Petroleum engineering offers the full spectrum of career opportunities—whether working for large multinational corporations or smaller independent oil companies, or even opportunities for the development of new companies and enterprises. The industry continues to re-invent itself and in recent years there have been major new developments in the horizontal drilling, hydraulic fracturing, production and stimulation, and the production of deep, tight gas formations, to mention a few. Such developments have invigorated the US and global petroleum production industry and will have an important impact in meeting global energy challenges in the future. Historically, compensation in the petroleum industry has been quite high and in recent years it has led all B.S. degrees, due to the ever increasing importance of oil and gas and energy in general and due to the large numbers of retirements among currently practicing petroleum engineers.

Milestones of the University of Houston B. S. in Petroleum Engineering

• New program approved by Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board  - January, 2009
• First class admitted to program Fall 2009  
• First graduates as early as Spring 2013
   

Mission, Vision, and Educational Objectives

Vision

The vision of the University of Houston Petroleum Engineering Program is to be a center of world-class petroleum engineering education, research and service in Houston, the center of the world petroleum industry.

Mission

The mission of the Petroleum Engineering Program at the University of Houston is to educate students to become highly qualified petroleum engineers, to conduct innovative research in petroleum engineering and related interdisciplinary areas, and provide service to the profession and to society.

Program Educational Objectives

Graduates of the University of Houston Petroleum Engineering Program will:

• address the challenges of the world’s energy needs by practices that are
  environmentally sensitive, socially responsible, ethical, and safe,
• exceed the evolving expectations of employers in the petroleum and energy industries,
• pursue lifelong professional learning and development to sustain industry leading skills,
  and
• become leaders in industry, academe, and government.