Curriculum in Petroleum Engineering

Petroleum Engineering is primarily concerned with the economic extraction of oil, gas, and other natural resources from the earth. This is accomplished through the design, drilling and operation of wells and well systems, and the integrated management of the underground reservoirs in which the resources are found.

The goal of the curriculum in petroleum engineering at Texas A&M University is to provide a modern engineering education with proper balance between fundamentals and practice, and to graduate engineers prepared for life-long learning but capable of being productive contributors immediately. As a result, Aggie petroleum engineers are in high demand in the industry, and their starting salaries are consistently among the top in the University and the nation.

The curriculum includes study of design and analysis of well systems and procedures for drilling and completing wells; characterization and evaluation of subsurface geological formations and their resources; design and analysis of systems for producing, injecting, and handling fluids; application of reservoir engineering principles and practices for optimizing resource development and management; and use of project economics and resource valuation methods for design and decision making under conditions of risk and uncertainty. There is a heavy emphasis on mathematics, computer applications, communication skills and interdisciplinary problem solving.

The department is well-known for its curriculum, facilities and faculty, and its undergraduate program was recognized as the best in the nation by US News and World Report in 2003, and by the Gourman Report published in 1999 by National Education Standards. The faculty comprises more than 20 professors and lecturers, many of them widely known and globally involved in the petroleum industry. Three of the faculty are members of the prestigious National Academy of Engineering, and eight are Distinguished Members of the Society of Petroleum Engineers.

The department encourages its students to work as interns during the summer months. A minimum of six weeks of approved experience is required for graduation. The department also participates in the Cooperative Education Program.

In addition to the Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering, the department also offers both master's and doctoral degrees, including the Master of Science and Master of Engineering, and the Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Engineering (see the Texas A&M University Graduate Catalog ).