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petroleum engineering student in lab
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  • Petroleum Engineering (B.S.)
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Petroleum Engineering Degree

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

Tap into a field growing twice as fast as the national average.

UND's Petroleum Engineering program is the only one in North Dakota and was designed with industry input. Hands-on learning will give you the technical skills to recover oil and gas, and the insight to address industry challenges.

Program type:
Major
Format:
On Campus or Online
Est. time to complete:
4+ years
Credit hours:
129
  • Requirements
  • Tuition & Aid
  • How to Apply

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Why pursue a Petroleum Engineering major?

Application Deadlines
Fall:
Aug. 15
Spring:
Dec. 15
Summer:
May 1

 

If you're an international student, refer to the international application process for deadlines.


North Dakota is the nation's second-largest leading producer of oil. This status was driven by advances in recovering resources from the enormous Williston Basin.

We're committed to educating the next generation of petroleum engineers. Our graduates will fulfill today's demand for domestic oil and lead the way to discovering safe, reliable and affordable ways to use oil resources. You'll receive a thorough grounding in chemistry, engineering, geology, and physics. You'll also learn about ethics, safety, communications, and other skills necessary to pursuing a job in the field. In addition, you'll get a firm understanding of the issues affecting the industry, including:

  • Science and technology
  • Economics and business
  • Policy and regulation
  • Society and behavior
ABET EAC Logo

ABET Accredited Program

This bachelor's degree program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. Accreditation is a critical factor to consider if you plan to pursue a license as a Professional Engineer.

Partnership with Petroleum Engineering Schools

The 2+2 Petroleum Engineering program allows students who have earned their associate in science degree from Williston State College the opportunity to receive a bachelor's degree in Petroleum Engineering from UND in approximately 2 years.

Petroleum Engineering Major

  • Satisfy the eligibility requirement to sit for the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination. Accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, passing the FE exam is required as the first step to pursue a license as a Professional Engineer in all 50 states.

  • Tour oil fields around the world without leaving campus in the newly opened Hess Virtual Reality Lab.

  • Take a seat at the Drilling Systems Control Simulator. Learn how to manage day-to-day operations at oil and gas wells, or crisis situations, in complete safety.

  • Get a career-ready education thanks to UND's relationships with industry partners such as the American Petroleum Institute, North Dakota Petroleum Council and our own Industry Advisory Council.

  • Access the only core and sample library in North Dakota, which contains samples from three-quarters of the state's oil and coal reservoirs.

  • Conduct research on the world’s largest – and only - oil drilling simulator.

What jobs can you get with a Petroleum Engineering degree?

141k

Median annual salary for petroleum engineers, 2024

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

100%

Return on tuition investment within five years of graduation

Third Way

Petroleum engineers are in great demand: More than 90 percent of our graduates find jobs. Employers of petroleum engineers are involved in the following fields:

  • Computer simulation
  • Drilling and fracturing
  • Environmental efforts
  • Equipment and process design to optimize recovery
  • Geologic formation characterization
  • Geosciences
  • International business
  • Monitoring of production and processing
  • Petro-chemical production and transportation of products
  • Petroleum exploration
  • Refining

Petroleum Engineering Major Skills

A Petroleum Engineering degree gives you the strategic skills you need, including:

  • Oil and Gas
  • Production Engineering
  • Reservoir Engineering
  • Strategic Planning

Jobs with a Petroleum Engineering Degree

UND Petroleum Engineering graduates have gone on to a variety of successful careers with:

  • Hess Corp
  • Marathon Petroleum Corp
  • Continental Resources
  • Energy & Environmental Research Center
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • Halliburton
  • Schlumberger (SLB)

Petroleum Engineering Degree Courses

PTRE 411. Drilling Engineering. 3 Credits.

Concepts, processes, equipment, and engineering principals used to drill oil and gas wells and near-surface wells common in geotechnical, environmental, and water well applications. Prerequisite: GEOE 210 or GEOL 101, PTRE 201; all prerequisites must be completed with a "C" or higher. F.

PTRE 405. Petroleum Eng. Economy and Law. 3 Credits.

Presenting the principles of asset management with emphasize on applications to the upstream oil and gas activities and discussing the legal aspects of petroleum exploration and production in the US and internationally. F.

