Energy and Mineral Engineering

Graduate Program HeadJeremy Gernand
Program CodeEME
Campus(es)University Park (Ph.D., M.S.)
Degrees Conferred

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Master of Science (M.S.)

Dual-Title Ph.D. and M.S. in Energy and Mineral Engineering and Transdisciplinary Research on Environment and Society

Dual-Title Ph.D. and M.S. in Energy and Mineral Engineering and Operations Research

Integrated B.S. in Energy Business and Finance and M.S. in Energy and Mineral Engineering

Integrated B.S. in Energy Engineering and M.S. in Energy and Mineral Engineering

Integrated B.S. in Environmental Systems Engineering and M.S. in Energy and Mineral Engineering

Integrated B.S. in Mining Engineering and M.S. in Energy and Mineral Engineering

Integrated B.S. in Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering and M.S. in Energy and Mineral Engineering

The Graduate Faculty

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The John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering provides a vertically integrated approach to research and education in all aspects of the energy and mineral industries, including scientific and engineering issues, health and safety, and maintenance of high environmental standards. The department's mission is to forge an intellectual and scientific cohesiveness in energy and mineral resource technology. This objective is achieved by exploiting the natural synergy between the exploration, extraction, processing, and utilization of energy and mineral resources so as to cater to the emerging needs of society.

The Energy and Mineral Engineering (EME) program is a single graduate program with a focus on the production of energy and minerals in an economic, safe and efficient manner. The program provides flexible education of students in energy and mineral sciences and engineering, with focus on both non-renewable and renewable resource and energy industries. The program is designed to resolve the sometimes competing goals of flexible education of requisite breadth while still providing in-depth study; students are required to follow a focused curriculum that combines the requisite rigor with flexibility in a rapidly changing field of endeavor. Participating students take select from core program and required option courses and additional courses from a broad array of courses to meet the total credit requirements. Students are not required to choose an option and may complete the base program in EME. However, a student who desires disciplinary identity may choose from among the five following available graduate options:

  • Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering,
  • Mining and Mineral Process Engineering,
  • Fuel Science, and
  • Energy Systems Engineering.

Admission Requirements

Applicants apply for admission to the program via the Graduate School application for admission. Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-300 Admissions Policies.

Scores for the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) are required for admission. The best-qualified applicants will be accepted by the Energy and Mineral Engineering graduate program up to the number of spaces available for new students.

Admission to the Energy and Mineral Engineering graduate program is competitive. Entering students must hold a bachelor's degree in a science or engineering discipline, unless they are admitted to the Integrated Undergraduate-Graduate (IUG) program. Students with 3.00 or better (out of 4.00) junior/senior cumulative grade-point averages and appropriate course backgrounds will be considered for admission. Exceptions to the minimum 3.00 grade-point average may be made for students with special backgrounds, abilities, and interests, at the program’s discretion. Letters of recommendation and an applicant's statement of purpose are also required.

The language of instruction at Penn State is English. English proficiency test scores (TOEFL/IELTS) may be required for international applicants. See GCAC-305 Admission Requirements for International Students for more information.

Degree Requirements

All graduate students are expected to attend general Department seminars. Graduate students may be asked to contribute to the instructional programs of the Department by assisting with undergraduate laboratory and lecture courses.

Master of Science (M.S.)

Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-600 Research Degree Policies.

The M.S. degree program in Energy and Mineral Engineering is designed for students to gain advanced knowledge for research, analysis, and design in Energy and Mineral Engineering.

M.S. students must take at least two (2) courses (6 credits of core courses) from the list of prescribed (core) courses:

EME 501Design Under Uncertainty in Energy and Mineral Systems3
EME 511Interfacial Physical-Chemical Systems, Processes, and Measurements3
EME 521Mathematical Modeling of Energy and Mineral Systems3
EME 531Thermodynamics of Energy and Mineral Systems3
EME 551Safety, Health and Environmental Risks in Energy and Mineral Production3

An additional set of prescribed twelve (12) option credits (as a minimum) must be taken if the student chooses to pursue an EME disciplinary option (petroleum and natural gas engineering, mining and mineral process engineering, fuel science, or energy systems engineering). Students are not required to choose an option and may complete the base program in EME.

Students pursuing an M.S. degree in EME will be required to complete a prescribed culminating research experience and the minimum amount of credits associated with each experience, which include the completion of minimum core and option (if any) course requirements. The thesis and non-thesis M.S. culminating experience tracks are:

THESIS-BASED M.S. in EME (30 credits total): Students are required to complete a minimum of 30 credits total (at least 18 at the 500 or 600 level) including: 24 credits in course work, 6 thesis credits (EME 600 Thesis Research), and a thesis accepted by the adviser(s) and committee members, the head of the graduate program, and the Graduate School. The student must pass a thesis defense.

