Professional Development Overlook

Professional Development

Building Knowledge in All Mining Disciplines

The School of Mining Engineering & Mineral Resources supports programs across the University of Arizona campus that advance the industry by educating working professionals. 

Boost your own career or deepen your employees’ understanding of the latest developments in the industry.

Arizona's Mining Industry

Empowering the Workforce

An important aspect of SMEMR’s mission is developing the current mining workforce through constantly updated course offerings led by top people in their respective fields.

With SMEMR professional development, workers can tailor the program to their needs through short courses, field study and certificate programs. The school also partners with companies to provide courses and certificates that address immediate business needs.

Professional Development Opportunities

Explore just some of the courses and training opportunities available through the School of Mining Engineering & Mineral Resources. Reach out to SMEMR if you would like to develop a course for your company or organization.

Caterpillar Mining 360

Caterpillar international employees learn about the economics and engineering critical to the mining industry.

Format: 1-year certificate program, primarily online

Mining 4.E

Mining professionals and adjacent workers with little background in the field receive a comprehensive introduction to mining.

Format: 7-week short course

Underground Miner 101

Professional mine workers are introduced to the fundamentals of the work, including current technology and safety protocols.

Format: 1-week certificate program

Water in Mine Operations and Slope Stability

Dive into our expertly crafted course, grounded in the Large Open Pit Project's Guidelines for Evaluating Water in Pit Slope Stability. This course features water management in mining operations, aimed at enhancing geotechnical slope stability. Gain valuable insights through real-world case studies that address water management challenges and solutions in both open pit and underground mines. Perfect for mining professionals looking to elevate their skills and knowledge, this course will empower you to manage water and improve slope stability in your operations more effectively.
Format: Self-paced and online

Geotechnical Radar Monitoring

Explore the world of radar technology with our comprehensive course designed for professionals in the mining industry. Discover the different types of radar systems and their unique capabilities, while gaining expert knowledge on data interpretation. This course delves into the vital role radar plays in real-time slope monitoring, providing you with practical insights and valuable skills. Learn from industry-leading experts through engaging real-world case studies that illustrate key concepts. 
Format: Self-paced and online

Slope Performance Monitoring

Based on the Large Open Pit Project's Guidelines for Slope Performance Monitoring, this course provides an extensive look into slope performance monitoring, system design, and data analysis. Dive into insightful case studies that tackle real-world slope monitoring challenges. Perfect for professionals aiming to sharpen their skills and deepen their understanding.
Format: Self-paced and online

Structural Geology for Geotechnical Professionals

Unlock the essential knowledge of structural geology and its vital applications across the entire mine cycle with our comprehensive course tailored for geotechnical professionals. From the foundational principles to advanced modeling and validation techniques, this program is specifically designed to enhance geotechnical engineers' understanding of structural geology in the mining industry. Equip yourself with the skills needed to excel in your career and make informed decisions throughout the mining process. 
Format: Self-paced and online

Fundamentals of Open Pit Slope Design

Rooted in the Large Open Pit Project's Guidelines for Open Pit Slope Design, this course covers key concepts and best practices for managing slope stability throughout the lifecycle of an open pit mine—from the initial project concept to final closure. Participants will gain valuable knowledge to assist in the investigation and design processes, including guidelines for effective data collection, processing, and analysis. Our course is designed to equip you with the skills needed to create and maintain stable, cost-effective slopes, ensuring safety and efficiency in your mining operations. 
Format: Self-paced and online

Blasting and Pit Slope Performance

Gain a thorough understanding of the geotechnical factors that impact blast design and execution in open pit mining. This course provides insights into how rock mass properties, structural geology, and environmental conditions influence blasting efficiency, safety, and slope stability. Focusing on practical applications, you'll learn essential skills in blast planning, risk management, monitoring, and post-blast geotechnical assessment. Our comprehensive course empowers you to optimize blasting outcomes and enhance slope performance, ensuring safety and success in your mining operations. 
Format: Self-paced and online

Geotechnical Fundamentals for Underground Mining

Coming Fall 2026! Elevate your knowledge in geotechnical practices tailored for the underground mining industry! Enhance your expertise in underground mining with our practical course on geotechnical principles. Designed specifically for mine planners, geotechnical engineers, and geoscientists currently working in or transitioning to underground settings, this course provides a solid foundation to navigate the complexities of underground operations effectively.
Format: Self-paced and online

View the GCE’s Course Offerings Here

Ore Deposits Mapping

Learn how mapping is used to understand mineral zoning, time-space relations, and fundamental phase equilibria in this advanced field course.

Format: 10-day field course

Structural Geology for Exploration and Mine Geologists

Learn how structural geology impacts mineral production, development, and exploration​​​.

Format: lecture, laboratory, and field course

Porphyry Deposits

Learn about lithologic, structural, and geochemical characteristics of porphyry deposit types and how mineral exploration geology can influence aspects of mining.

