You can pursue one of several paths to obtain a petroleum engineering degree, depending on the type of petroleum engineering degree you want. The process of earning a bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering can be completed much faster than the process of earning a PhD. In general, the type of work you want to do after you finish your petroleum engineering degree program determines which degree you should pursue. You may be required to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), complete and defend a research or engineering project, and maintain a high grade point average in all coursework depending on the degree type.
To earn an undergraduate petroleum engineering degree, you must first complete 80 credit hours of coursework over the first two years. Though you will take engineering, general science, and math introductory courses, you will also be required to take courses in language arts, social sciences, and other subject areas outside of your petroleum engineering major. You must have a high school diploma, a general education diploma (GED), or an associate’s degree from an accredited community college to be eligible for a bachelor’s degree program. A minimum grade point average of 2.0 is usually required.
You will progress to the upper division of an undergraduate petroleum engineering degree once you have completed the lower division. Petroleum extraction, refinement, distribution, and disposal will be the focus of upper division material and research projects. Some of your classes will also cover the manufacturing processes and equipment used in the extraction and refinement of petroleum.
You must first earn a bachelor’s degree before pursuing a post-graduate degree in petroleum engineering. You can apply to schools that offer a master’s or PhD program in petroleum engineering during your final year of your bachelor’s program. The general portion of the Graduate Record Exam is required by most schools (GRE).
To be considered for admission to the graduate school to which you are applying, you must achieve a competitive GRE score. Send three letters of recommendation from instructors, as well as official transcripts from the school where you earned your bachelor’s degree. Each letter should attest to your academic ability and potential for success in a post-graduate petroleum engineering program.