PTRE 401. Well Logging. 3 Credits.

This course covers topics on methods of how to measure and interpret the physical and chemical properties of formation through the well logging tools. Prerequisite: PTRE 301; all prerequisites must be completed with a "C" or higher. F.

PTRE 471. Numerical Reservoir Simulation. 3 Credits.

Use of mathematics and computer programs to solve reservoir flow problems. This course will discuss: Fundamental reservoir calculations, multiphase flow concepts, fluid displacement, fluid flow equations and discretization concepts, as well as history matching and reservoir performance forecast. Prerequisite: PTRE 431 and MATH 266; all prerequisites must be completed with a C or higher. F.

PTRE 445. Well Testing. 3 Credits.

Well test analysis using type curve techniques, Material balance for oil and gas reservoirs, Water influx calculations, Immiscible displacement and fractional flow calculations, Well test analysis to estimate reservoir properties, Pseudo functions, Enhanced oil recovery. Prerequisite: PTRE 431 and MATH 266 with a grade of C or higher. S.

PTRE 475. Well Completions. 3 Credits.

Introduction to well problems including causes and remediation; near wellbore formation damage mechanism, control and prevention; sand and water production mechanisms; control and management; scale deposition removal and prevention; corrosion control and prevention; principles and practices of well workover and intervention operations; an overview of production logging tools and their various applications including production log interpretation, familiarization with new technology and reservoir stimulation by fracturing with emphasis on design and estimation; stimulation to improve productivity. Prerequisite: PTRE 421 with a grade of "C" or higher. S.

Online Petroleum Engineering Degree

UND is one of the most affordable online colleges in the region. For the online Petroleum Engineering bachelor's degree program, we offer the same online tuition rates regardless of your legal residency. Compare and you’ll see UND is lower cost than similar four-year doctoral universities.

Flexible Online Petroleum Engineering Classes

With asynchronous classes, you do not attend class at a set time. If you need to balance work, family and other commitments, this flexible format allows you to learn anywhere at any time.

Depending on your instructor, you’ll learn online through:

  • Lesson modules
  • Streaming video content
  • Virtual libraries
  • Posted lectures
  • Online simulations

There will be times when you interact with your instructor and classmates through online discussion boards, polls and chat rooms.

Your learning revolves around materials that can be accessed on your own time within a set time frame. However, this is not a self-paced course. You’ll have structure and deadlines.

Campus Visit

While the majority of your Petroleum Engineering program is offered online, you’ll get to come to the UND campus in Grand Forks, ND to complete portions of the program. Your time on campus is designed to integrate, extend and apply the knowledge you’ve learned during your online courses. This time may include:

  • Hands-on labs
  • Simulators
  • Opportunities to interact with faculty and other students

As a petroleum engineering student, your are required to attend two labs on-campus. Each lab is one week in length and you'll apply concepts that you've learned theoretically to enhance your understanding of the main concepts that will be reinforced throughout the program.

SUMMER LAB REQUIREMENTS

You also have the opportunity to use the two simulators and visit the North Dakota Geological Survey Wilson M. Laird Core and Sample Library.

The hands on experience necessary for petroleum engineering can only be gained on your campus visit, where you work over a short period of time with dedicated faculty and teaching assistants to build experience and master the job skills you need.

Engineering Club for Online Students

The Society of Distance Engineering Students is a club for online engineering students. You'll have the chance to meet and work with students who study online and those who attend classes on UND's campus. Even though you might be far apart, you can still study and work together easily.

Best Online Petroleum Engineering Bachelor's Program

#4 Bachelors Degree Center
#5 College Values Online
#11 Best Universities
#43 EduRank

Several college ranking sites put UND’s bachelor's in Petroleum Engineering in the Top 45 best online programs in nation. One of the reasons UND is consistently ranked so highly is because we’ve been educating engineering students at a distance for 40 years. We are a great value – offering one of the most affordable online Petroleum Engineering degrees in the nation. All online students pay the same tuition regardless of their residency.

