Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy

Sarkeys Energy Center, 15th Floor, Room 1510
100 E. Boyd Street
Norman, OK 73019-1015
Main Phone: (405) 325-3821
Advising: (405) 325-4005
FAX: (405) 325-3180
mcee@ou.edu
www.ou.edu/mcee

Administrative Officers

John Antonio, Interim Dean and Lester A. Day Family Chair
email: antonio@ou.edu

General Information

Programs Offered

Programs & Facilities

Oklahoma Geological Survey

100 East Boyd St., Suite N131 Norman, OK 73019
Phone: (405) 325-3031
ogs@ou.edu 
www.ou.edu/ogs

The Oklahoma Geological Survey was created by directive of the State Constitution written in 1907. An enabling act was presented to Oklahoma’s first legislature and signed into law by Gov. Charles N. Haskell on May 29, 1908.

The Oklahoma Geological Survey is charged with investigating the land, water, mineral, and energy resources of the state, and disseminating the results of those investigations to promote the wise use of Oklahoma’s natural resources consistent with sound environmental practices.

The Oklahoma Geological Survey carries out this charter through fossil energy research, activities in geological carbon sequestration and low-carbon energy resources, geological mapping programs, earth-science education, operation of a state-wide seismograph network, development of geological databases, an industrial minerals program, and basic geological studies conducted in various areas of Oklahoma. The results of these investigations are made available through publications of technical and educational material, maps, a web site containing data for downloading, the Oklahoma Petroleum Information Center (OPIC), presentations to the public and professional organizations, and organizing workshops for technology transfer to industry and academia.

At the Oklahoma Petroleum Information Center (OPIC) in Norman, there are thousands of core and well samples, well logs, a well data library, and other petroleum-related material available to the public. The general public, industry, and academic groups have access to the OPIC facility resources and can purchase hard copies of OGS publications. Many publications, spanning over a century, are available for free on the OGS website. In pursuit of data and core preservation and seismic monitoring, the OGS works closely with local, state, and federal agencies, as well as with professional and educational organizations and agencies from other states. While not an academic unit, OGS staff serve as mentors, adjunct faculty, instructors, and committee members for students enrolled at the University of Oklahoma and other universities. As a unit of the Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy, the OGS supports a number of students with the college’s research and service efforts.

Ronnie K. Irani Center for Energy Solutions

Honors Program

A high percentage of eligible University undergraduate students participate in the University-wide Honors Program (refer to the Honors College section of this catalog for more information). Specially designed Honors courses and seminars provide the Honors student with small classes and opportunities for interaction with the University's best and brightest faculty members, both within the student’s major field of study and in other courses used to satisfy curricular requirements. Students may graduate with Latin Honorifics if they successfully meet the GPA requirements in addition to their regular degree program requirements.

Undergraduate Study

Admission to the College

Students will be admitted to the Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy once they declare a major within the college and complete the following requirements:

• Applicants who are direct from high school must be admitted to OU and have earned 24 semester credit hours with an OU and combined retention grade point average of 2.50 or higher.
• Students transferring to the University of Oklahoma must have a retention GPA of a 2.50 or higher.
• University of Oklahoma readmits must have an OU retention and combined retention GPA of a 2.50 or higher

Academic Advising

The Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy Pioneer Natural Resources Student Services Center is staffed by academic advisors who are available for student support and curricular guidance. Prior to registering for the next term, students meet with an academic advisor to discuss advising recommendations, support services, and student engagement opportunities. The Pioneer Natural Resources Student Services Center is located in Sarkeys Energy Center, 1st floor, room P119. Students may call (405) 325-4005 or use iAdvise.ou.edu to schedule their advising appointments. Although the Dean’s office checks each student’s records, the responsibility for meeting graduation requirements lies with the student and not with the academic advisor, the school, or the Dean.

Scholastic Requirements

Students in the Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy must meet the following academic standards:

• A minimum grade of C in each course required in the curriculum.
• No more than three attempts per course to successfully complete the course. Unsuccessful attempts include earned grades of D, F, I, U, AU, W, and AW. Terms with "complete withdrawal" notated on the transcript do not count towards these totals.
• A student must maintain at least 2.50 grade point averages to be in good standing in the college. This applies to the following GPAs:
  • OU retention grade point average 
  • Combined retention grade point average
  • Term grade point average
  • Major retention grade point average

Students who do not meet these standards will be notified by the Director of Student Services and guided to meet with their academic advisor for support. Students on academic performance contract who fail to meet the terms of their academic performance contract after one semester may be dismissed (stopped out) from the Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy. Students who fail to make adequate progress toward their degree may be dismissed from the college.

A student dismissed from the Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy may be eligible for enrollment in another college under the University retention policy. To continue at the University of Oklahoma, the student will need to make an appointment with the Academic Advising Resource Center (AARC), Cate 1, room 418 or phone (405) 325-1596. However, even if the student is able to continue at the University, further enrollment in Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy courses is not allowed.

A student dismissed from the Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy is unlikely to be readmitted to the college. Students are eligible to apply for readmission after at least 2 full (fall and spring) semesters have elapsed since the date of dismissal and they have significantly improved their performance in courses that are technically demanding and relevant to an engineering/science education. Applying for readmission does not guarantee that a student will be readmitted. Each request is considered on its individual merit. If the student is readmitted to the MCEE, the student will be placed on an Academic Performance Contract. Students who are dismissed from the MCEE for a second time are not eligible for readmission.

The Mewbourne School of Petroleum and Geological Engineering and the School of Geosciences have additional grade requirements. For details, see the specific school sections of the catalog.

