Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy

Youngblood Energy Library

Sarkeys Energy Center, Suite 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

MCEE Mission

The mission of the Mewbourne College of Earth & Energy is to provide an academic environment in earth sciences and engineering, energy education and research that contains the full breadth of the University of Oklahoma educational experience. We also have a key service mission to investigate the State of Oklahoma's land, water, mineral and energy resources.

Vision

Our vision is to offer an intellectual atmosphere combining scholarship, research and teaching that leads to the creativity needed to address the issues of tomorrow, and prepare our students for the global competition they will experience during their professional careers. We will also ensure that OU maintains and builds on its heritage in energy education by continuing to focus on exploration, development and extraction processes in petroleum geosciences and petroleum and geological engineering, while providing close ties to engineering fundamentals and the science base in geology and geophysics. Through the Oklahoma Geological Survey, we will promote the wise use of Oklahoma's natural resources consistent with sound environmental practices.

About MCEE

In a progressive move by the University signaling its ongoing commitment to energy education and research, the Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy was established January 1, 2006. The Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy consists of the Mewbourne School of Petroleum and Geological Engineering, the ConocoPhillips School of Geology and Geophysics and the Oklahoma Geological Survey. The schools are consistently rated among the top five petroleum engineering, petroleum geology and geophysics programs in the country.

The college provides an academic environment for the development of tomorrow's academic and industry leaders that contains the full breadth of the University of Oklahoma's educational experience while continuing to provide close ties to engineering fundamentals and the science base in geology and geophysics. The Mewbourne College focus is laboratory ‘hands-on’ education and is an academic leader for end-to-end energy education and research. Distinguished faculty, exceptional students, and state-of-the-art research laboratories are the bedrock of the Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy.

The college’s name honors Curtis W. Mewbourne, a Shreveport, Louisiana, native who obtained his degree in petroleum engineering from OU, where he has been honored as a Distinguished Graduate. After serving as an officer in the U.S. Army and working as a petroleum engineer, he founded Mewbourne Oil Company in 1965. Mewbourne Oil is one of the most successful privately owned oil and gas producers in America and Mewbourne continues to operate the company.

In recognition of his longtime support, the University named the Mewbourne School of Petroleum and Geological Engineering in his honor in 2000, and granted him the Doctor of Humane Letters in 2002. In 2007 the Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy was named in his honor and he was presented the Oklahoma Trailblazer Award for his professional achievement and lifetime commitment to the energy center. Mewbourne and his family have contributed millions of dollars to endowed faculty positions and student support.

Programs Offered

Programs & Facilities

Oklahoma Geological Survey

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

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 and unconventional energy research, geological mapping programs, earth-science education activities, 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 OPIC facility in Norman, thousands of core and well samples, thousands of well logs, a well data library, and other petroleum-related material is available to the public. OGS publications are sold and distributed at this site. The Survey also operates a geophysical observatory at Leonard, near Tulsa, where a statewide network of seismometers feed data to monitor earthquakes from Oklahoma and around the world. In pursuing these activities, the OGS works closely with local, state and federal agencies, as well as with professional and educational organizations and agencies from other states. Academic classes are not taught through OGS, however 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.

Energy Institute of the Americas

The Energy Institute of the Americas (EIA) was chartered in May 1995 by the University of Oklahoma and Simon Bolivar University in Caracas, Venezuela, to address issues raised by the growing economic interdependency of the Americas.

It achieves its mission through educating and training professionals in skills and knowledge needed for energy development and related environmental issues; conducting multi-national interdisciplinary research by promoting collaboration between professors and researchers in the Hemisphere; resolving technical problems through application of research results; assisting Oklahoma oil and gas independent and service companies that want to do business in Latin America; providing a hemispheric database and clearinghouse for information and expertise; and forming a hemispheric network of academic, industrial and government organizations.

Institute for Energy and the Environment

Dedicated to providing the basic scientific foundation upon which solutions for applied environmental problems can be established, Institute for Energy and the Environment scientists work closely with graduate students to investigate biotechnological solutions to contamination problems faced by the oil and gas industry. 

Integrated PoroMechnics Institute

The Integrated PoroMechanics Institute (iPMI) formerly known as the PoroMechanics Institute (PMI) offers an integrated platform to researchers of various disciplines including petroleum engineering, geology, geophysics, civil engineering, computer science, and electrical engineering to conduct general and applied research on the mechanics of porous media, in particular geomechanics applied to exploration and production of hydrocarbons.

Jerry Holmes Leadership Program for Engineers and Scientists

The Jerry Holmes Leadership Program for Engineers and Scientists provides a variety of leadership and related development opportunities for students, faculty and staff. The program's mission is to help Gallogly College of Engineering & Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy students learn and practice the skills they will need to be effective and ethical leaders now and throughout their careers.

Participation in the Honors Program

A high percentage of eligible University undergraduate students participate in the University-wide Honors Program described elsewhere in this catalog. 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.

Undergraduate Study

Admission to the College

Students will be admitted to the Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy once they declare a major in Geology, Geophysics or Petroleum Engineering 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

Student Advisement

Each student meets with an advisor during enrollment periods and as necessary during the academic year. The Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy Student Services Center is staffed by academic advisors who are available for student support. Students may visit with an academic advisor in the Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy Student Services Center in Sarkeys Energy Center, N117, or they can call (405) 325-4005. Although the Dean’s office checks each student’s records, the responsibility for meeting graduation requirements lies with the student and not with the advisor, the school or the Dean.

Scholastic Requirements

A student must maintain at least a 2.50 grade point average to be in good standing in the college. Any student whose combined, semester or OU retention grade point average falls below 2.50 will be placed on academic performance contract. Further, any student whose OU or combined retention major or curricular grade point average falls below a 2.50 will be placed on academic performance contract. Students on academic performance contract who fail to bring their OU, combined and/or semester GPA to a 2.50 or higher or fail to meet other terms of the contract after one semester will 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 Center for Student Advancement, Wagner Hall 150, or call 325-2574. 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. The Mewbourne School of Petroleum and Geological Engineering and the ConocoPhillips School of Geology and Geophysics have additional grade requirements. For details, see the specific school chapter in this section 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 Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy 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 any of the general scholarships awarded by the University Scholarship Committee. General scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic achievement and financial need. These scholarships and other forms of financial aid may be applied for through the Office of Financial Aid Services, University of Oklahoma, 1000 Asp Avenue, Room 216, Norman, OK 73019-4078.

In addition to general scholarships offered through the University of Oklahoma, the Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy offers several scholarships sponsored by alumni and industry. In addition, the ConocoPhillips School of Geology and Geophysics and the Mewbourne School of Petroleum and Geological Engineering offer many scholarships sponsored by alumni and industry. You may contact the schools directly for application information.

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 Geology and Geophysics 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 departments and schools. The degree of Bachelor of Science qualified by the name of the field pursued is conferred upon graduates of the College.

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 senior 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 advisor, the school or the Dean.
  • Be in good academic standing with the college and the University.
  • Make application for the degree by December 1 for spring graduation, May 1 for fall graduation and March 1 for summer graduation.
  • To ensure that the above conditions will be met, the student must submit a completed Graduation Self-Check form to the Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy Student Services Center no later than the semester before the student expects to graduate.
  • 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 Geology and Geophysics 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 catalog or 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, or petroleum engineering, and the Ph.D. degree in geology, geophysics, geological engineering, or 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.