The University of Pittsburgh announced that it is launching a new one non -graduated degree in natural gas, renewable energy sources and oil engineering (Gro)Designed to prepare the next generation of engineers to deliver extensive energy solutions. By combining traditional oil and guest technology with renewable systems in the various academic and research portfolios of the Swanson School of Engineering in energy, the program ensures that graduates can adapt as the global energy requirements evolve.
“The industry and society are at a pivot point while our energy portfolio adapts to a complex balance of components, whether it is traditional oil and natural gas to solar, wind, biomass, hydro -electric or geothermal,” said Robert Enick, professor and vice -chairman and vice -president. “We have developed a practical program that meets current needs, while the future of our graduates punish the future of our graduates, so that they can seamlessly go between industries.”
The new program will be offered via the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering of the Swanson School, which set up the first Petroleum Engineering program for Petroleum Engineering in 1910. PITT alumni in the energy industry have also contributed to its development, which emphasizes the urgent need to modernize traditional approaches and at the same time increase renewable energy training. Gro is the first student program for petroleum technology in the country that combines traditional natural gas and oil components with an extensive series of courses with regard to renewable energy sources.
The curriculum combines core courses in geology, chemistry, drilling and production with eight requirements for sustainable energy. Topics include solar, wind, hydro, biofuels, energy storage (eg batteries), underground decoupling, hydraulic fracture and underground CO2 removal.
“Students will benefit from the 180-year history of PITT in energy education and at the same time gain real experience through research, study abroad and industrial internships or cooperatives,” said Michele V. Manuel, US Steel Dean of Engineering. “The Swanson School is the only technical program with an inheritance of leadership in energy that is ready to introduce such a new curriculum. This mix of tradition and innovation will make graduates very competitive in the global labor market.”
Indeed, engineers with these qualifications continue to enjoy a high demand for work and earning potential, as well as the ability to make a worldwide difference, especially because developing countries are looking for new energy sources. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the employment of engineers with these qualifications is expected to grow until 2034, with a median annual wage above $ 141,000.
The recruitment starts in 2026, with the first cohort that starts next fall. The program will undergo Abet Accreditation Review for Petroleum Engineering in 2029 after the first GRO Seniors have graduated.
News item from the University of Pittsburgh
