Objectives & Outcomes
Program Educational Objectives
The Bob L. Herd Department of Petroleum Engineering supports the mission of the university and the college through its undergraduate program by providing students with an appropriate curriculum and educational experience.
The course selection and content remain current through continuous assessment by faculty, students, alumni, Petroleum Industry Advisor Board (PIAB) members, and industry employers.
To accomplish this mission, the petroleum engineering faculty, with advice from students, alumni, PIAB members, and industry employers, endorse program educational objectives to generate petroleum engineering graduates who will accomplish the following during the first few years after graduation:
- Be successful in diverse career paths in the petroleum industry.
- Continue professional development through participation and leadership in professional organizations (SPE, ASEE, API, AADE, SPWLA).
- Progress to professional registration so that some individuals graduate from an ABET-accredited degree plan, pass the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam, work in increasingly responsible engineering positions, and pass the Professional Exam.
The program educational objectives are listed on page 308 of the 2011−12 catalog.
Student Outcomes
Graduates of the Bob L. Herd Department of Petroleum Engineering must demonstrate the following:
- an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering
- an ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data
- an ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired item
- an ability to function on multi−disciplinary teams
- an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
- an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility
- an ability to communicate effectively
- the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering soultions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context
- a recognition of the need for and an ability to engage in life−long learning
- a knowledge of contemporary issues
- an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice
The student outcomes are listed on page 308 of the 2011−12 catalog.
Accreditation
The bachelor of science in petroleum engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org.