NON-THESIS BASED M.S. in EME (36 credits total): Students are required to complete a minimum of 36 credits in total (at least 24 at the 500 level) including: 33 credits in course work and 3 credits for the completion of a culminating research experience. Within the 33 credits of coursework, M.S. students must take at least two extra courses (6 credits) from the EME core course list (beyond the six credit M.S. core requirement) or chosen graduate option (beyond the option’s 12-credit minimum option requirement). The non-thesis culminating research experiences are:

  • Paper-based M.S.: Students take three (3) credits of non-thesis research (EME 596 Individual Studies) and complete a satisfactory scholarly paper evaluated by adviser(s) and a reader.
  • Course-based M.S.: Students take a capstone research course (EME 580 Methodology of Research in EME (3 cr.) where they will create a work product demonstrating evidence of analytical thinking and synthesis of knowledge in the Energy and Mineral Engineering field.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-600 Research Degree Policies.

The Ph.D. program in Energy and Mineral Engineering emphasizes scholarly research and helps students prepare for research and related careers in industry, government and academe. The Ph.D. program in Energy and Mineral Engineering requires completing a minimum of twelve (12) post-M.S. course credits, which must include the completion of all minimum core and option (if any) course requirements, and twelve (12) research credits. For students without an M.S. degree, 24 additional course credits must be taken to complete a total of 36 course credits and 48 credits total overall. At least 18 credits of these must be at the 500 or 600 level. A student’s Ph.D. committee can require additional course work based on the student’s background and research plans.

Ph.D. students must take at least one (1) course (3 credits of core courses) from the following list of prescribed (core) courses. Ph.D. students without an M.S. are required to take three (3) courses (9 credits of core courses) from this list:

EME 501Design Under Uncertainty in Energy and Mineral Systems3
EME 511Interfacial Physical-Chemical Systems, Processes, and Measurements3
EME 521Mathematical Modeling of Energy and Mineral Systems3
EME 531Thermodynamics of Energy and Mineral Systems3
EME 551Safety, Health and Environmental Risks in Energy and Mineral Production3

An additional set of prescribed twelve (12) option credits (as a minimum) must be taken if the student chooses to pursue an EME disciplinary option (petroleum and natural gas engineering, mining and mineral process engineering, fuel science, or energy systems engineering). Students are not required to choose an option and may complete the base program in EME.

Acceptance into the Ph.D. degree program in Energy and Mineral Engineering is based on the student's performance on the Ph.D. qualifying examination administered by the Graduate Faculty of the EME graduate program. The Ph.D. Qualifying Examination in EME will measure the student’s fundamental knowledge of subjects covered in the program and interest area(s) of the individual candidate. It is intended to determine whether a student has the preparation, intellectual capacity, and professional attitude to complete a Ph.D. program successfully.

A Ph.D. comprehensive examination is required of all Ph.D. candidates and should be taken after substantial completion of all Ph.D. course work requirements. To earn the Ph.D. degree, doctoral students must also write a dissertation that is accepted by the Ph.D. committee, the head of the graduate program, and the Graduate School. In addition, the student must pass a final oral examination (the dissertation defense).

Options

EME students are not required to choose a graduate option and may complete the base program in EME. However, M.S. and Ph.D. students of the EME graduate program who desire disciplinary identity may choose from among the following available graduate options:

  • Energy systems engineering (ESysE)
  • Fuel science (FSc)
  • Mining and mineral process engineering (MMPE)
  • Petroleum and natural gas engineering (PNGE)

The mandatory minimum course requirement for each of these options is 12 credits (4 courses) selected from the list of option-specific courses provided below. Student may apply the option to either the M.S. or Ph.D. degrees, or both, provided that new and appropriate substitute courses are taken as approved by the EME graduate program officer.