Ranking sites vary in their methodology, but are generally based on the following criterion:

  • Financial data such as net cost, loan default rate, and return on investment
  • Academic rigor including curriculum standards, accreditation status, and faculty reputation
  • Student gratification, retention rate, and support services
  • Employment rate and graduate salary

 

Top-Tier Petroleum Engineering Degree Online

#1

best online college in North Dakota

Forbes

160+

online programs

Over a third of UND's student population is exclusively online; plus, more take a combination of online and on-campus classes. You can feel reassured knowing you won't be alone in your online learning journey, and you'll have resources and services tailored to your needs.

No matter how you customize your online experience, you’ll get the same top-quality education as any other on campus student.

  • Same degree: All online programs are fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Your transcript and diploma are exactly the same as our on-campus students.
  • Same classes: You’ll take courses from UND professors, start and end the semesters at the same time and take the same classes as a student on campus.
  • Real interaction: You can ask questions, get feedback and regularly connect with your professors, peers and professionals in the field.
  • Your own academic advisor: As an invaluable go-to, they’re focused on you, your personal success and your future career.
  • Free online tutoring: We're here to help you one-on-one at no cost. Plus, get access to a variety of self-help online study resources.
  • Unlimited academic coaching: Need support to achieve your academic goals or feeling stumped by a tough course? We'll help with everything from stress and time management to improving your memory to achieve higher test scores.
  • Full online access: Dig into virtual research at UND's libraries. Improve your writing skills with online help from the UND Writing Center. Get online access to career services, veteran and military services, financial services and more.
  • 24/7 technical support: UND provides free computer, email and other technical support for all online students.
  • Networking opportunities: Our significant online student population means you’ll have a large pool of peers to connect with. UND has numerous online events and activities to keep you connected.

Best Online College

Our high alumni salaries and job placement rates, with affordable online tuition rates make UND a best-value university for online education. UND's breadth of online programs rivals all other nonprofit universities in the Upper Midwest making UND one of the best online schools in the region.

UND ranks among the best online colleges in the nation for:

  • Affordability
  • Student satisfaction (retention rate)
  • Academic quality (4-year graduate rate)
  • Student outcomes (20-year return on investment per Payscale.com)

 

Military Friendly® School

Top Military Friendly School Badge Gold

UND is a top college for military affiliates. In fact, 1 in 7 students are veterans, active duty, spouses, or military dependents. 

  • Dedicated Support Services: You’ll have access to the Veteran & Military Services office, where you can get personalized help with VA benefits, advising, scholarships, and counseling resources.
  • Military Affiliated Peer Support (MAPS): At UND, you’ll find peer student support staff ready to guide you, offer encouragement, and connect you with the resources you need to achieve your academic and personal goals.
  • ROTC Programs: If you’re looking to grow as a leader, UND’s Army and Air Force ROTC programs provide you with hands-on leadership training and the opportunity to build lasting camaraderie.
  • Priority Registration: Individuals using VA funding benefit from priority course registration, ensuring you can build a schedule that fits your other commitments.
  • Spouse Support: UND is ranked in the Top 10 Military Spouse Friendly Schools, reflecting our strong support for spouses through flexible degree programs, advising and a welcoming campus culture.

FAQs

The typical duration for earning a degree in petroleum engineering is four years for full-time students.

The demand for petroleum engineers remains consistent, with a projected 2% growth in employment from 2022 to 2032.

To become a petroleum engineer, a bachelor's degree in Petroleum Engineering is required. Alternatively, you may also consider pursuing a degree in a related field that provides a solid foundation for understanding the principles and practices of petroleum engineering, such as chemical engineering, geology, geological engineering, or mechanical engineering.

Absolutely. The energy industry is a key part of our nation and world’s economy. Without petroleum engineer’s to explore, produce, and process oil and gas, there would be severe limitations on chemical processing, transportation, and of course energy supplies. The Petroleum Engineering bachelor’s degree program offered here at UND consistently ranks among the Top 10 best online programs nationally, providing both affordable and quality education for over four decades.

There is no specific criteria to pursue a petroleum engineering degree, other than the admission requirements for the university. But students should be passionate about working in the oil and gas industry, as well as be motivated to learn science, chemistry, geology, and math to learn the required skills to be a successful engineer. 

Leaders in Petroleum Engineering

The Petroleum Engineering program provides hands-on learning experience in a variety of disciplines.

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