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
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.
Courses
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.
| Code | Title | Credits | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHEM 111 | General Chemistry I (GT-SC2) | 3 | View |
| CHEM 112 | General Chemistry Laboratory I (GT-SC1) | 1 | View |
| CHEM 113 | General Chemistry II | 3 | View |
| CHEM 114 | General Chemistry Laboratory II | 1 | View |
| GEOL 101 | Physical Geology (GT-SC2) | 3 | View |
| GEOL 105 | Physical Geology Laboratory (GT-SC1) | 1 | View |
| GEOL 201 | Historical Geology (with laboratory) | 4 | View |
| GEOL 302 | Geoscience Writing | 2 | View |
| GEOL 305 | Mineralogy (with laboratory) | 4 | View |
| GEOL 310 | Stratigraphy and Sedimentation (with laboratory) | 4 | View |
| GEOL 311 | Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (with laboratory) | 4 | View |
| GEOL 343 | Exploration Geophysics (with laboratory) | 3 | View |
| GEOL 345 | Structural Geology (with laboratory) | 4 | View |
| GEOL 346 | Subsurface Geology (with laboratory) | 4 | View |
| GEOL 450 | Field Geology | 4 | View |
| GEOL 455 | Petroleum Geology (with laboratory) | 4 | View |
| GEOL 456 | Petroleum Geology of Unconventional Resources (with laboratory) | 4 | View |
| GEOL 465 | Research in Basin Analysis (with laboratory) | 3 | View |
| MATH 151 | Calculus I (GT-MA1) | 4 | View |
| MATH 251 | Calculus II | 4 | View |
| PHYS 170 | Principles of Physics I (with laboratory) (GT-SC1) | 4 | View |
| PHYS 171 | Principles of Physics II (with laboratory) (GT-SC1) | 4 | View |
| PHYS 200 | General Physics I (with laboratory) (GT-SC1) | 4 | View |
| PHYS 201 | General Physics II (with laboratory) (GT-SC1) | 4 | View |
Careers
Career preparation starts your first year at Western and is the primary focus of every degree.
Visit Career Services in Library 120 or online to discover your interests, define your goals, and land the career of your dreams.
The data below is automatically collected by Burning Glass Technologies, a firm that sources job market data and provides analytics. The statistics illustrate general trends in U.S. careers, but do not precisely represent every job and salary.
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 15 for 2021. An Alumni selection committee, appointed by the Alumni Advisory Board, will review applicants and select awardee by June 1.
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 freshman 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 here (click). Application forms are accepted year-round. If the applicant meets the GPA guidelines, the scholarship will be awarded.
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.
Description
The Western Presidential Honors Scholarships, established by the Jack and Marilyn MacAllister Foundation shall be an elite class of scholarships awarded to Western’s highest achieving and most deserving students, celebrating the ideals of academic excellence and service to the campus and community. Recipients of the Scholarships will be members of the Western Colorado University Honors Program.
There are eight Presidential Honors Scholarships of $2500 each. Each year two new Presidential Honors Scholarships will be awarded to two incoming freshmen.
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
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
Department Information
Natural & Environmental Sciences (NES) Department
Department Chairperson
Robin A. Bingham, Ph.D.Professor of Biology
Administrative Assistant
Samantha SiegfriedAdministrative Assistant for NES
Campus Location
Western Colorado University
Hurst Hall 128
1 Western Way
Gunnison, CO 81231