Energy Systems Engineering Option

Required Courses
Select 12 credits from the following:12
Computational Methods for Electric Power Systems Analysis
Stochastic Optimization Methods of Energy and Environmental Systems
Machine Learning for Energy and Mineral Engineering Problems
Solar Utility and Portfolio Management
Stochastic Modeling of Spatial Variability in Energy and Environmental Systems
Economic Analysis of Energy Markets
Linear Programming
Applied Stochastic Processes
Total Credits12

Fuel Science Option

Required Courses
Select 12 credits from the following:12
General Transport Phenomena
Transport Phenomena II
Catalytic Materials
Heterogeneous Catalysis
Analytical Methods in Fuel Science
Surface Characterization of Materials
Problems in Fuels Engineering
Carbon Reactions
Numerical Solutions Applied to Heat Transfer and Fluid Mechanics Problems
Total Credits12

Mining and Mineral Process Engineering Option

Required Courses
Select 12 credits from the following:12
Valuation of Mineral Properties and Mining Projects
Surface Mine Equipment Selection Analysis
Rock Mechanics Design
Particle Separation
Hydrometallurgical Processing
Total Credits12

Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering Option

Required Courses
Select 12 credits from the following: 112
Flow in Porous Media
Coupled Flow and Deformation in Porous Media
Numerical Reservoir Simulation
Design of Miscible Recovery Projects
Thermodynamics of Hydrocarbon Fluids
Well Stimulation
Natural Gas Engineering
Unconventional Resources Analysis
Reservoir Characterization
Production and Completions Engineering
Special Topics (when taught, may be used to partially satisfy the PNGE option minimum credit requirement)
Total Credits12
1

PNG 596 Individual Studies credits may not be used within this option course credit count.

Dual-Titles

Dual-title M.S. and Ph.D. in TRANSDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH ON ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIETY

Requirements listed here are in addition to requirements listed in GCAC-208 Dual-Title Graduate Degree Programs.

Admission Requirement

Students must apply and be admitted to the graduate program in EME and The Graduate School before they can apply for admission to the dual-title degree program. After admission to their primary program, students must apply for admission to and meet the admissions requirements of the TREES dual-title program. Refer to the Admission Requirements section of the Transdisciplinary Research on Environment and Society Bulletin page. Doctoral students should enroll in a dual-title graduate degree program early in their training, and no later than the end of the fourth semester (not counting summer semesters) of entry into the graduate major program. 

Degree Requirements

To qualify for the dual-title degree, students must satisfy the degree requirements for the degree they are enrolled in EME, listed above. In addition, students must complete the degree requirements for the dual title in TREES, listed on the TREES Bulletin page

The qualifying examination for Energy & Mineral Engineering will satisfy the qualifying exam requirement for the dual-title degree program in TREES.  In addition to the general Graduate Council requirements for Ph.D. committees, the Ph.D. committee of an EME and TREES dual-title Ph.D. student must include at least one member of the TREES Graduate Faculty. Faculty members who hold appointments in both programs’ Graduate Faculty may serve in a combined role. If the chair of the Ph.D. committee is not also a member of the Graduate Faculty in TREES, the member of the committee representing TREES must be appointed as co-chair. The TREES representative on the student’s Ph.D. committee will develop questions for and participate in the evaluation of the comprehensive examination. 

Students in the dual-title program are required to write and orally defend a dissertation on a topic that is approved in advance by their Ph.D. committee and reflects their original research and education in EME and TREES. Upon completion of the doctoral dissertation, the candidate must pass a final oral examination (the dissertation defense) to earn the Ph.D. degree. The dissertation must be accepted by the Ph.D. committee, the head of the graduate program, and the Graduate School. 

Dual-title M.S. and Ph.D. in Energy and Mineral Engineering and Operations Research

Requirements listed here are in addition to requirements listed in GCAC-208 Dual-Title Graduate Degree Programs.

Admission Requirements

Students must apply and be admitted to the graduate program in EME and The Graduate School before they can apply for admission to the dual-title degree program. After admission to their primary program, students must apply for admission to and meet the admissions requirements of the Operations Research dual-title program. Refer to the Admission Requirements section of the Operations Research Bulletin page. Doctoral students must be admitted into the dual-title degree program in Operations Research prior to taking the qualifying examination in their primary graduate program.

Degree Requirements

To qualify for the dual-title degree, students must satisfy the degree requirements for the degree they are enrolled in EME, listed above. In addition, students must complete the degree requirements for the dual-title in Operations Research, listed on the Operations Research Bulletin page

The qualifying examination committee for the dual-title Ph.D. degree will be composed of Graduate Faculty from EME and must include at least one Graduate Faculty member from the Operations Research program. Faculty members who hold appointments in both programs’ Graduate Faculty may serve in a combined role. There will be a single qualifying examination, containing elements of both EME and Operations Research. Dual-title graduate degree students may require an additional semester to fulfill requirements for both areas of study and, therefore, the qualifying examination may be delayed one semester beyond the normal period allowable.

