Earn a Master's Degree in Explosives Engineering

What sets S&T's M.S. degree in explosives engineering apart? It is the only one in the nation! 

The program offers specialized training in the use of explosives, propellants and pyrotechnics that allows students to advance their careers. Students have exclusive research opportunities in world-class facilities, including the S&T Energetics Research Facility (ERF) and Experimental Mine. 

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Degree Information

Mining and explosives engineering offers a Master's degree with a thesis option in explosives engineering for on-campus, research-based students and a non-thesis option by coursework for distance and campus students. The program requires four core courses and relevant elective courses you can select in consultation with your advisor.

For more information, check out the university catalog:

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The M.S. degree with a thesis option requires a minimum of 30 credit hours including the required research for the thesis. The program requirements must include a minimum of six credit hours of 6000-level lecture courses, six credit hours of courses outside the major field and six credit hours for thesis research. M.S. candidates must pass a final oral examination of the thesis to complete the program. 

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The M.S. degree without the thesis option requires the completion of 30 hours of graduate coursework. A student replaces the six hours of research with course work, which may include an explosives-related cooperative work experience (EXP ENG 6070) or industry project (EXP ENG 6080) with an established company or government agency that commonly uses explosives, plus an additional explosives course.

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What Students Say About S&T

Jay Schafler portrait he is smiling and looking towards camera wearing a Saint Louis Blues polo shirt he is up against a blank wall.

The hands-on knowledge and experience in energetics safety, research, manufacturing and application gained at Missouri University of Science and Technology give me a distinct advantage in my career with Northrop Grumman Corp. Within the Launch and Missile Defense Systems group, I lead a multidisciplinary team of engineers and skilled labor to manufacture solid fuel rocket motors for commercial and defense applications. Every day, I use the education and skills learned while earning my master's degree in explosives engineering to keep my team members safe and manage the financial, logistical and technical aspects of producing aerospace-quality energetics products.

— Jay Schafler 

Research in Explosives Engineering

The United States recognizes the increasing importance of securing the supply chain for explosives, propellants and pyrotechnics because of their importance to industry and national defense. Explosives engineering faculty and students conduct research related to energetic materials, including explosives hazards and effective manufacture, transport, use and storage of explosives using experimental testing and numerical simulation. This research includes traumatic brain injury, rock blasting, structural response to blasts, effects of explosively formed projectiles (EFPs), shock physics and many other areas.

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Your Career in Explosives Engineering

Explosives engineers can choose from a variety of exciting careers, including research and development, testing, safety, production, field technical service, marketing, and teaching.

Explosives engineers work for national laboratories, universities, companies that develop and supply personal protective equipment, defense contractors, blasting & explosives companies, heavy civil construction companies, and many more.

 

Starting Salary

Average entry salary for S&T graduates with an explosives engineering/technology degree is $131,500

 

Career Paths

  •  Researchers (both government and private companies)
  •  Technical services engineers with explosives and blasting companies
  •  Engineers with consulting firms
  •  Law enforcement

 

Explosives Engineers Work With:

  • Universities
  • National Laboratories
  • Law enforcement agencies
  • Consulting companies

Students inside of cave wearing hardhats with headlamps are putting explosives into drilled holes inside a cave

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