The New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology was founded in 1889 as the New Mexico School of Mines. The school's name was changed in 1951 to reflect a broadened curriculum that included the sciences and more fields of engineering. Referred to as New Mexico Tech by its students and faculty, the university still celebrates its mining heritage with an annual 49ers Celebration. Air travelers can fly into Albuquerque's International Sunport and take a shuttle to Socorro. Commercial bus service is available from both Albuquerque and El Paso.
All departments offer senior-level independent study courses.
Engineering departments require year-long senior design courses in which students work in teams. Depending on the major, students earn 130 to 139 credit hours to graduate. All students must satisfy general degree requirements, which include English, technical writing, humanities, social sciences, physics, chemistry, and mathematics. Engineering students must also satisfy a depth requirement in the humanities and social sciences. Most majors do not require a foreign language.