In addition to the general Graduate Council requirements for Ph.D. committees, the Ph.D. committee of an EME and Operations Research dual-title Ph.D. student must include at least one member of the Operations Research Graduate Faculty. Faculty members who hold appointments in both programs’ Graduate Faculty may serve in a combined role. If the chair of the Ph.D. committee is not also a member of the Graduate Faculty in Operations Research, the member of the committee representing Operations Research must be appointed as co-chair. The Operations Research representative on the student’s Ph.D. committee will develop questions for and participate in the evaluation of the comprehensive examination.

Students in the dual-title program are required to write and orally defend a dissertation on a topic that is approved in advance by their Ph.D. committee and reflects their original research and education in EME and Operations Research. Upon completion of the doctoral dissertation, the candidate must pass a final oral examination (the dissertation defense) to earn the Ph.D. degree. The dissertation must be accepted by the Ph.D. committee, the head of the graduate program, and the Graduate School.

Integrated Undergrad-Grad Programs

The EME graduate program offers integrated B.S./M.S. programs designed to allow academically superior and research-focused undergraduate students in five B.S. degree programs—Energy Business and Finance; Energy Engineering; Environmental Systems Engineering; Mining Engineering; and Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering—also to obtain an M.S. degree in Energy and Mineral Engineering (EME) within five years of study.

Integrated B.S. in Energy Business and Finance and M.S. in Energy and Mineral Engineering

This Integrated Undergraduate/Graduate (IUG) degree program combines the B.S. in Energy Business and Finance with the M.S. in Energy and Mineral Engineering offered at the following campuses: 

Undergraduate Degree 

  • University Park

Graduate Degree 

  • University Park

Requirements listed here are in addition to requirements listed in GCAC-210 Integrated Undergraduate-Graduate (IUG) Degree Programs.

Admission Requirements

Applicants apply for admission to the program via the Graduate School application for admission. Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-300 Admissions Policies.

Students must apply to the program via the Graduate School application for admission, and must meet all the admission requirements of the Graduate School and the EME graduate program for the Master of Science degree. Undergraduate students with sixth semester standing and minimum grade-point average of 3.5 who wish to complete the Integrated B.S./M.S. program should apply to the Graduate School and the EME IUG program before the end of their junior year. Before applying to the Graduate School, students must have completed entrance to their undergraduate major and have completed no less than 60 credits. Students must be admitted no later than the end of the second week of the semester preceding the semester of expected conferral of the undergraduate degree. Transfer students must have completed at least 15 credits at Penn State to enroll in an IUG.

Three faculty letters of recommendation are required. A statement of purpose and a plan of study covering the five year period, prepared in consultation with an adviser, and approved by the program officers of the B.S. major and the EME graduate program must accompany the application. The plan should be presented to the undergraduate and graduate program officers prior to being admitted into the program. The plan should cover the entire time period of the integrated program, and it should be reviewed periodically with an adviser as the student advances through the program. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores may be submitted by IUG applicants but are not required. The application will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee of the EME Graduate program and acted upon by the EME Graduate Program Officer.

Degree Requirements

Students must fulfill all degree requirements for each degree in order to be awarded that degree, subject to the double-counting of credits as outlined below. Degree requirements for the Bachelor of Science degrees are listed in the Undergraduate Bulletin. Degree requirements for the Master of Science in EME are listed in the Master of Science Degree Requirements section above. Students must sequence their courses so all undergraduate degree requirements are fulfilled before taking courses to count solely towards the graduate degree. Students are expected to complete the undergraduate degree requirements within the typical time to degree for the undergraduate major. In the semester in which the undergraduate degree requirements will be completed, IUG students must apply to graduate, and the undergraduate degree should be conferred at the next appropriate Commencement. If students accepted into the IUG program are unable to complete the M.S. degree, they are still eligible to receive their undergraduate degree if all the undergraduate degree requirements have been satisfied.

Up to 12 credits may be double-counted towards the degree requirements for both the graduate and undergraduate degrees; a minimum of 50% of the double-counted courses must be at the 500 or 800 level. Independent study courses and credits associated with the culminating experience for the graduate degree cannot be double-counted.

