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8750764 
Meetings & Symposia 
The evolution of petroleum engineering education in the United States 
Miller, FG; Marsden, SS 
1963 
Energy Institute 
1963-June 
221-229 
English 
This paper traces the development of petroleum engineering education in the United States for the past fifty years. University training offered in the early part of this period, slanted mainly toward petroleum geology and the practical aspects of oil field operation, is reviewed. The problems of young, inexperienced college graduates in the oil fields when college graduates were rare are discussed. The effect of these problems on petroleum education is observed. The advent of oil reservoir engineering and the role It has played in reshaping college curricula is examined. Much of the tremendous expansion of oil and gas research in the universities during the past fifteen years is shown to stem directly from the industry's interest in oil reservoir behavior. Curricula filling the requirements of major oil companies in the United States are mentioned. Stressed is the need for proper breadth of training, as well as penetration in important subjects. The desirability of fitting curricula to career objectives Is pointed out and the resulting need for a number of different graduate programs indicated. The paper Is concluded with a summary of the qualifications of the best college entrants. © 1963 World Petroleum Congress Proceedings.