Humanitarian Engineering and Science
Graduate program at Colorado School of Mines
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Select a program type below to learn more. What’s the difference? Read more about program types.
Humanitarian Engineering and Science Master’s Non-Thesis
The Master’s degrees (MS) in Humanitarian Engineering and Science (HES) include a professional MS (non-thesis) and a thesis-based MS. These degrees are targeted to recent graduates or midcareer professionals with a BS in science and engineering who are interested in careers, research opportunities, and/or acquiring skills that will help them work effectively with communities. The degrees include a core HES curriculum plus an approved track of related courses in a science or engineering discipline. A unique mix of social science, applied science, and engineering perspectives prepares students to apply knowledge about the earth to promote more sustainable and just uses of water, energy, and other earth resources and to understand and mitigate potential hazards.
To obtain the 30 credits required for the MS (non-thesis), 3 of these credit hours are dedicated to a practicum course.
Students must satisfy the following program requirements: (1) 12 credits of required HES courses, 2) 3 credits of elective HES courses approved by Engineering, Design & Society, and 3) 15 credits approved by the affiliated department.
Application Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree
- GRE: Not Required
- Letters of Recommendation
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Statement of Purpose
- Transcripts
- International students please review the English proficiency requirements
Humanitarian Engineering and Science Master’s Thesis
The Master’s degrees (MS) in Humanitarian Engineering and Science (HES) include a professional MS (non-thesis) and a thesis-based MS. These degrees are targeted to recent graduates or midcareer professionals with a BS in science and engineering who are interested in careers, research opportunities, and/or acquiring skills that will help them work effectively with communities. The degrees include a core HES curriculum plus an approved track of related courses in a science or engineering discipline. A unique mix of social science, applied science, and engineering perspectives prepares students to apply knowledge about the earth to promote more sustainable and just uses of water, energy, and other earth resources and to understand and mitigate potential hazards.
The Master’s Thesis degree requires 30 credit hours (equivalent to 10 courses) with 6 credits dedicated to independent research. Prospective students interested in the thesis option are encouraged to reach out to the HES Graduate Program Director, Richard Krahenbuhl, at rkrahenb@mines.edu, before applying to learn more about this option, investigate projects and potential advisors.
Application Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree
- GRE: Not Required
- Letters of Recommendation (3 letters).
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Statement of Purpose
- Transcripts
- International students please review the English proficiency requirements
Humanitarian Engineering and Science Certificate
The Humanitarian Engineering and Science (HES) certificate is an online or residential program designed for working professionals as well as graduate students who are enrolled in other degrees at Mines but wish to gain knowledge in humanitarian engineering and science.
To obtain a graduate certificate, students must complete a minimum of 9 credits of the following courses. Students may not double-count courses from their undergraduate degrees. Students who have already taken one of the classes as undergraduates must find a suitable replacement to be approved by the HES director. Students are encouraged to take 12 credits of coursework if possible, adding an elective from the approved HES electives.
Application Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree
- GRE: Not Required
- Letters of Recommendation
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Statement of Purpose
- Suggested if GPA is less than 3.0/4.0
- Transcripts
- International students please review the English proficiency requirements
Humanitarian Engineering and Science Program
HES students choose from disciplinary tracks, including:
Students take a balance of track-specific courses and HES courses in the social sciences. Classroom, research and project experiences prepare students to be leaders in a variety of fields.
A Top Tier University
Program-specific funding and scholarships available
International projects support sustainable community development
5 major research areas available
Credits and Deadlines
View the academic catalog to see the courses and credit requirements for this program.
