, treatment, prevention, control. Mineral processing agents. Solid wastes. Mine site closure, reclamation and monitoring. Economic aspects. Environmental practices. | ||
Technical Complementaries
List A
3-9 credits must be chosen from the following:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MIME 320 | Extraction of Energy Resources. | 3 |
Extraction of Energy Resources. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The extraction of energy resources, i.e. coal, gas, oil and tar sands. After a brief geological review, different extraction techniques for these substances will be discussed. Emphasis on problems such as northern mining and offshore oil extraction with reference to Canadian operations. Transportation and marketing. | ||
| MIME 442 | Analysis, Modelling and Optimization in Mineral Processing. | 3 |
Analysis, Modelling and Optimization in Mineral Processing. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Tools and methods of process analysis, modelling and optimization using flotation and comminution examples: sampling theory and statistics, data reconciliation, statistical experimental design. Kinetic models of flotation and comminution; simulation software. Residence time distributions: tanks-in-series and axial dispersion models. Combined flotation/comminution models. Introduction to geostatistics and data mining. | ||
| MIME 484 | Mining Project. | 3 |
Mining Project. Terms offered: Summer 2025 A mining research project to be completed during one semester. The project must be approved by an academic advisor. A comprehensive report and a seminar presentation are required for the project. | ||
| MIME 511 | Advanced Subsurface Ventilation and Air Conditioning. | 3 |
Advanced Subsurface Ventilation and Air Conditioning. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Fundamentals of air flow in underground mines. Thermodynamics of mine ventilation. Gases, dust, fire and Radon control. Thermal comfort. Mine heat transfer. Refrigeration systems, Ventilation-on-Demand. Optimization of mine ventilation design. | ||
| MIME 514 | Sustainability Analysis of Mining Systems. | 3 |
Sustainability Analysis of Mining Systems. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Concepts of sustainability analysis applied to mining projects. Case studies topics selected from: Stakeholder Engagement and Participation; Biodiversity and Conservation Management; Mine Water Management; Tailings and Waste Rock Management. Relationship between risk management and life-cycle assessment. Mass balancing and logistical modeling applied within the mining value chain, with an emphasis on sustainability. Quantification of systemic balances between environmental, economic and social indicators, using geostatistical simulations, discrete event simulation, and multi-objective optimization techniques. | ||
| MIME 520 | Stability of Rock Slopes. | 3 |
Stability of Rock Slopes. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Properties of structural discontinuities. Influence of geological structures on slope stability. Kinematic analysis. Limit equilibrium methods. Empirical methods. Numerical modelling. Slope stabilization and monitoring. Case studies. | ||
| MIME 527 | Selected Topics in Mineral Resource Engineering. | 3 |
Selected Topics in Mineral Resource Engineering. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A comprehensive study of selected topics in the mineral resource sector. | ||
| MIME 529 | Automation of Mining Systems. | 3 |
Automation of Mining Systems. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Foundational approach to mining automation, including aspects of artificial intelligence, robotic motion and digital communications technology, with connections to mining case studies. Mining system modelling applied to rock cutting, materials transport, and bunkerage, pitch, yaw and roll steering of mining machines. Control and robotics: digitization, discrete systems, sensors, actuators and real time algorithms. Data communication in mines. Simulation exercises. | ||
| MIME 544 | Analysis: Mineral Processing Systems 1. | 3 |
Analysis: Mineral Processing Systems 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The course covers three main topics: principles of separation, including data presentation, properties of recovery/ yield plots, technical and economic efficiency and identification of limits to separation; column flotation, hydrodynamics of collection and froth zones, mixing, scale-up and design, measurements and control; surface and electrochemistry, including absorption, surface charge, coagulation, electron transfer reactions, electrochemistry in plant practice. | ||
| MIME 545 | Analysis: Mineral Processing Systems 2. | 3 |
Analysis: Mineral Processing Systems 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Gold recovery (as a Professional Development Seminar): methods of recovery (gravity, flotation, cyanidation), refractory gold (roasting, pressure oxidation, bacterial leaching), dissolved gold recovery (Merrill-Crowe) and activated carbon methods. Sampling: definition of errors, sample extraction, size, and processing. Mass balancing: basic considerations, definition of networks, software. Blending: auto-correlation functions, transfer functions, blending systems. Effect of feed variability. | ||
| MIME 588 | Reliability Analysis of Mining Systems. | 3 |
Reliability Analysis of Mining Systems. Terms offered: Summer 2025 Statistics and probability theory used in reliability. Reliability analysis, measure and networks. Reliability prediction, modelling and testing. Concepts of preventive and corrective maintenance. Reliability based maintenance. Control and management of reliability systems. Quality and safety associated with maintenance analysis. Inventory control. Reliability based optimization. | ||
List B
0-6 credits can be chosen from the following or from other technical courses in Engineering, Management or Science with department approval.
