Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering

Why Choose Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering?

Energy is a key component in our everyday lives. A secure energy future requires a balance between environmental impact and affordable supply. A recent report by the US Energy Information Administration predicts a 56% net growth in the global energy demand between 2010 and 2040. Given this ever increasing global thirst for energy, the long-term job market for PNG Engineers is projected to remain high.

In addition, Forbes Magazine rates a BS in Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering (PNGE) as having the highest starting salary with a median of $99,313. The median salary for engineers overall in this industry is $133,050.

What Will You Learn?

Slippery Rock University's curriculum provides students with a hands-on, in-depth learning experience covering the major fields of study in PNGE, including exploration, production, and transportation of oil and natural gas resources using safe and environmentally friendlier methods.

Courses in the Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering program combine labs with traditional classes such as Production Engineering and Oil and Natural Gas Engineering Design. Many majors are also part of the Physics & Engineering Club, which allows students to apply skills and engage in discussion outside of the classroom.

What careers can you pursue with a Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering degree?

Petroleum and natural gas engineers are responsible for discovery, extraction, transportation, and refinement of natural gas and oil resources. They have the opportunity to work in a broad range of careers in a variety of locations around the world.

Graduates of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering program have many career options as:

• drilling engineers, who design and supervise the drilling of oil and natural gas wells
• production engineers, who design facilities that produce, transport, and store oil and natural gas
• reservoir engineers, who evaluate and forecast oil and gas field performance, design extraction processes, and conduct economic evaluations
• marketing engineers, who handle sales, marketing, and transportation of oil and natural gas products
• research scientists and engineers, who find new ways of improving production, reservoir recovery processes, performance, and treatment processes

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that from 2012 to 2022 the nation will add 9,900 new petroleum engineers, a 25.7% increase. US News & World Report states that the baby-boomer generation of petroleum engineers will begin retiring at the same time that climate change and energy exploration/production become high-priority industries, thus creating need and opportunity for this program, Within 150 miles of SRU, petroleum engineering positions are expected to increase by 56% in the next 10 years.

Program Educational Objectives

Within three to five years of graduation, alumni of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering program at Slippery Rock University are expected to:

• Successfully demonstrate technical knowledge and skills required of professional engineers in the petroleum and natural gas engineering industry and/or in post-graduate education.
• Engage in life-long professional development with a commitment to continual professional growth.
• Aspire towards leadership positions in the petroleum and natural gas industry.
• Consistently practice professional and ethical responsibilities, and be mindful of the role of professionalism in global society.

Student Outcomes

The student outcomes (SOs) of Bachelor of Science in Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering includes:

1. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
2. an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
3. an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
4. an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
5. an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
6. an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
7. an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Total Enrollment and Graduation Data

Earn your Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering degree at Slippery Rock

Slippery Rock University's Bachelor's in Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering program offers a hands-on education that provides students with key skills and insights for becoming successful engineers. Interested in learning more? Request more information today!