College Ten-Year Limitation Rule

A student may elect to graduate under the requirements for an undergraduate degree set forth in the catalog in effect at the time of their first enrollment in the state system, provided they complete the work for a degree within a maximum of six years. If the work for a degree covers a period longer than that specified by the college, the college will determine the degree plan in effect for that student’s graduation. Credit in a student’s major which is more than 10 years old may not be applied toward a bachelor’s degree unless it is validated by the major department.

Transfer Students

1. Students transferring to the University of Oklahoma Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy must have a retention GPA of a 2.50 or higher.
2. Students should check transfer equivalencies on the transfer equivalency database.
3. Students should visit the Pioneer Natural Resources Student Services Center to determine exactly how their transfer credits apply toward their degree program.
4. Pass/No Pass course enrollments may not be used to satisfy Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy course requirements.
5. Academic credit from any division of the University of Oklahoma — Norman campus, OU Health Sciences Center, OU-Tulsa, or Continuing Education — is considered resident credit at the University of Oklahoma. Grades and hours earned at any of these divisions are included in the OU and combined retention grade point averages for purposes of admission or readmission to the University, and to the individual colleges within the University. (See also Residence Requirements under Graduation Requirements.)

Scholarships and Financial Aid

Students entering the University of Oklahoma are eligible to apply for scholarships. General scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic achievement and financial need. In addition to general scholarships offered through the University of Oklahoma, the Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy and both schools offer several scholarships sponsored by alumni and industry. Continuing students apply each year through the Student Financial Center's Centralized Academic Scholarship Hub (CASH). Financial questions may be directed to the Student Financial Center email: sfc@ou.edu or phone: (405) 325-9000. 

College Graduation GPA Requirements

Students recommended for a bachelor’s degree in the Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy must have at least a 2.50 OU and combined retention grade point average in all coursework attempted, in their major area, and in their curriculum. The Schools of Petroleum and Geological Engineering and Geosciences may have additional grade requirements. For details, see the specific school section in this chapter of the catalog.

Graduation Requirements

Basic Requirements

The Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy is organized into two schools, Mewbourne School of Petroleum and Geological Engineering and School of Geosciences.

The student must satisfy the following requirements:

• Curricular Courses: Complete all prescribed curricular courses or equivalent courses as approved by the faculty.
• Two-year College Transfer Credits: A minimum of 60 semester hours must be earned in a 4-year institution for a baccalaureate degree.
• Catalog Requirements: Fulfill all requirements listed in the catalog. Although the Dean’s office checks each student’s records, the responsibility for meeting graduation requirements lies with the student, and not with the academic advisor, the school, or the Dean.
• Be in good academic standing with the college and the University.
• Complete graduation application by December 1 for spring graduation, May 1 for fall graduation and March 1 for summer graduation.
• Residency Requirements: To be recommended for a degree, a candidate must have:
  1. spent two semesters or the equivalent in residence in the Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy;
  2. completed at least 36 of the last 60 hours in residence. Twenty-four of these 36 hours must be in the major field;
  3. fulfilled the grade and grade point requirements of the college and school; Note: Academic credit from any division of the University of Oklahoma — Norman campus, OU Health Sciences Center, OU-Tulsa, or Continuing Education — is considered resident credit at the University of Oklahoma. Grades and hours earned at any of these divisions are included in the OU and combined retention grade point averages for purposes of determining completion of degree requirements.

Degrees are awarded at the end of each fall and spring semester and summer session. All diplomas are mailed to students following the official graduation date. The degree and date of the diploma are entered on the student’s permanent academic record. The date of graduation is the last day of the semester or summer session in which all requirements for the degree are completed. When a student completes all requirements for a degree other than at the close of a semester or summer session, the Office of Academic Records, upon request, will issue a certified statement that the student is eligible for the degree as of the date when the requirements for the degree were completed.

Dean's Honor Roll

To be eligible for the Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy Dean’s Honor Roll, a full-time undergraduate student must earn 12 or more hours and attain a grade point average of 3.00 or higher during a regular fall or spring semester. Part-time students may qualify for the Honor Roll by earning at least 6 but less than 12 hours and attaining a grade point average of 3.00 or higher, provided they have no withdrawals for that semester.

Minors

The Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy offers students the option of declaring a minor. A Geology minor is available in the college, and the specific minor requirements can be found in the School of Geosciences section of the catalog. Students may complete minors in other areas, and these will be posted on the transcript after graduation. For a listing of the minors offered at the University, reference the OU General Catalog Minors page. 

Certificates

A multidisciplinary undergraduate certificate in Sustainable Energy Systems is administered by the Mewbourne College. Details can be found on the MCEE website.

Second Bachelor’s Degrees

A student who has completed the requirements for a bachelor’s degree at OU may also receive a second bachelor’s degree upon the completion of the curriculum prescribed for the second degree, provided that the work completed includes at least 30 additional hours of upper-division geology, geophysics or engineering (according to second undergraduate degree program), applied science and elective courses appropriate to the field of the second degree. These courses must be over and above the credit hours required for the first degree.

Graduate Study

The Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy offers programs leading to the Master of Science degree in geology, geophysics, geological engineering, natural gas engineering and management, and petroleum engineering. The college also offers Ph.D. degrees in geology, geophysics, geological engineering, and petroleum engineering.

Refer to the Graduate tabs within the Mewbourne School of Petroleum and Geological Engineering and the School of Geosciences pages of this catalog for information concerning graduate programs.