Petroleum Engineering

Petroleum Engineering

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Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering

Certificates / Endorsements

Energy, Entrepreneurship, and Materials

Top 5 Reasons to Study

01

Solve Complex Technical Problems: Develop energy resources for today while innovating solutions for tomorrow.

02

High Earning Potential: Among the top-paying engineering fields.

03

Global Career Opportunities: Work around the world in energy production.

04

Energy Industry Demand: Energy remains essential to modern life.

05

Small, Specialized Field: High demand for trained professionals.

Core
Skills

  • Problem solving and design
  • Leadership and teamwork
  • Communication
  • Lifelong learning

Sample
Jobs

  • Reservoir/Resource Engineer
  • Reservoir Data Analyst
  • Reliability/Optimization Engineer
  • Energy Consultant
  • Geothermal Drilling Engineer

Successful Career Outcomes

100% of MSU petroleum engineering graduates reported a successful career outcome within six months after finishing their degree.
Starting salaries for entry-level Petroleum Engineering B.S. graduates in the U.S. range from ~$80,000 to over $100,000 per year, depending upon the industry sector.

Top
Employment
Industries

  • “Upstream” Oil and Gas Exploration and Production
  • Oilfield Services and Equipment
  • Refining, Petrochemicals and Midstream Operations
  • Energy Transition and Low-Carbon Technologies
  • Big Data Management and Modeling

Brag
Points

  • Our student teams annually participate in drilling and production simulations at the Shell Industrial Training Center in Robert, Louisiana.
  • All our faculty members bring significant Petroleum Engineering industry experience to the classroom.
  • Student chapters of the American Association of Drilling Engineers (AADE) and the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) regularly invite visitors from industry and facilitate field trips to see working oil and gas facilities, rigs, etc.

Experiential Learning Opportunities

Summer internships are typical for our Petroleum Engineering majors. MSU Petroleum Engineering students have worked for a variety of companies spanning all oil and gas sectors, including ExxonMobil, Chevron, BP, Talos Energy, and SLB (Schlumberger).

Study Abroad opportunities are available for required courses (e.g., IE 3913 – Engineering Economy) and electives (e.g., CHE 4733 – Introduction to Sustainability). In order to maximize availability for summer internships starting in the sophomore year and beyond, it is recommended that a Study Abroad experience be completed immediately after your freshman year.

Spotlight

Minors provide a way to add value to your education and expand your career opportunities. Popular minors include geosciences, business administration, global engineering leadership, and industrial engineering.  Some petroleum engineering majors also leverage the chemical engineering courses in their curriculum by declaring a double major in chemical engineering—significantly enhancing opportunities for co-op placements and broadening career options.

Petroleum Engineering

2025-2026 Major Map

Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering

Get the Courses You Need

1st Year

Building Your Foundation

Your first year is all about getting comfortable with the basics. You’ll take calculus, chemistry, and physics while building the problem-solving and analytical skills that petroleum engineers use every day. These courses are shared with other engineering majors, so you’ll be learning alongside a broad community of future engineers.

2nd Year

Expanding Your Knowledge

This is when petroleum engineering really starts to come into focus. You’ll see how math and science connect through courses like mass and energy balances, fluid flow, and thermodynamics. You’ll also begin petroleum-specific classes that introduce you to reservoir rocks and fluids—the materials and systems you’ll work with throughout your career.

3rd Year

Craft Your Expertise

By your third year, you’re fully immersed in petroleum engineering. Classes in drilling, formation evaluation, and production engineering build your technical confidence, while communication courses help you practice explaining complex ideas clearly and professionally—an essential skill in any engineering role.

4th Year

Knowledge Meets Experience

Your final year brings everything together. Advanced courses in reservoir engineering and oil recovery, along with your senior capstone design project, give you hands-on experience solving real-world problems. By graduation, you’ll be ready to step into industry or continue on to graduate school with a strong foundation behind you.

Hands-On Learning

1st Year

Your first year is a chance to jump in and start exploring. You can join student organizations, such the MSU EcoCAR Team, meet other engineers, and get a feel for applied engineering through team-based projects and activities. 

2nd Year

Gaining Experience

This is a great time to build on what you’ve started. You might pursue an internship or co-op, compete in events like PetroBowl®, or take part in industry field trips. Many students also begin taking on small leadership roles within their organizations.

3rd Year

Stepping Into Leadership
By your third year, you’ll be ready to take on more responsibility. You can step into leadership roles in the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) or the American Association of Drilling Engineers (AADE), get involved in undergraduate research, and share your work through professional competitions, such as the SPE Student Paper Contest or conferences.

4th Year

Master and Launch

Your final year is about bringing everything together. You’ll look for any remaining experiences you’d like to add—whether that’s another internship, a leadership role, or service opportunity—so you can graduate feeling confident and prepared for what’s next.

Connect with Community

1st Year

Get Involved

Your first year is a great time to find your people. You can join organizations like SPE or AADE, start meeting others in the program, and begin building your professional presence on LinkedIn.

2nd Year

Grow and Connect

As you get more comfortable, you may start attending regional or national conferences and expanding your professional network. These experiences help you see how what you’re learning connects to real careers.

3rd Year

Mentor and Inspire

By year three, you’ll likely have strong connections with faculty, classmates, and industry professionals. This is also a natural time to mentor younger students and share what you’ve learned.

4th Year

Professional Pathways

In your final year, you’ll transition into professional memberships and lean on your network as you take your next step—whether that’s entering the workforce or continuing your education.

Explore the World

1st Year

Discover

This is a great time to start thinking globally. You can explore language courses, learn about international programs, and consider whether the global engineering leadership minor fits your interests and long-term goals.

2nd Year

Plan and Explore

Now you can dig a little deeper. Study abroad fairs and advising help you compare options and figure out which global experiences align with your goals.

3rd Year

You might consider studying abroad this year, participating in an international program, or serving as an ambassador while continuing to build your global experience.

4th Year

Showcase and Expand

As you get ready to graduate, you’ll highlight your international experiences in interviews, on LinkedIn, and in your professional story — showing employers you’re ready to work in a global environment.

Launch Your Career

1st Year

Chart Your Course

You’ll begin exploring career options by attending company info sessions and Career Expos, and by setting up tools like Connections to see what opportunities are out there.

2nd Year

Gain Real Experience

Internships, resume reviews, and conversations with alumni help you build confidence and gain clarity on what you want to pursue. 

3rd Year

Target Your Path

This is when things start to come together. Professional development courses, leadership experiences, and industry engagement help you focus on what’s next.

4th Year

Make Your Move

In your final year, you’ll apply for jobs or graduate programs and, if licensure is part of your plan, begin preparing for the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam as you get ready for your next step.

Alumni
Success

Randy Cleveland (PTE 1983) was a successful leader in the oil and gas industry for more than 35 years, retiring as Vice President Americas for ExxonMobil Production Co. in 2016. He was recognized by MSU in 2022 as National Alumnus of the Year. Through his generosity, the Randy J. Cleveland Engineering Student Center provides a central hub for MSU students in the Bagley College of Engineering. 

Student
Testimonial

"The BCoE and its staff helped prepare me for professional life by actually putting me in a position to solve real-world engineering problems as well as utilize industry-standard software that gives us petroleum engineering students a leg up on the rest of our counterparts from other colleges." Cody LeBleu (PTE 2024)

Learn More

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