Petroleum Engineering

Petroleum engineers focus on both providing energy for the world's people and saving the planet by mitigating the effects of using hydrocarbons.

They invent new techniques to recover natural resources from the earth and apply environmentally sound production methods for oil and natural gas. Even as we develop important sources of alternative energy, oil and natural gas will remain essential for decades to come.

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Prospective University of Texas at Austin students should visit UT Admissions to learn about the application process and how to declare a major.

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Undergraduates currently enrolled at The University of Texas at Austin who wish to change to an engineering major need to apply for an internal transfer. Find out more about the internal transfer process.

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For more information on required courses, read the Petroleum Engineering undergraduate course overview.

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Petroleum engineering is a specialization within the Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering.

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Engineers are creative problem solvers who are essential to our health, happiness and safety. Engineering students celebrate discovery, design, creativity, imagination, innovation and contribution to the world we live in. No profession unleashes the spirit of innovation like engineering. From research to real-world applications, engineers constantly discover how to improve our lives by creating bold new solutions that connect science to life in unexpected, forward-thinking ways. Few professions turn so many ideas into so many realities. Few have such a direct and positive effect on people's everyday lives. We are counting on engineers and their imaginations to help us meet the needs of the 21st century.

Learn about the Cockrell School of Engineering Petroleum Engineering student organizations.

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Engineering students will acquire creative problem solving skills and the ability to design and lead in a variety of situations and environments. Based on "The Engineer of 2020" by the National Academy of Engineering, the Cockrell School of Engineering strives to graduate students who:

Possess strong analytical skills
Exhibit practical ingenuity - skill in planning, combing and adapting
Exhibit creativity - invention, innovation, thinking outside of the box
Exhibit good communication skills
Master the principles of business and management
Understand and practice the principles of leadership
Possess a framework upon which high ethical standards and a strong sense of professionalism can be developed
Exhibit dynamism, agility, resilience, and flexibility
Embrace being a lifelong learner