Note: Not all courses are given annually; see the "Courses" section of this publication to know if a course is offered.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CIVE 416 | Geotechnical Engineering. | 3 |
Geotechnical Engineering. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Earth pressure theory, retaining walls, sheet pile walls, braced excavations. Slope stability analysis. 2D flow through isotropic and anisotropic soils. Bearing capacity and settlement of shallow foundations, stress distribution. Deep foundations, single pile, pile groups. Geotechnical investigation and reports. | ||
| CIVE 421 | Municipal Systems. | 3 |
Municipal Systems. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Design of water-related municipal services; sources of water and intake design; estimation of water demand and wastewater production rates; design, construction and maintenance of water distribution, wastewater and stormwater collection systems; pumps and pumping stations; pipe materials, network analysis and optimization; storage; treatment objectives for water and wastewater. | ||
| CIVE 573 | Hydraulic Structures. | 3 |
Hydraulic Structures. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Hydraulic aspects of the theory and design of hydraulic structures. Storage dams, spillways, outlet works, diversion works, drop structures, stone structures, conveyance and control structures, flow measurement and culverts. | ||
| CIVE 584 | Mechanics of Groundwater Flow. | 3 |
Mechanics of Groundwater Flow. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Origins and types of groundwater; Darcy's law; hydraulic anisotropy; conservation laws; fundamental equations of porous media flow; Laplace's and Poisson's equations: analytical solution of potential flow problems; determination of hydraulic conductivity; flow in unconfined and confined acquifers; seepage modelling; unsaturated flow; transient flows in porous media; introduction to computational methods. | ||
| COMP 417 | Introduction Robotics and Intelligent Systems. | 3 |
Introduction Robotics and Intelligent Systems. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. This course considers issues relevant to the design of robotic and of intelligent systems. How can robots move and interact. Robotic hardware systems. Kinematics and inverse kinematics. Sensors, sensor data interpretation and sensor fusion. Path planning. Configuration spaces. Position estimation. Intelligent systems. Spatial mapping. Multi-agent systems. Applications. | ||
| EPSC 303 | Structural Geology. | 3 |
Structural Geology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Primary igneous and sedimentary structures, attitudes of planes and lines, stress and strain, fracturing of rocks, faulting, homogeneous strain, description and classification of folds, foliation and lineation, orthographic and stereographic projections. | ||
| EPSC 320 | Elementary Earth Physics. | 3 |
Elementary Earth Physics. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Physical properties of Earth and the processes associated with its existence as inferred from astronomy, geodesy, seismology, geology, terrestrial magnetism and thermal evolution. | ||
| EPSC 325 | Environmental Geochemistry. | 3 |
Environmental Geochemistry. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The basic concepts and calculations needed to quantitatively understand the geochemical processes occurring between minerals and waters in Earth’s near-surface environment. The important concepts of thermodynamics and kinetics will be exemplified using examples that concentrate on reactions between minerals and water and their impact on the environment. | ||
| EPSC 549 | Hydrogeology. | 3 |
Hydrogeology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Introduction to groundwater flow through porous media. Notions of fluid potential and hydraulic head. Darcy flux and Darcy's Law. Physical properties of porous media and their measurement. Equation of groundwater flow. Flow systems. Hydraulics of pumping and recharging wells. Notions of hydrology. Groundwater quality and contamination. Physical processes of contaminant transport. | ||
| FINE 482 | International Finance 1. | 3 |
International Finance 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The international financial environment as it affects the multinational manager. Balance of payments concepts, adjustment process of the external imbalances and the international monetary system. In depth study of the institutional and theoretical aspects of foreign exchange markets; international capital markets, including Eurobonds and eurocredit markets. | ||
| MIME 290 | Industrial Work Period 1. | 2 |
Industrial Work Period 1. Terms offered: Summer 2025 A four-month work period in the mineral industry, to expose the student to an industrial environment. Candidates will receive basic industrial training. A complete report must be submitted at the end of the term. | ||
| MIME 556 | Sustainable Materials Processing. | 3 |