Master's Thesis & Doctorate (PhD) Program Deadlines
Select a Term:
Spring Deadlines | Fall Deadlines
Spring Deadlines
Fall Deadlines
| Degree Program | Priority | International* | Domestic* | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Energy Systems | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Applied Chemistry | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Applied Mathematics & Statistics | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Applied Physics | December 15 | March 1 | March 1 | |
| Chemical Engineering | December 15 | March 1 | March 1 | |
| Chemistry | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Civil & Environmental Engineering | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Computer Science | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Earth Resources Development Engineering | January 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Electrical Engineering | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Engineering & Technology Management | January 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Environmental Engineering Science | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Geochemistry | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Geological Engineering | December 15 | March 1 | March 1 | |
| Geology | December 15 | March 1 | March 1 | |
| Geophysical Engineering | December 15 | March 1 | March 1 | |
| Geophysics | December 15 | March 1 | March 1 | |
| Humanitarian Engineering & Science | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Hydrology | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Materials Science | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Mechanical Engineering | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Metallurgical and Materials Engineering | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Mineral & Energy Economics | January 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Mining Engineering | January 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Nuclear Engineering | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Operations Research with Engineering | January 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Petroleum Engineering | March 1 | March 1 | ||
| Physics | December 15 | March 1 | March 1 | |
| Quantitative Biosciences & Engineering | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Quantum Engineering | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Robotics | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 | |
| Space Resources | March 1 (International on-campus) | July 1 (Domestic on-campus) | August 1 | |
| Underground Construction & Tunnel Engineering | December 15 | March 1 | July 1 |
Residential (on-campus) Master's Non-Thesis & Graduate Certificates Deadlines
| Spring Deadlines | Fall Deadlines | |
|---|---|---|
| International Students* | October 1 | March 1 |
| Domestic U.S. Students | December 15 | August 1 |
| International students are not eligible to apply for residential certificate programs. We encourage you to check out our online certificate options | ||
Online Master's Non-Thesis & Graduate Certificates Deadlines
| The following deadlines apply to online master's non-thesis and graduate certificate programs for domestic U.S. and International students. | |
| Spring I & II (January 6 start) | January 2 |
| Spring III*** (March 11 start) | February 18 |
| Fall I & II (August 19 start) | August 1 |
| Fall III*** (October 22 start) | October 1 |
| **The Fall III deadline is only available for the following programs: Additive Manufacturing; Business Analytics; Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage; Chemical Engineering Processes in Energy Transitions; Data Science: Computer Science; Data Science: Earth Resources; Electrical Engineering (Professional Master and Certificate Only); Engineering and Technology Management; GIS & Geoinformatics; Mechanical Engineering; Underground Construction and Tunnel Engineering | |
| ***The Spring III deadline is only available for the following programs: Additive Manufacturing; Business Analytics; Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage; Electrical Engineering (Professional Master and Certificate Only); Engineering and Technology Management; GIS & Geoinformatics; Mechanical Engineering; Product Management (Offered for only session III in spring); Underground Construction and Tunnel Engineering | |
Get Connected
You don’t have to decide right now, but let’s get you connected so we can stay in touch and keep you up-to-date. Fill out the quick information form below to get started.
Program Director
Richard Krahenbuhl
Research Associate Professor, Geophysics
Research Areas:
- Time-Lapse Monitoring
- Geothermal Exploration
- CO2 Sequestration
- Geoscientists Without Borders
- Archaeological Geophysics
- Humanitarian Geoscience
- Volcanic Studies
- Landslide Hazards
- Exploration in Oil, Gas, Mining
If you have questions or would like more information about the program, please contact Richard Krahenbuhl, Director of Humanitarian Engineering and Science programs, rkrahenb@mines.edu.
You Are Ready
Contact Us
(303) 273-3247
grad-admissions@mines.edu
Career Connections & Resources
At Mines, your career goals are the focus. You will connect with world-class faculty and industry experts in your field, all while enhancing your knowledge through hands-on learning and research.
Humanitarian Engineering and Science student organizations
Humanitarian Engineering funding and scholarships
Funding & Scholarships:
- Humanitarian Engineering and Science Ambassadors (HESA)
- Shultz Fellowship
- Teaching Assistantships
- Other Funding Opportunities
- Outside Scholarship Opportunities & Financial Aid
Learn more about HES funding and scholarship opportunities
Humanitarian Engineering and Science careers
- Not for profits
- Corporate social responsibility
- Stakeholder engagement
- Peace Corps
- International development
- Community engagement
- Engineering Service Corps
- NGOs
- Government agencies
Visit the Mines Career Center website for additional career resources and information.
Where to find our alumni
Graduates have gone on to diverse careers in places like:
- Local startups and consulting
- United Nations
- US Geological Survey
- National Academy of Engineering
- Higher education and further graduate studies
Engineer Your Future Today
Mines Online
Flexibility in formats that fit your life
Mines Research Magazine
Innovation with impact
Get to Know Mines
From tours and events to meet-ups in your area