The Petroleum Geology Plan in the Department of Physical Sciences is designed for students who intend to pursue employment in the petroleum industry or in state or federal agencies that regulate the petroleum industry. Most oil companies hire B.S. level geologists as geotechnicians; thus the opportunity for a full-fledged geologist position typically requires a graduate degree. However, a foot in the door as a geotechnician means excellent pay and the opportunity for your employer to pay for your graduate education.

Because UTPB does not offer a Summer Field Geology Course, students must take it at a University that offers it, and transfer those credits back to UTPB. They must obtain their advisor?s approval for the specific institution selected for that Summer Field Geology Course (6 credit hours) and the transcript will reflect the course number used by the institution from which they took the course. See above information of the less desirable alternative, two additional upper level courses in Geology.