Sustainable Materials Processing. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Sustainability, population and environment impact, environmental impact indicators, materials flows, enthalpy flows, the carbon cycle, materials intensity, energy intensity, global warming potential, acidification potential, FACTOR-Two, -Four and -Ten, life-cycle-inventory/assessment, end-of-pipe strategies, supply-chain and flow-sheet redesign, recycling, waste treatment and materials case studies. | ||
| MPMC 320 | CAO et informatique pour les mines. 1 | 3 |
CAO et informatique pour les mines. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Présentation de techniques informatisées et de logiciels permettant d'appliquer l'informatique dans le cadre des diverses opérations reliées à l'exploitation des mines. Utilisation de logiciels de support: chiffrier électronique, traitement de texte, éditeur graphique, utilitaires de DOS. Utilisation de graphisme, de traceurs à plumes, de tablettes numérisantes, d'interfaces pour capteurs analogique/numérique et numérique/analogique. Notions de géométrie descriptive appliquées à des problèmes miniers. | ||
| SEAD 515 | Climate Change Adaptation and Engineering Infrastructure . | 3 |
Climate Change Adaptation and Engineering Infrastructure . Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Climate resilience and sustainability of engineering systems such as the built environment and engineering infrastructure in the context of a changing climate, possible mitigation and adaptation strategies and associated challenges and opportunities. Review of the basic principles that underpin the science of climate change; the role of global and regional climate models in predicting the behaviour of the climate system in response to different forcing scenarios, and the use of climate model outputs in support of across scale climate-resilience of various engineering systems including infrastructure systems. | ||
| SEAD 520 | Life Cycle-Based Environmental Footprinting . | 3 |
Life Cycle-Based Environmental Footprinting . Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Introduction to Life Cycle-Based Environmental Footprinting and the application of basic methods for life-cycle environmental inventory and impacts modeling. LCA theory and quantitative analysis, approaches for assessing and reducing the environmental impacts of product, process, and technology systems. System boundary and functional unit design approaches, process-based and input-output-based methods for modeling mass and energy flows in life-cycle systems. How LCA can facilitate sustainable technology innovation and deployment, behavioural and societal changes, and policies, standards and regulations. | ||
| SEAD 550 | Decision-Making for Sustainability in Engineering and Design. | 3 |
Decision-Making for Sustainability in Engineering and Design. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Role and importance of engineering decisions of environmental, social, and economic problems and the application of decision-making approaches and tools to engineering sustainability. Multi-criteria decision-making, uncertainty analysis, game theory, sustainability metrics, life cycle analysis evaluation and impact assessment methodologies, design problem formulation, stage-dependent strategies, case studies. | ||
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Mining courses taken at Polytechnique Montréal
Complementary Studies (6 credits)
Group A - Impact of Technology on Society
3 credits from the following:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH 212 | Anthropology of Development. | 3 |
Anthropology of Development. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Processes of developmental change, as they affect small communities in the Third World and in unindustrialized parts of developed countries. Problems of technological change, political integration, population growth, industrialization, urban growth, social services, infrastructure and economic dependency. | ||
| BTEC 502 | Biotechnology Ethics and Society. | 3 |
Biotechnology Ethics and Society. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Examination of particular social and ethical challenges posed by modern biotechnology such as benefit sharing, informed consent in the research setting, access to medical care worldwide, environmental safety and biodiversity and the ethical challenges posed by patenting life. | ||
| ECON 225 | Economics of the Environment. | 3 |
Economics of the Environment. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A study of the application of economic theory to questions of environmental policy. Particular attention will be given to the measurement and regulation of pollution, congestion and waste and other environmental aspects of specific economies. | ||
| ECON 347 | Economics of Climate Change. | 3 |
Economics of Climate Change. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The course focuses on the economic implications of, and problems posed by, predictions of global warming due to anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases. Attention is given to economic policies such as carbon taxes and tradeable emission permits and to the problems of displacing fossil fuels with new energy technologies. | ||
