Bachelor of Science in Geosystems Engineering and Hydrogeology
Geosystems engineers and hydrogeologists are concerned with the development and use of engineering approaches in the management of natural resources from the earth’s surface and subsurface, environmental restoration of subsurface sites, and other processes related to the earth sciences. This degree program, offered jointly by the Cockrell School of Engineering and the Jackson School of Geosciences, is designed to teach students the geological and engineering principles needed to solve subsurface resource development and environmental problems. The curriculum includes a fundamental sequence of engineering and geological sciences courses in such areas as multiphase fluid flow, physical hydrology, heat and mass transfer, field methods, and engineering design. This interdisciplinary systems approach, combining engineering and geological sciences, is increasingly required to address complex real-world problems such as characterization and remediation of aquifers. The degree program is designed to prepare graduates for employment with environmental, water resource management, and energy companies in addition to many government agencies. Better-qualified graduates of the program may pursue graduate study in subsurface environmental engineering, petroleum engineering, geology, and other related fields.
The objective of the degree program is to prepare graduates for successful careers in the fields of subsurface environmental engineering (including carbon dioxide sequestration), oil and gas production and services, or similar pursuits. Graduates are expected to understand the fundamental principles of science and engineering behind the technology of geosystems engineering and hydrogeology to keep their education from becoming outdated and to give them the capability of self-instruction after graduation. They should also be prepared to serve society by applying the ideals of ethical behavior, professionalism, and environmentally responsible stewardship of natural resources.
Containing the following elements, the technical curriculum provides both breadth and depth in a range of topics.
- A combination of college-level mathematics and basic sciences (some with experimental work) that includes mathematics through differential equations, physics, chemistry, and geology
- Basic engineering and geologic topics that develop a working knowledge of fluid mechanics, strength of materials, transport phenomena, material properties, phase behavior, and thermodynamics
- Engineering and geosciences topics that develop competence in characterization and evaluation of subsurface geological formations and their resources using geoscientific and engineering methods, including field methods; design and analysis of systems for producing, injecting, and handling fluids; application of hydrogeologic and reservoir engineering principles and practices for water and energy resource development and management; contamination evaluation and remediation methods for hydrologic resources; and use of project economics and resource valuation methods for design and decision making under conditions of risk and uncertainty
- A major capstone design experience that prepares students for engineering and hydrogeologic practice, based on the knowledge and skills acquired in earlier coursework and incorporating engineering and geological standards and realistic constraints
ABET Student Outcomes:
- an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
- an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
- an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
- an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
- an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
- an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
- an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
Portable Computing Devices
Students entering Geosystems Engineering and Hydrogeology are required to have access to a portable computing device capable of running programs suitable for use in the classroom and on the university wireless network. The use of this device will be necessary in many required courses, and individual instructors may require the device be brought to class or lab sessions. For a list of minimum system requirements see http://www.pge.utexas.edu/future/undergraduate/program.
Curriculum
Course requirements include courses within the Cockrell School of Engineering and other required courses. In addition, each student must complete the University’s Core Curriculum. In some cases, a course that fulfills one of the following requirements may also be counted toward core curriculum or flag requirements; these courses are identified below.
In the process of fulfilling engineering degree requirements, students must also complete coursework to satisfy the following flag requirements: one independent inquiry flag, one course with a quantitative reasoning flag, one ethics flag, one global cultures flag, one cultural diversity in the US flag, and two writing flags. The independent inquiry flag, the quantitative reasoning flag, the ethics flag, and both writing flags are carried by courses specifically required for the degree; these courses are identified below. Courses that may be used to fulfill flag requirements are identified in the Course Schedule.
Courses used to fulfill technical and nontechnical elective requirements must be approved by the petroleum and geosystems engineering faculty and the geological sciences faculty before the student registers for them.
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Petroleum and Geosystem Engineering Courses | ||
| PGE 310 | Formulation and Solution of Geosystems Engineering Problems | 3 |
| PGE 322K | Transport Phenomena in Geosystems | 3 |
| PGE 323K | Reservoir Engineering I: Primary Recovery | 3 |
| PGE 323L | Reservoir Engineering II: Secondary and Tertiary Recovery | 3 |
| PGE 326 | Thermodynamics and Phase Behavior | 3 |
| PGE 333T | Engineering Communication (writing flag and ethics flag) | 3 |
| PGE 358 | Principles of Formation Evaluation | 3 |
| PGE 365 | Resource Economics and Valuation | 3 |
| PGE 373L | Geosystems Engineering Design and Analysis (independent inquiry flag) | 3 |
| PGE 424 | Petrophysics | 4 |
| PGE 427 | Properties of Petroleum Fluids (Properties of Petroleum Fluids) | 4 |
| Chemistry | ||
| CH 301 | Principles of Chemistry I (part II science and technology) | 3 |
| CH 302 | Principles of Chemistry II | 3 |
| Civil Engineering | ||
| C E 357 | Geotechnical Engineering | 3 |
| Engineering Mechanics | ||
| E M 306 | Statics | 3 |
| E M 319 | Mechanics of Solids | 3 |
| Geological Sciences | ||
| GEO 303 | Introduction to Geology | 3 |
| GEO 376L | Field Methods in Groundwater Hydrology | 3 |
| GEO 376S | Physical Hydrology | 3 |
| GEO 416K | Earth Materials | 4 |
| GEO 416M | Sedimentary Rocks | 4 |
| GEO 420K | Introduction to Field and Stratigraphic Methods | 4 |
| GEO 428 | Structural Geology | 4 |
| GEO 476K | Groundwater Hydrology (writing flag) | 4 |
| Mathematics | ||
| M 408C | Differential and Integral Calculus (mathematics; quantitative reasoning flag) | 4 |
| M 408D | Sequences, Series, and Multivariable Calculus | 4 |
| M 427J | Differential Equations with Linear Algebra (quantitative reasoning flag) | 4 |
| Physics | ||
| PHY 103M | Laboratory for Physics 303K | 1 |
| PHY 103N | Laboratory for Physics 303L | 1 |
| PHY 303K | Engineering Physics I (part I science and technology; quantitative reasoning flag) | 3 |
| PHY 303L | Engineering Physics II (part I science and technology; quantitative reasoning flag) | 3 |
| Other Required Courses | ||
| Approved engineering elective | 3 | |
| Approved geosciences technical elective | 3 | |
| Rhetoric and Writing | ||
| RHE 306 | Rhetoric and Writing (English composition) | 3 |
| Remaining Core Curriculum Courses | ||
| E 316L | British Literature 1 | 3 |
| or E 316M | American Literature | |
| or E 316N | World Literature | |
| or E 316P | Masterworks of Literature | |
| American government 2 | 6 | |
| American history 2 | 6 | |
| Visual and performing arts 3 | 3 | |
| Social and behavioral sciences 3 | 3 | |
| UGS 302 | First-Year Signature Course 4 | 3 |
| or UGS 303 | First-Year Signature Course | |
| ----- | ||
| 1. Some sections of the English humanities courses (E 316L, 316M, 316N, 316P) carry a global cultures or cultural diversity flag. | ||
| 2. Some sections carry a cultural diversity flag. | ||
| 3. Some sections carry a global cultures and/or cultural diversity flag. | ||
| 4. In UGS 302, all sections carry a writing flag. In UGS 303, some sections carry a writing flag. | ||
| Total Hours | 132 | |