Academic Accelerator - Bachelor of Science - Petroleum Engineering

The Academic Accelerator Program (AAP) is a balanced first-year program for international students with strong English-language skills. It provides additional support to immersive classes taught in English to ensure students have the necessary assistance.

Students enrolled in the Academic Accelerator Program will receive:

Tailored support for academic and English-speaking requirements

A full year’s worth of college credits

Access to courses specifically designed for international students

Assistance with English-language vocabulary needed for classes

A mix of classes with both international and U.S. students

Petroleum engineers are responsible for overseeing drilling and petroleum-producing operations. They work to enhance drilling operations, which can include challenging environments such as arctic, jungle, and deep ocean drilling. Petroleum engineers analyze geologic and engineering data to predict oil and gas recovery, production rates, and overall production.

As a petroleum engineer, career advancement can lead to positions in field, district, area, staff, and chief petroleum engineering roles. Alternatively, engineers may choose management positions like supervisor, superintendent, manager, or president. Career paths depend on individual goals, with opportunities to become a consultant or start a business in the oil industry after gaining experience.

For over fifty years, Louisiana has consistently ranked among the top four states in natural gas and crude oil production. Louisiana State University (LSU) has maintained a strong department of petroleum engineering to provide high-quality undergraduate education for engineers, managers, and researchers in the petroleum industry. The department also serves as a regional hub for graduate education, research, and technology transfer related to subsurface natural resource utilization.

While the petroleum engineering curriculum is tailored for careers in the petroleum industry, it is also suitable for fields like ground water hydrology, geothermal energy, and underground fluid storage. Professional courses in drilling, production, reservoir engineering, and petrophysics complement foundational coursework in mathematics, chemistry, physics, geology, and engineering.

The Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering program is accredited by ABET and typically takes four years to complete. Graduates are equipped to work in various capacities, such as reservoir engineering, drilling, production, or well-log analysis.

The department actively assists students in securing summer employment in the petroleum industry and encourages participation in the Society of Petroleum Engineers as student members. Students are also advised to take the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam during their senior year to prepare for licensure as professional engineers.