| ENVR 201 | Society, Environment and Sustainability. | 3 |
Society, Environment and Sustainability. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. This course deals with how scientific-technological, socio-economic, political-institutional and behavioural factors mediate society-environment interactions. Issues discussed include population and resources; consumption, impacts and institutions; integrating environmental values in societal decision-making; and the challenges associated with, and strategies for, promoting sustainability. Case studies in various sectors and contexts are used. | ||
| GEOG 200 | Geographical Perspectives: World Environmental Problems. | 3 |
Geographical Perspectives: World Environmental Problems. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Introduction to geography as the study of nature and human beings in a spatial context. An integrated approach to environmental systems and the human organization of them from the viewpoint of spatial relationships and processes. Special attention to environmental problems as a constraint upon Third World development. | ||
| GEOG 203 | Environmental Systems. | 3 |
Environmental Systems. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An introduction to system-level interactions among climate, hydrology, soils and vegetation at the scale of drainage basins, including the study of the global geographical variability in these land-surface systems. The knowledge acquired is used to study the impact on the environment of various human activities such as deforestation and urbanisation. | ||
| GEOG 205 | Global Change: Past, Present and Future. | 3 |
Global Change: Past, Present and Future. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An examination of global change, from the Quaternary Period to the present day involving changes in the physical geography of specific areas. Issues such as climatic change and land degradation will be discussed, with speculations on future environments. | ||
| GEOG 302 | Environmental Management 1. | 3 |
Environmental Management 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An ecological analysis of the physical and biotic components of natural resource systems. Emphasis on scientific, technological and institutional aspects of environmental management. Study of the use of biological resources and of the impact of individual processes. | ||
| MGPO 440 | Strategies for Sustainability. 1 | 3 |
Strategies for Sustainability. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. This course explores the relationship between economic activity, management, and the natural environment. Using readings, discussions and cases, the course will explore the challenges that the goal of sustainable development poses for our existing notions of economic goals, production and consumption practices and the management of organizations. | ||
| PHIL 343 | Biomedical Ethics. | 3 |
Biomedical Ethics. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An investigation of ethical issues as they arise in the practice of medicine (informed consent, e.g.) or in the application of medical technology (in vitro fertilization, euthanasia, e.g.) | ||
| RELG 270 | Religious Ethics and the Environment. | 3 |
Religious Ethics and the Environment. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Environmental potential of various religious traditions and secular perspectives, including animal rights, ecofeminism, and deep ecology. | ||
| SOCI 235 | Technology and Society. | 3 |
Technology and Society. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An examination of the extent to which technological developments impose constraints on ways of arranging social relationships in bureaucratic organizations and in the wider society: the compatibility of current social structures with the effective utilization of technology. | ||
| SOCI 312 | Sociology of Work and Industry. | 3 |
Sociology of Work and Industry. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The development of the world of work from the rise of industrial capitalism to the postindustrial age. Responses of workers and managers to changing organizational, technological and economic realities. Interrelations between changing demands in the workplace and the functioning of the labour market. Canadian materials in comparative perspective. | ||
| URBP 201 | Planning the 21st Century City. | 3 |
Planning the 21st Century City. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The study of how urban planners respond to the challenges posed by contemporary cities world-wide. Urban problems related to the environment, shelter, transport, human health, livelihoods and governance are addressed; innovative plans to improve cities and city life are analyzed. | ||
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Note: Management courses have limited enrolment and registration dates. See Important Dates at http://www.mcgill.ca/importantdates.