Format: lecture, laboratory, and field course

Lowell Institute

Incident Command, Escape & Rescue Workshop

This short course focuses on emergency preparedness training for miners to improve resilience and support self-escape knowledge.

Format: 8-hour in-person workshop

Sharing Critical Controls Workshop

This course shares information on how to prevent MUEs (Material Unwanted Events). Tutorials on critical controls are presented.

Format: half-day workshop, online or in-person

Mining Institute for Supervisor Leadership

This leadership institute provides mentorship in a mining-specific setting. It covers hazards recognition and mitigation, law and policy, miner physical and mental health, soft skills, and more.

Format: 3-day workshop, online or in-person

Learn more on the Western Mining Safety and Health Training Resource Center Supervisor Training web page:

WMSHTRC Supervisor Training

 

Serious Games Training Workshop

Teaches trainers how to employ computer-based serious games for training miners on topics like workplace examinations, hazard recognition and elimination, and miner competency.

Format: half-day in-person workshop

Higher Level Training Clinic

Participants learn how to train miners through applying established theories of adult learning like competency-based instruction, active learning, assessment development, and engagement strategies.

Format: 3-day workshop in-person

Instructional Design Certificate Program

Trains students to become instructional design leaders as it applies to miner training using a systematic and reflective process to translate learning theory into usable tools and lessons.

Format: Three 13-week courses online

Learn more on the Western Mining Safety and Health Training Resource Center Train the Trainer web page:

WMSHTRC 'Train the Trainer'

Integrated Planning Series

Courses designed to remove communication barriers and improve collaboration among geologists, mining engineers, and metallurgists. Each course introduces the fundamentals and role of one profession - geologists, engineers, and metallurgists in the mining industry.

Format: series of 3 short courses that can be booked separately

Lowell Institute

The Global Mining Law program provides training to both lawyers and non-lawyers, including certificate courses for those involved in mining-related work like executives, lawyers, managers, engineers, and government officials.

Participation in courses of the Global Mining Law Program requires enrollment as a non-degree seeking student.

Introduction to Legal Systems

A high level overview of basic legal terms and concepts for those without prior legal training. Provides the vocabulary of law necessary to understand core legal concepts that will serve as valuable building blocks for other mining-related law PD.

Format:open-enrollment, self-paced

Coming soon:
  • Introduction to the International Mining Industry 
    Overview of the technical, financial, environmental, social, legal, and policy issues related to the global minerals industry.
  • Law of the Use of Public Land Resources
    Examines the laws governing grazing rights, wildlife (including hunting and fishing), recreational use, oil and gas, water and Native American rights.
  • U.S. Public Lands and Mining Law
    Examining the acquisition, disposal, and management of the public lands of the United States. Emphasis is placed on mineral land laws and laws related to mineral exploration and development of mineral resources.

James E. Rogers College of Law

Native Know-How Seminar

This course teaches how to partner with native nations from a native perspective. It fosters cultural and government understanding.

Format: online or in-person

Rebuilding Native Nations Courses

This course explores challenges facing native nations. Learn how native nations are reclaiming their affairs.

Format: online

Learn more about these courses on the Native Nations Institute website:

Visit the NNI website

Indigenous Governance

The indigenous governance program provides professional development in a variety of ways including Master's programs, graduate certificates, and continuing education.

Format: multiple formats

Indigenous Governance Professional Certificate

This continuing education certificate focuses on indigenous governance, economics, leadership, and community development.

Format: in-person

Learn more about these courses on the Idigenous Governance Program website:

Visit the IGP website

Business Analytics

Focused on using data to solve problems through data visualization, SQL, data modeling, Tableau, and metric-making.

Format: online

Learn more on the Continuing & Professional Education website:

Visit the CPE Website

High Impact Leadership Program

The Program creates a unique environment where you can share insights with peers from diverse business sectors. Our faculty will challenge what you think you know about effective management and provide you with actionable techniques to enhance your professional performance and increase your company's agility in the marketplace. You'll take away real-world strategies to implement at work.

Format: delivered live and online with interactive faculty

Learn more on the Eller Executive Education website:

Visit the EEE Website

Communication Strategies for Collaborative Research

This course, taught by UArizona faculty, helps to close the gap between scientific research and societal needs

Format: 4-week online course

Practicing Collaborative Research

Learn to plan a project and execute a project with collaborators to reach a shared goal. Designed for interactions between non-researchers and researchers.

Format: 4-week online course

Fundamentals of Transdisciplinary Research

Transdisciplinary approaches to solving real-world problem through scientific research and evaluation

Format: 4-week online course

Learn more about the TESS program on the Continuing & Professional Education website:

Visit the CPE website

To inquire about professional development opportunities or develop a curriculum for your employees, please contact SMEMR.