Mineral and Energy Economics
Graduate program at Colorado School of Mines
Get Started
Select a program type below to learn more. What’s the difference? Read more about program types.
Mineral and Energy Economics Master’s Non-Thesis
Graduates in the world-renowned Mineral and Energy Economics program at Mines gain the skills necessary for understanding the complex interactions of markets and policy that influence the energy, mineral and environmental industries. The specialized program focuses on applied quantitative tools and models that form a foundation for sound business and public policy and will help propel your career forward to make a difference.
Students choose from either the thesis or non-thesis option in the Master of Science (MS) program and are required to complete a minimum total of 36 credits (a typical course has 3 credits). Initial admission is only to the non-thesis program. Admission to the thesis option requires subsequent application after at least one full-time equivalent semester in the program.
All thesis and non-thesis students in the Mineral and Energy Economics Program are required to attend the Distinguished Lecture Series sponsored by the Payne Institute for Earth Resources and the Division of Economics and Business.
Application Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree
- GRE: Not Required
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Letters of Recommendation (2 letters).
- Letters are not required for current Mines students.
- Statement of Purpose
- Transcripts
- International students please review the English proficiency requirements
Mineral and Energy Economics Master’s Thesis
Graduates in the world-renowned Mineral and Energy Economics program at Mines gain the skills necessary for understanding the complex interactions of markets and policy that influence the energy, mineral and environmental industries. The specialized program focuses on applied quantitative tools and models that form a foundation for sound business and public policy and will help propel your career forward to make a difference.
Students choose from either the thesis or non-thesis option in the Master of Science (MS) program and are required to complete a minimum total of 36 credits (a typical course has 3 credits). Initial admission is only to the non-thesis program. Admission to the thesis option requires subsequent application after at least one full-time equivalent semester in the program.
All thesis and non-thesis students in the Mineral and Energy Economics Program are required to attend the Distinguished Lecture Series sponsored by the Payne Institute for Earth Resources and the Division of Economics and Business.
Application Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree
- GRE: Not Required
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Letters of Recommendation (3 letters).
- 1 letter is required for current Mines students and Mines alumni.
- Statement of Purpose
- Transcripts
- International students please review the English proficiency requirements
Dual Degree: Petroleum Economics and Management and Mineral and Energy Economics
The MS degree may be combined with a second degree from the IFP School (Paris, France) in Petroleum Economics and Management. This dual-degree program is geared to meet the needs of industry and government. Our unique program trains the next generation of technical, analytical, and managerial professionals vital to the future of the petroleum and energy industries
These two world-class institutions offer a rigorous and challenging program in an international setting. The program gives a small elite group of students a solid economics foundation combined with quantitative business skills, the historical and institutional background, and the interpersonal and intercultural abilities to succeed in the fast-paced, global world of oil and gas.
Application Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree
- GRE: Not Required
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Letters of Recommendation (3 letters).
- 1 letter is required for current Mines students and Mines alumni.
- Statement of Purpose
- Transcripts
- International students please review the English proficiency requirements
Mineral and Energy Economics Doctorate
The PhD program is designed for students interested in contributing economic research on mineral or energy topics through a PhD thesis. PhD students take the same first-year core as master’s students, followed by a set of advanced electives. They are then required to engage in original research of a professional-level quality.
The degree requires a minimum of 72 graduate credits that include coursework and a thesis. The student’s faculty advisor and the doctoral thesis committee must approve the student’s program of study and the topic for the thesis.
Application Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree
- GRE: Required
- Not required for current Mines students.
- Letters of Recommendation (3 letters).
- 1 Letter required for current Mines students or Mines alumni.
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Statement of Purpose
- Transcripts
- International students please review the English proficiency requirements
Economics and Business at Mines
Economics and Business at Mines equips students with tools for quantitative decision-making, preparing leaders for a world of changing technology and global challenges related to earth, energy and the environment.
A graduate degree in the Economics and Business department at Mines is an opportunity to explore an interdisciplinary approach to economics and business as well as learn from our expert faculty to advance your career. Our programs foster interdisciplinary collaboration, allowing students to draw insights from various fields such as engineering, geosciences, and sustainability.
A Top Tier University
Top ranked best return on investment
#1 Best public university in Colorado
Top 40 public universities
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 2025 Deadlines | Fall 2025 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, 2024 | March 1, 2025 |
| Domestic U.S. Students | December 15, 2024 | August 1, 2025 |
| 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, 2025 |
| Spring III*** (March 10 start) | February 17, 2025 |
| Fall I & II (August 19 start) | August 1, 2025 |
| Fall III*** (March 10 start) | October 22, 2025 |
| **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.
Department Head
Scott Houser
Economics and Business Department Head and Teaching Professor
Scott Houser joined the faculty in Economics and Business in 2007. He was previously an Associate Professor of Economics at California State University, Fresno, and Special Associate Professor of Economics at Colorado State University. His published research focuses on economic pedagogy, tax policy and poverty.
You Are Ready
Contact Us
(303) 273-3247
grad-admissions@mines.edu
Career Connections
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.
Career Types
- Industry
- Banking and investment
- Government
- International organizations
- Consulting firms
Where alumni work
- Payne Institute for Public Policy
- State of Colorado
- Argonne National Labs
- BTU Analytics,
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
- NREL
- Environmental Protection Agency
Career Resources
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