Group B - Humanities and Social Sciences, Management Studies, and Law
3 credits at the 200 level or higher from the following departments:
Anthropology (ANTH)
Economics (any 200- or 300-level course excluding ECON 227 Economic Statistics., and ECON 337 Introductory Econometrics 1.)
History (HIST)
Philosophy (excluding PHIL 210 Introduction to Deductive Logic 1. and PHIL 310 Intermediate Logic.)
Political Science (POLI)
Psychology (excluding PSYC 204 Introduction to Psychological Statistics. and PSYC 305 Statistics for Experimental Design., but including PSYC 100 Introduction to Psychology.)
Religious Studies (RELG) (excluding courses that principally impart language skills, such as Sanskrit, Tibetan, Tamil, New Testament Greek, and Biblical Hebrew)1
School of Social Work (SWRK)
Sociology (excluding SOCI 350 Statistics in Social Research.)
OR one of the following:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARCH 528 | History of Housing. | 3 |
History of Housing. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Indigenous housing both transient and permanent, from the standpoint of individual structure and pattern of settlements. The principal historic examples of houses including housing in the age of industrial revolution and contemporary housing. | ||
| BUSA 465 | Technological Entrepreneurship. 2 | 3 |
Technological Entrepreneurship. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Concentrating on entrepreneurship and enterprise development, particular attention is given to the start-up, purchasing and management of small to medium-sized industrial firms. The focal point is in understanding the dilemmas faced by entrepreneurs, resolving them, developing a business plan and the maximum utilization of the financial, marketing and human resources that make for a successful operation. | ||
| CLAS 203 | Greek Mythology. | 3 |
Greek Mythology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A survey of the myths and legends of Ancient Greece. | ||
| ENVR 203 | Knowledge, Ethics and Environment. | 3 |
Knowledge, Ethics and Environment. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Introduction to cultural perspectives on the environment: the influence of culture and cognition on perceptions of the natural world; conflicts in orders of knowledge (models, taxonomies, paradigms, theories, cosmologies), ethics (moral values, frameworks, dilemmas), and law (formal and customary, rights and obligations) regarding political dimensions of critical environments, resource use, and technologies. | ||
| ENVR 400 | Environmental Thought. | 3 |
Environmental Thought. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Students work in interdisciplinary seminar groups on challenging philosophical, ethical, scientific and practical issues. They will explore cutting-edge ideas and grapple with the reconciliation of environmental imperatives and social, political and economic pragmatics. Activities include meeting practitioners, attending guest lectures, following directed readings, and organizing, leading and participating in seminars. | ||
| FACC 220 | Law for Architects and Engineers. | 3 |
Law for Architects and Engineers. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Aspects of the law which affect architects and engineers. Definition and branches of law; Federal and Provincial jurisdiction, civil and criminal law and civil and common law; relevance of statutes; partnerships and companies; agreements; types of property, rights of ownership; successions and wills; expropriation; responsibility for negligence; servitudes/easements, privileges/liens, hypothecs/ mortgages; statutes of limitations; strict liability of architect, engineer and builder; patents, trade marks, industrial design and copyright; bankruptcy; labour law; general and expert evidence; court procedure and arbitration. | ||
| FACC 500 | Technology Business Plan Design. | 3 |
Technology Business Plan Design. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. This course combines several management functional areas such as marketing, financial, operations and strategy with the skills of creativity, engineering innovation, leadership and communications. Students learn how to design an effective and winning business plan around a technology or engineering project in small, medium or large enterprises. | ||
| FACC 501 | Technology Business Plan Project. | 3 |
Technology Business Plan Project. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Students work in teams to develop a comprehensive business plan project based on a technological or engineering innovation while utilizing site visits. | ||
