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Petroleum Geology

Petroleum Geology

Bachelor of Science

The modern world is still heavily dependent on oil and gas for everything from heating our homes to driving our cars. Petroleum geologists help maintain this critical supply by discovering and analyzing natural reserves on land and in the sea using sophisticated technology.

Program Overview

Petroleum Geology program

Explore how natural resources are discovered and produced.

The Moncrief Petroleum Geology program will prepare you for a career as a geoscientist in the oil and gas industry or as a resource assessment and energy policy manager at a governmental agency. In the program, you’ll have the opportunity to visit nearby oil and gas fields, study stunning geologic formations minutes from campus and work one-on-one with professors on independent research projects.

Generous donations from legendary oilman Tex Moncrief Jr. and Western graduate Paul M. Rady, Chairman and CEO of Antero Resources, have provided funding for the Petroleum Geology program. In our state-of-the-art computing facilities, you’ll learn the technological skills you need to navigate industry software and data sets. To begin making professional connections, you’ll have the opportunity to network with industry geoscientists and participate in competitive internships. If you’re interested in pursuing an advanced degree, our expert faculty will help you publish your research and apply to graduate programs.

Start exploring

Western provides one-of-a-kind opportunities to visit nearby oil and gas fields, study stunning geologic formations minutes from campus and work one-on-one with professors on independent research projects.

Program Requirements

At Western, course rotations are crafted to encompass a variety of subject fields for a comprehensive education and versatile degree. For required courses and degree plans, visit the official University Catalog. Below is a general overview of courses at Western Colorado University related to this area of study.

Program Requirements

A minimum of 67 credits is required:

Course List
Code Title Credits
GEOL 101Physical Geology (GT-SC2)3
or GEOL 103 Earth and Energy Systems
GEOL 105Physical Geology Laboratory (GT-SC1)1
GEOL 201Historical Geology (with laboratory)4
GEOL 302Geoscience Writing2
GEOL 310Stratigraphy and Sedimentation (with laboratory)4
GEOL 315Earth Materials (with laboratory)4
GEOL 343Introduction to Geophysics3
GEOL 345Structural Geology (with laboratory)4
GEOL 346Subsurface Geology (with laboratory)4
GEOL 450Field Geology4
GEOL 455Petroleum Geology (with laboratory)4
One of the following:3-4
GEOL 320
Geomorphology (with laboratory)
GEOL 430
Hydrogeology (with laboratory)
One of the following:3
GEOL 411
Research in Volcanology and Petrology (with laboratory)
GEOL 420
Research in Geomorphology (with laboratory)
GEOL 435
Research in Structure and Tectonics (with laboratory)
GEOL 465
Research in Basin Analysis (with laboratory)
Required Supporting Courses
CHEM 111General Chemistry I (GT-SC2)3
CHEM 112General Chemistry Laboratory I (GT-SC1)1
CHEM 113General Chemistry II3
CHEM 114General Chemistry Laboratory II1
MATH 151Calculus I (GT-MA1)4
MATH 251Calculus II4
Select one of the following pairs of courses:8
PHYS 170
PHYS 185
Principles of Physics I (GT-SC2)
and Laboratory Physics I (GT-SC1)
AND
PHYS 171
PHYS 186
Principles of Physics II (GT-SC2)
and Laboratory Physics II (GT-SC1)
OR
PHYS 190
PHYS 185
General Physics I (GT-SC2)
and Laboratory Physics I (GT-SC1)
AND
PHYS 191
PHYS 186
General Physics II (GT-SC2)
and Laboratory Physics II (GT-SC1)
Total Credits67-68

Capstone Course Requirement

GEOL 450 Field Geology

Graduation Requirements

Undergraduate programs require a minimum of 120 semester credits for graduation.  Of those 120 credits, 40 credits must be in upper-division courses (those marked 300 and above).  Fifteen of these 40 upper-division credits must be earned in courses that are part of the standard or comprehensive major program being pursued. 

Students are expected to review all graduation requirements, which can be found in the Western Undergraduate Catalog: Graduation Requirements

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
CHEM 111 General Chemistry I (GT-SC2) 3
CHEM 112 General Chemistry Laboratory I (GT-SC1) 1
GEOL 101 Physical Geology (GT-SC2) 3
GEOL 105 Physical Geology Laboratory (GT-SC1) 1
HWTR 100 First Year Seminar 1
MATH 141 Precalculus (GT-MA1) 1 4
 Credits13
Spring
CHEM 113 General Chemistry II 3
CHEM 114 General Chemistry Laboratory II 1
ENG 102 Writing and Rhetoric I (GT-CO1) 3
GEOL 201 Historical Geology (with laboratory) 4
MATH 151 Calculus I (GT-MA1) 1 4
 Credits15
Year Two
Fall
GEOL 302 Geoscience Writing 2
GEOL 310 Stratigraphy and Sedimentation (with laboratory) 4
PHYS 185 Laboratory Physics I (GT-SC1) 1
PHYS 170
or PHYS 190
Principles of Physics I (GT-SC2)
or General Physics I (GT-SC2)
3
Gen Ed General Education Courses 6
 Credits16
Spring
ENG 103 Writing and Rhetoric II (GT-CO2) 3
GEOL 315 Earth Materials (with laboratory) 4
PHYS 186 Laboratory Physics II (GT-SC1) 1
PHYS 171
or PHYS 191
Principles of Physics II (GT-SC2)
or General Physics II (GT-SC2)
3
Gen Ed General Education Courses 6
 Credits17
Year Three
Fall
GEOL 343 Introduction to Geophysics 3
GEOL 345 Structural Geology (with laboratory) 4
Gen Ed General Education Courses 6
Elective Elective 3
 Credits16
Spring
GEOL 320
or GEOL 430
Geomorphology (with laboratory)
or Hydrogeology (with laboratory)
4
GEOL 346 Subsurface Geology (with laboratory) 4
Elective Elective 6
 Credits14
Summer
GEOL 450 Field Geology 4
 Credits4
Year Four
Fall
GEOL 455 Petroleum Geology (with laboratory) 4
Elective Electives 9
 Credits13
Spring
GEOL 411
or GEOL 420
or GEOL 435
or GEOL 465
Research in Volcanology and Petrology (with laboratory)
or Research in Geomorphology (with laboratory)
or Research in Structure and Tectonics (with laboratory)
or Research in Basin Analysis (with laboratory)
3
Elective Electives 9
 Credits12
 Total Credits120

