Petroleum engineers develop more efficient methods for extracting oil and gas from deposits.
Companies interested in extracting the oil and gas trapped in deposits below the earth face many challenges in recovering the deposits. Petroleum engineers work with specialists to understand the properties of the geologic formations containing oil and gas so that they can determine how best to extract the resources. Even the best techniques can remove only a portion of the deposit. Looking to increase the profitability of oil and gas recovery, those companies employ petroleum engineers to develop new methods and technologies for extracting deposits more efficiently. Demand for qualified petroleum engineers is expected to increase by 18 percent between 2008 and 2018. Earning a degree in petroleum engineering gives you access to a job market where it is likely that the number of openings will far exceed the number of qualified applicants for some time.
Texas A&M
Graduating between 100 and 130 American and international students each year, the Petroleum Engineering Department at Texas A&M prides itself in having the most rigorous preparation program in the industry. The four-year curriculum provides the theoretical background necessary to begin working in the field, and the internship requirement ensures that graduates of the program can apply their understanding of theory to practice. Texas A&M also offers graduate programs leading to a Ph.D., M.S. or M.Eng. degree for advanced students.
University of Alaska -- Fairbanks
Near to the largest oil field in the United States, the University of Alaska in Fairbanks (UAF) places a special emphasis on the challenges of gas and oil development in the Arctic. UAF places its students on summer internships with major oil and gas producing companies not only in Alaska, but in the lower 48 as well. Over 98 percent of UAF petroleum engineering graduates hold positions in either the industry or in graduate school. The department also offers a M.S. degree for graduates with or without industry experience who are looking to further their education.
Colorado School of Mines
The Colorado School of Mines petroleum engineering department aims to provide students with a broad base of knowledge through an interdisciplinary program. Undergraduates study as part of the geoscience and resource engineering program and specialize through curricular choices to focus on petroleum engineering. The School of Mines provides students with the chance to continue onto graduate work.
Marietta College
Marietta College's Edwy R. Brown Department of Petroleum Engineering and Geology is the 9th largest program in the United States. Further, it is the only program located at a liberal arts college, allowing students to receive the breadth of a liberal arts education while preparing for a career in the highest-paid engineering profession. Students at Marietta have access to internships as early as their freshman summer. The program also boasts 100 percent job placement upon graduation.
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