The courses that will double count are: six (6) credits of the two 500-level EME core courses taken to satisfy M.S. core requirement and an additional six (6) credits of 400-level courses taken to satisfy 7th and 8th semester core courses from the undergraduate degree:

Courses Eligible to Double Count for Both Degrees
EBF 401Strategic Corporate Finance for the Earth, Energy, and Materials Industries3
EBF 473Risk Management in Energy Industries3
EME 501Design Under Uncertainty in Energy and Mineral Systems3
EME 511Interfacial Physical-Chemical Systems, Processes, and Measurements3
EME 521Mathematical Modeling of Energy and Mineral Systems3
EME 531Thermodynamics of Energy and Mineral Systems3
EME 551Safety, Health and Environmental Risks in Energy and Mineral Production3

Integrated B.S. in Energy Engineering and M.S. in Energy and Mineral Engineering

This Integrated Undergraduate/Graduate (IUG) degree program combines the B.S. in Energy Engineering with the M.S. in Energy and Mineral Engineering offered at the following campuses: 

Undergraduate Degree 

  • University Park

Graduate Degree 

  • University Park

Requirements listed here are in addition to requirements listed in GCAC-210 Integrated Undergraduate-Graduate (IUG) Degree Programs.

Admission Requirements

Applicants apply for admission to the program via the Graduate School application for admission. Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-300 Admissions Policies.

Students must apply to the program via the Graduate School application for admission, and must meet all the admission requirements of the Graduate School and the EME graduate program for the Master of Science degree. Undergraduate students with sixth semester standing and minimum grade-point average of 3.5 who wish to complete the Integrated B.S./M.S. program should apply to the Graduate School and the EME IUG program before the end of their junior year. Before applying to the Graduate School, students must have completed entrance to their undergraduate major and have completed no less than 60 credits. Students must be admitted no later than the end of the second week of the semester preceding the semester of expected conferral of the undergraduate degree. Transfer students must have completed at least 15 credits at Penn State to enroll in an IUG.

Three faculty letters of recommendation are required. A statement of purpose and a plan of study covering the five year period, prepared in consultation with an adviser, and approved by the program officers of the B.S. major and the EME graduate program must accompany the application. The plan should be presented to the undergraduate and graduate program officers prior to being admitted into the program. The plan should cover the entire time period of the integrated program, and it should be reviewed periodically with an adviser as the student advances through the program. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores may be submitted by IUG applicants but are not required. The application will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee of the EME Graduate program and acted upon by the EME Graduate Program Officer.

Degree Requirements

Students must fulfill all degree requirements for each degree in order to be awarded that degree, subject to the double-counting of credits as outlined below. Degree requirements for the Bachelor of Science degrees are listed in the Undergraduate Bulletin. Degree requirements for the Master of Science in EME are listed in the Master of Science Degree Requirements section above. Students must sequence their courses so all undergraduate degree requirements are fulfilled before taking courses to count solely towards the graduate degree. Students are expected to complete the undergraduate degree requirements within the typical time to degree for the undergraduate major. In the semester in which the undergraduate degree requirements will be completed, IUG students must apply to graduate, and the undergraduate degree should be conferred at the next appropriate Commencement. If students accepted into the IUG program are unable to complete the M.S. degree, they are still eligible to receive their undergraduate degree if all the undergraduate degree requirements have been satisfied.

Up to 12 credits may be double-counted towards the degree requirements for both the graduate and undergraduate degrees; a minimum of 50% of the double-counted courses must be at the 500 or 800 level. Independent study courses and credits associated with the culminating experience for the graduate degree cannot be double-counted.

The courses that will double count are: six (6) credits of the two 500-level EME core courses taken to satisfy M.S. core requirement and an additional six (6) credits of 400-level courses taken to satisfy 7th and 8th semester core courses from the undergraduate degree:

Courses Eligible to Double Count for Both Degrees
EGEE 441Electrochemical Engineering Fundamentals3
EGEE 451Energy Conversion Processes3
EGEE 464WEnergy Design Project3
EME 460Geo-resource Evaluation and Investment Analysis3
EME 501Design Under Uncertainty in Energy and Mineral Systems3
EME 511Interfacial Physical-Chemical Systems, Processes, and Measurements3
EME 521Mathematical Modeling of Energy and Mineral Systems3
EME 531Thermodynamics of Energy and Mineral Systems3
EME 551Safety, Health and Environmental Risks in Energy and Mineral Production3
FSC 432Petroleum Processing3

Integrated B.S. in Environmental Systems Engineering and M.S. in Energy and Mineral Engineering

This Integrated Undergraduate/Graduate (IUG) degree program combines the B.S. in Environmental Systems Engineering with the M.S. in Energy and Mineral Engineering offered at the following campuses: 

Undergraduate Degree 

  • University Park

Graduate Degree 

  • University Park

Requirements listed here are in addition to requirements listed in GCAC-210 Integrated Undergraduate-Graduate (IUG) Degree Programs.

Admission Requirements

Applicants apply for admission to the program via the Graduate School application for admission. Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-300 Admissions Policies.