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Scholarships

Western’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.

Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.

Find your scholarships!

Western’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.

Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.

Find your scholarships!

Alumni Association Future Alumni Scholarship

The Alumni Association Scholarship is a one-time scholarship of $1,000 and is applicable for the student’s junior or senior year at Western.

Any child or grandchild of an alumni is eligible to receive the Future Alumni Scholarship.

  • This is a one-time non-renewable scholarship of $1,000.
  • Only one Future Alumni Scholarship will be awarded per academic year.
  • GPA must be 3.2 or above (college).

Due date has been extended to April 1 for 2023. An Alumni selection committee, appointed by the Alumni Advisory Council, will review applicants and select awardee by June 1.

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Alumni Legacy Scholarship

The Alumni Legacy Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western (incoming freshman or new transfer students are eligible).

Do you have a son or daughter looking at college? Have they considered attending Western? As an alumni, your son, daughter and/or grandchildren are eligible for certain benefits distributed through this scholarship, as follows:

  • This is a one-time scholarship of $1,000.
  • Nominee must be an incoming first-year student or new transfer.
  • The cost of orientation is reduced by half (a $45 value).
  • The admission application fee is waived (a $30 value).
  • GPA must be 2.5 or above (high school or college of transfer).

The applicant must fill out the application form found below. Application forms are accepted year-round. If the applicant meets the GPA guidelines, the scholarship will be awarded.

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Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship

The Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western. This scholarship is not available to midyear transfers or students beginning in the spring semester.

Are you an alumni or employee of Western and know a prospective (or incoming) student who would be a great fit at Western? A recommendation from alumni and employees can support any new student and provide them a $500 scholarship their first year. (Western employees may not recommend a spouse or dependent receiving tuition benefits).

  • Any Western alumni/employee may nominate only one student per academic year to receive the $500 scholarship (distributed $250 per semester).
  • The scholarship is good for the first year only and is non-renewable.
  • The recommended student must be a full-time undergraduate student, attending Western for the first time.

The applicant must fill out the application form found here. The nominating alumni/employee must fill out the application form and submit the required documents by June 1. The recommended student must meet university admissions acceptance standards and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The Presidential Promise is guaranteed to students who have received a scholarship through the Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) and/or GearUp—and are eligible for a Pell Grant.

For students who meet these criteria, Western will cover the cost of tuition and fees through the combination of federal, state and institutional aid. For more information on the Presidential Promise, visit our scholarships page.

Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) or Central Plains (CP) tuition represents a substantial savings relative to normal, out-of-state tuition. Students eligible for the WUE or CP program will be charged 150% of Western’s total in-state tuition. For 2018-19, total in-state tuition was $8,934. WUE/CP tuition was $13,401. The WUE/CP discount is valued at $4,695.

For more information about the WUE and CP geography-based programs, visit Western’s Tuition Discount Programs Page.

Immediately upon acceptance at Western, every student is considered for a merit scholarship worth between $2,500-$4,500 per year for in-state students and $8,000-$10,000 for out-of-state students. The amount is based on the student’s GPA and ACT/SAT scores. Visit our Net Price Calculator at western.edu/cost to determine whether you qualify for a merit scholarship.

For more information about merit scholarships at Western, visit our scholarships page.

Get Involved

Geology student

Make your education a life changing experience.

A college education is so much more than just taking classes. Expand your community and network, while gaining hands-on experience in your field.

  • Computing Facilities: The Scientific Computing Lab and Geology Research Lab have a combined 20 workstations for highly-interactive instruction and use the most up-to-date industry software and data sets.
  • Outdoor Laboratory: The Gunnison Valley provides a wide range of opportunities for unique field experiences and undergraduate research.
  • Research Funding: The Bartleson-Prather Fund provides students scholarships and research stipends.

Outdoor observations

Petroleum Geology students observe many of the principles that they learn in the classroom on local field trips.

News & Research

Western Earns Accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission

Western Earns Accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission

Read More about Western Earns Accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission
Nontraditional student writes his own future in geosciences

Nontraditional student writes his own future in geosciences

Read More about Nontraditional student writes his own future in geosciences

Department Chairperson

Anne W. Ryter, Ph.D.

Professor of Chemistry

Administrative Assistant

Lori Clement

NES Administrative Assistant

Contact Information

970.943.2015

rbingham@western.edu

Campus Location

Western Colorado University
Hurst Hall 128
1 Western Way
Gunnison, CO 81231

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