| HISP 225 | Hispanic Civilization 1. | 3 |
Hispanic Civilization 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A survey of historical and cultural elements which constitute the background of the Hispanic world up to the 18th century; a survey of the pre-Columbian indigenous civilizations (Aztec, Maya and Inca) and the conquest of America. | ||
| HISP 226 | Hispanic Civilization 2. | 3 |
Hispanic Civilization 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A survey of the constitution of the ideological and political structures of the Spanish Empire in both Europe and America until the Wars of Independence; a survey of the culture and history of the Hispanic people from the early 19th Century to the present. | ||
| INDR 294 | Introduction to Labour-Management Relations. 2 | 3 |
Introduction to Labour-Management Relations. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An introduction to labour-management relations, the structure, function and government of labour unions, labour legislation, the collective bargaining process, and the public interest in industrial relations. | ||
| INTG 215 | Entrepreneurship Essentials for Non-Management Students. 3 | 3 |
Entrepreneurship Essentials for Non-Management Students. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Fundamental concepts, theories, and practices of entrepreneurship. Focus on identifying opportunities, developing business ideas, and understanding key components of starting and managing a business. | ||
| MATH 338 | History and Philosophy of Mathematics. | 3 |
History and Philosophy of Mathematics. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Egyptian, Babylonian, Greek, Indian and Arab contributions to mathematics are studied together with some modern developments they give rise to, for example, the problem of trisecting the angle. European mathematics from the Renaissance to the 18th century is discussed, culminating in the discovery of the infinitesimal and integral calculus by Newton and Leibnitz. Demonstration of how mathematics was done in past centuries, and involves the practice of mathematics, including detailed calculations, arguments based on geometric reasoning, and proofs. | ||
| MGCR 222 | Introduction to Organizational Behaviour. 2 | 3 |
Introduction to Organizational Behaviour. Terms offered: Summer 2025 Individual motivation and communication style; group dynamics as related to problem solving and decision making, leadership style, work structuring and the larger environment. Interdependence of individual, group and organization task and structure. | ||
| MGCR 352 | Principles of Marketing. 2 | 3 |
Principles of Marketing. Terms offered: Summer 2025 Introduction to marketing principles, focusing on problem solving and decision making. Topics include: the marketing concept; marketing strategies; buyer behaviour; Canadian demographics; internal and external constraints; product; promotion; distribution; price. Lectures, text material and case studies. | ||
| ORGB 321 | Leadership. 2 | 3 |
Leadership. Terms offered: Summer 2025 Leadership theories provide students with opportunities to assess and work on improving their leadership skills. Topics include: the ability to know oneself as a leader, to formulate a vision, to have the courage to lead, to lead creatively, and to lead effectively with others. | ||
| ORGB 423 | Human Resources Management. 2 | 3 |
Human Resources Management. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Issues involved in personnel administration. Topics include: human resource planning, job analysis, recruitment and selection, training and development, performance appraisal, organization development and change, issues in compensation and benefits, and labour-management relations. | ||
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If you are uncertain whether or not a course principally imparts language skills, please see an adviser in the McGill Engineering Student Centre (Frank Dawson Adams Building, Room 22) or email an adviser.
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Note: Management courses have limited enrolment and registration dates. See Important Dates at http://www.mcgill.ca/importantdates.
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INTG 215 Entrepreneurship Essentials for Non-Management Students. is not open to students who have taken INTG 201 Integrated Management Essentials 1. and INTG 202 Integrated Management Essentials 2..
Note regarding language courses: Language courses are not accepted to satisfy the Complementary Studies Group B requirement, effective for students who entered the program as of Fall 2017.