Students must apply to the program via the Graduate School application for admission, and must meet all the admission requirements of the Graduate School and the EME graduate program for the Master of Science degree. Undergraduate students with sixth semester standing and minimum grade-point average of 3.5 who wish to complete the Integrated B.S./M.S. program should apply to the Graduate School and the EME IUG program before the end of their junior year. Before applying to the Graduate School, students must have completed entrance to their undergraduate major and have completed no less than 60 credits. Students must be admitted no later than the end of the second week of the semester preceding the semester of expected conferral of the undergraduate degree. Transfer students must have completed at least 15 credits at Penn State to enroll in an IUG.

Three faculty letters of recommendation are required. A statement of purpose and a plan of study covering the five year period, prepared in consultation with an adviser, and approved by the program officers of the B.S. major and the EME graduate program must accompany the application. The plan should be presented to the undergraduate and graduate program officers prior to being admitted into the program. The plan should cover the entire time period of the integrated program, and it should be reviewed periodically with an adviser as the student advances through the program. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores may be submitted by IUG applicants but are not required. The application will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee of the EME Graduate program and acted upon by the EME Graduate Program Officer.

Degree Requirements

Students must fulfill all degree requirements for each degree in order to be awarded that degree, subject to the double-counting of credits as outlined below. Degree requirements for the Bachelor of Science degrees are listed in the Undergraduate Bulletin. Degree requirements for the Master of Science in EME are listed in the Master of Science Degree Requirements section above. Students must sequence their courses so all undergraduate degree requirements are fulfilled before taking courses to count solely towards the graduate degree. Students are expected to complete the undergraduate degree requirements within the typical time to degree for the undergraduate major. In the semester in which the undergraduate degree requirements will be completed, IUG students must apply to graduate, and the undergraduate degree should be conferred at the next appropriate Commencement. If students accepted into the IUG program are unable to complete the M.S. degree, they are still eligible to receive their undergraduate degree if all the undergraduate degree requirements have been satisfied.

Up to 12 credits may be double-counted towards the degree requirements for both the graduate and undergraduate degrees; a minimum of 50% of the double-counted courses must be at the 500 or 800 level. Independent study courses and credits associated with the culminating experience for the graduate degree cannot be double-counted.

The courses that will double count are: six (6) credits of the two 500-level EME core courses taken to satisfy M.S. core requirement and an additional six (6) credits of 400-level courses taken to satisfy 7th and 8th semester core courses from the undergraduate degree:

Courses Eligible to Double Count for Both Degrees
EME 501Design Under Uncertainty in Energy and Mineral Systems3
EME 511Interfacial Physical-Chemical Systems, Processes, and Measurements3
EME 521Mathematical Modeling of Energy and Mineral Systems3
EME 531Thermodynamics of Energy and Mineral Systems3
EME 551Safety, Health and Environmental Risks in Energy and Mineral Production3
ENVSE 404WSurface and Interfacial Phenomena in Environmental Systems3
ENVSE 427Pollution Control in the Process Industries3
ENVSE 450Environmental Health and Safety3
ENVSE 457Industrial Hygiene Measurements3
ENVSE 470Engineering Risk Analysis3
ENVSE 480Environmental Systems Engineering Process Design3

Integrated B.S. in Mining Engineering and M.S. in Energy and Mineral Engineering

This Integrated Undergraduate/Graduate (IUG) degree program combines the B.S. in Mining Engineering with the M.S. in Energy and Mineral Engineering offered at the following campuses: 

Undergraduate Degree 

  • University Park

Graduate Degree 

  • University Park

Requirements listed here are in addition to requirements listed in GCAC-210 Integrated Undergraduate-Graduate (IUG) Degree Programs.

Admission Requirements

Applicants apply for admission to the program via the Graduate School application for admission. Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-300 Admissions Policies.

Students must apply to the program via the Graduate School application for admission, and must meet all the admission requirements of the Graduate School and the EME graduate program for the Master of Science degree. Undergraduate students with sixth semester standing and minimum grade-point average of 3.5 who wish to complete the Integrated B.S./M.S. program should apply to the Graduate School and the EME IUG program before the end of their junior year. Before applying to the Graduate School, students must have completed entrance to their undergraduate major and have completed no less than 60 credits. Students must be admitted no later than the end of the second week of the semester preceding the semester of expected conferral of the undergraduate degree. Transfer students must have completed at least 15 credits at Penn State to enroll in an IUG.

