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Petroleum Engineering Certificate

The Petroleum Engineering certificate, backed by input from many of the leading industry participants, prepares you for practical aspects of the petroleum industry.

Unconventional plays call for unconventional solutions. Learn to uncover them at North Dakota's only Petroleum Engineering program. North Dakota is a leader in producing oil from unconventional sources - the Bakken Formation is the second-largest producer of oil in the U.S.

Program type:
Certificates/Programs - Undergraduate
Format:
Online
Est. time to complete:
1 year
Credit hours:
16
  • Requirements
  • Tuition & Aid
  • How to Apply

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Why earn a petroleum engineering certificate online?

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

 

The petroleum industry is vitally important to North Dakota's future. As the state's only Petroleum Engineering program, we've benefited from strong support from the university, state and the petroleum industry itself. The Petroleum Engineering certificate prepares students to:

  • Address practical aspects
  • Apply technical knowledge in the industry
  • Join the oil and gas workforce

Top Online Petroleum Engineering College in the Nation

UND is increasingly regarded as one of the top academic and research institutions in the nation for petroleum engineering. We consistently rank among the best for educational quality, affordability, and career outcomes. 

 

UND's Online Petroleum Engineering Certificate

  • Complete the entire petroleum engineering certificate online.

  • UND's undergraduate petroleum engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

  • Gain networking and career opportunities through relationships with the Society of Petroleum Engineers, North Dakota Petroleum Council and other groups.

  • UND's Petroleum Engineering Department is host to the world’s largest – and only - oil drilling simulator.

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Petroleum Engineering Careers

The petroleum industry continues to grow, and those with knowledge of petroleum engineering are in great demand. Completing the petroleum engineering certificate opens opportunities for non-petroleum engineering degree holders in the oil and gas sectors such as:

  • Refining
  • Petro-chemical production
  • Transportation of products
  • Geosciences
  • Environmental efforts
  • International commerce

What can I do with a Petroleum Engineering certificate?

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

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

Petroleum Engineering Online Certificate Courses

PTRE 311. Petroleum Fluid Properties. 3 Credits.

Phase behavior of naturally occurring hydrocarbon system; evaluation and correlation of physical properties of petroleum reservoir fluids under various conditions of pressure and temperature, including laboratory and empirical methods. Prerequisite: CHEM 122; all prerequisites must be completed with a "C" or higher. Corequisite: ME 341. Prerequisite or Corequisite: PTRE 301. S.

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 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 431. Reservoir Engineering. 3 Credits.

Discussing general concepts in reservoir engineering, material balance equation for oil, gas, and water, determining reserves under different drive mechanisms, and fluid flow in different oil and gas reservoirs. Prerequisite: PTRE 311. Prerequisite or Corequisite: ME 306; 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.

Petroleum Engineering Certificate Online

#1

best online college in North Dakota

Forbes

160+

online programs

You’ll receive the convenience of online learning with the personal contact and connection of being with classmates through online tools – ways of communicating across distances, connecting to others and their ideas, and presenting information.

The entire degree program is offered online; you’re not required to come to campus at any time.

Flexible Online Petroleum Engineering Certificate Courses

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.

Leaders in Online Engineering Education

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)
 

Petroleum Engineering at UND 

Leaders That Do

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

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