History

The department was founded in 1864 by Professor Thomas Egleston, Jr. Originally called the School of Mines, it was the first mining and metallurgy school in the U.S. It became the foundation for Columbia’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and later the home of the Department of Mining, Metallurgical, and Mineral Engineering. You can see the bronze statue of The Metallurgist (Le Marteleur) in front of Columbia’s Seely W. Mudd Hall, named after an alumnus of the School of Mines.

In 1959, the School of Mines was renamed the Henry Krumb School of Mines in honor of the alumnus and his wife, Ms. Lavon D. Krumb. The School became a leader in mining and metallurgy research and education. Famous work included the first ever mining handbook by Professor Peele, the first mineral processing handbook by Professor Taggart, and other pioneering research in areas such as mineral beneficiation, chemical thermodynamics and kinetics. The engineers who trained at the School during the 19th and 20th centuries contributed greatly towards the development of technologies that provided basic material needs to society. 

In the late 1990s, the School’s traditional programs in mining and mineral engineering were adapted to include environmental concerns for land and water resources. This was an integral part of the framework for the creation of a university-wide major initiative in Earth Studies, hosted by the Columbia Earth Institute. 

In 1996, the School launched the MS program in Earth Resources Engineering, replacing the traditional programs in mining, mineral engineering, and extractive metallurgy. The BS program in Earth and Environmental Engineering was then introduced in 1998. This program is now accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. This shift has enabled the School to expand their focus and hone a new generation of engineers who are tackling the major environmental concerns of the 21st century.