Three faculty letters of recommendation are required. A statement of purpose and a plan of study covering the five year period, prepared in consultation with an adviser, and approved by the program officers of the B.S. major and the EME graduate program must accompany the application. The plan should be presented to the undergraduate and graduate program officers prior to being admitted into the program. The plan should cover the entire time period of the integrated program, and it should be reviewed periodically with an adviser as the student advances through the program. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores may be submitted by IUG applicants but are not required. The application will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee of the EME Graduate program and acted upon by the EME Graduate Program Officer.

Degree Requirements

Students must fulfill all degree requirements for each degree in order to be awarded that degree, subject to the double-counting of credits as outlined below. Degree requirements for the Bachelor of Science degrees are listed in the Undergraduate Bulletin. Degree requirements for the Master of Science in EME are listed in the Master of Science Degree Requirements section above. Students must sequence their courses so all undergraduate degree requirements are fulfilled before taking courses to count solely towards the graduate degree. Students are expected to complete the undergraduate degree requirements within the typical time to degree for the undergraduate major. In the semester in which the undergraduate degree requirements will be completed, IUG students must apply to graduate, and the undergraduate degree should be conferred at the next appropriate Commencement. If students accepted into the IUG program are unable to complete the M.S. degree, they are still eligible to receive their undergraduate degree if all the undergraduate degree requirements have been satisfied.

Up to 12 credits may be double-counted towards the degree requirements for both the graduate and undergraduate degrees; a minimum of 50% of the double-counted courses must be at the 500 or 800 level. Independent study courses and credits associated with the culminating experience for the graduate degree cannot be double-counted.

The courses that will double count are: six (6) credits of the two 500-level EME core courses taken to satisfy M.S. core requirement and an additional six (6) credits of 400-level courses taken to satisfy 7th and 8th semester core courses from the undergraduate degree:

Courses Eligible to Double Count for Both Degrees
EME 501Design Under Uncertainty in Energy and Mineral Systems3
EME 511Interfacial Physical-Chemical Systems, Processes, and Measurements3
EME 521Mathematical Modeling of Energy and Mineral Systems3
EME 531Thermodynamics of Energy and Mineral Systems3
EME 551Safety, Health and Environmental Risks in Energy and Mineral Production3
GEOSC 470WIntroduction to Field Geology3
MNG 410Underground Mining3
MNG 441Surface Mining Systems and Design3
MNG 451WMining Engineering Project1-5

Integrated B.S. in Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering and M.S. in Energy and Mineral Engineering

This Integrated Undergraduate/Graduate (IUG) degree program combines the B.S. in Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering with the M.S. in Energy and Mineral Engineering offered at the following campuses: 

Undergraduate Degree 

  • University Park

Graduate Degree 

  • University Park

Requirements listed here are in addition to requirements listed in GCAC-210 Integrated Undergraduate-Graduate (IUG) Degree Programs.

Admission Requirements

Applicants apply for admission to the program via the Graduate School application for admission. Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-300 Admissions Policies.

Students must apply to the program via the Graduate School application for admission, and must meet all the admission requirements of the Graduate School and the EME graduate program for the Master of Science degree. Undergraduate students with sixth semester standing and minimum grade-point average of 3.5 who wish to complete the Integrated B.S./M.S. program should apply to the Graduate School and the EME IUG program before the end of their junior year. Before applying to the Graduate School, students must have completed entrance to their undergraduate major and have completed no less than 60 credits. Students must be admitted no later than the end of the second week of the semester preceding the semester of expected conferral of the undergraduate degree. Transfer students must have completed at least 15 credits at Penn State to enroll in an IUG.

Three faculty letters of recommendation are required. A statement of purpose and a plan of study covering the five year period, prepared in consultation with an adviser, and approved by the program officers of the B.S. major and the EME graduate program must accompany the application. The plan should be presented to the undergraduate and graduate program officers prior to being admitted into the program. The plan should cover the entire time period of the integrated program, and it should be reviewed periodically with an adviser as the student advances through the program. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores may be submitted by IUG applicants but are not required. The application will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee of the EME Graduate program and acted upon by the EME Graduate Program Officer.

Degree Requirements

Students must fulfill all degree requirements for each degree in order to be awarded that degree, subject to the double-counting of credits as outlined below. Degree requirements for the Bachelor of Science degrees are listed in the Undergraduate Bulletin. Degree requirements for the Master of Science in EME are listed in the Master of Science Degree Requirements section above. Students must sequence their courses so all undergraduate degree requirements are fulfilled before taking courses to count solely towards the graduate degree. Students are expected to complete the undergraduate degree requirements within the typical time to degree for the undergraduate major. In the semester in which the undergraduate degree requirements will be completed, IUG students must apply to graduate, and the undergraduate degree should be conferred at the next appropriate Commencement. If students accepted into the IUG program are unable to complete the M.S. degree, they are still eligible to receive their undergraduate degree if all the undergraduate degree requirements have been satisfied.

Up to 12 credits may be double-counted towards the degree requirements for both the graduate and undergraduate degrees; a minimum of 50% of the double-counted courses must be at the 500 or 800 level. Independent study courses and credits associated with the culminating experience for the graduate degree cannot be double-counted.

The courses that will double count are: six (6) credits of the two 500-level EME core courses taken to satisfy M.S. core requirement and an additional six (6) credits of 400-level courses taken to satisfy 7th and 8th semester core courses from the undergraduate degree:

Courses Eligible to Double Count for Both Degrees
EME 501Design Under Uncertainty in Energy and Mineral Systems3
EME 511Interfacial Physical-Chemical Systems, Processes, and Measurements3
EME 521Mathematical Modeling of Energy and Mineral Systems3
EME 531Thermodynamics of Energy and Mineral Systems3
EME 551Safety, Health and Environmental Risks in Energy and Mineral Production3
PNG 420Applied Reservoir Analysis and Secondary Recovery3
PNG 425Principles of Well Testing and Evaluation3
PNG 430Reservoir Modeling3
PNG 440WFormation Evaluation3
PNG 480Surface Production Engineering3

Minor

A graduate minor is available in any approved graduate major or dual-title program. The default requirements for a graduate minor are stated in Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-600 Research Degree Policies and GCAC-700 Professional Degree Policies, depending on the type of degree the student is pursuing:

Student Aid

Graduate assistantships available to students in this program and other forms of student aid are described in the Tuition & Funding section of The Graduate School’s website. Students on graduate assistantships must adhere to the course load limits set by The Graduate School.

Graduate students are supported by a variety of government and industry fellowships, and research and teaching assistantships. Stipends vary depending on the source.

Courses

Graduate courses carry numbers from 500 to 699 and 800 to 899. Advanced undergraduate courses numbered between 400 and 499 may be used to meet some graduate degree requirements when taken by graduate students. Courses below the 400 level may not. A graduate student may register for or audit these courses in order to make up deficiencies or to fill in gaps in previous education but not to meet requirements for an advanced degree.

Energy and Mineral Engineering (EME) Course List

Fuel Science (FSC) Course List

Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering (PNG) Course List

Learning Outcomes

Master of Science (M.S.)

  1. KNOW: Graduates will be able to demonstrate deep understanding and proficiency in project evaluation methods, optimization and application of mechanistic, thermodynamic, fluid flow, and kinetic analysis methods for integrative design of energy and mineral engineering systems.
  2. CREATE: Graduates will demonstrate proficiency in designing and executing a research plan to address real-world problems in the field of energy and mineral engineering and economics.
  3. CRITICAL THINKING: Graduates will be able to review and critically analyze work by others in the broad area of energy and mineral engineering and economics.
  4. COMMUNICATE: Graduates will be able to effectively communicate their research findings to scholars in the field and broad audiences through formal presentations and written works.
  5. PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE: Graduates will demonstrate a commitment to conduct themselves in accordance with the highest ethical standards and active engagement in service to the profession and society.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

  1. KNOW: Graduates will demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the core theories and methods in the field of energy and mineral engineering as well as within one of the program options. This will include the application of physics, chemistry, advanced mathematics, economics and/or engineering principles to problems in energy and mineral engineering.
  2. CREATE: Graduates will be able to creatively synthesize new ideas or hypotheses in energy and mineral engineering and economics, devise critical tests of hypotheses, and/or develop unique solutions to problems in energy and mineral engineering and economics.
  3. APPLY: Graduates will be able to carry out independent and original research studies that address current problems in energy and mineral engineering synthesizing theory and/or experiments.
  4. CRITICAL THINKING: Graduates will be able to review and critically analyze work by others in their field of specialty.
  5. COMMUNICATE: Graduates will be able to convey ideas or arguments in clear, concise, well-organized proposals, papers and reports as well as in formal, oral presentations.
  6. PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE: Graduates will demonstrate the ability to collaborate in a collegial and ethical manner with other professionals within their field and within diverse scientific backgrounds.

Contact

Campus University Park
Graduate Program Head Jeremy Michael Gernand
Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) or Professor-in-Charge (PIC) Jeremy Michael Gernand
Program Contact

Lan Ziegler
103 Hosler Building
University Park PA 16802
llz5043@psu.edu
(814) 865-6511

Program Website View