<p>Hi, I'm currently a sophomore at the University of Kansas majoring in Petroleum Engineering. I am almost positive that given the chance I would love to work as a PE, on the Reservoir Engineering side of things, for a larger company such as Chevron. However, I have always been deeply interested in Chemical Engineering and I can't help but want a degree in that as well. I have spoken with my adviser and it would only take me an extra 2 semesters to complete both degrees with all the overlap, and I was wondering if you guys thought it was worth it. Would there be any benefits besides being able to have more career options upon graduation, and if so what? Or would I be better off trying to decide which I would rather pursue and simply go after one? I'm still a little confused and I thought I might as well just go for both since I'm interested in both. Thanks for the help.</p>
<p>I’m surprised it is only 2 semesters. I didn’t think there was that much overlap. The chemistry alone that ChemE requires should far exceed what you need to take for PetroE so I assume you’re planning for all that.</p>
<p>I don’t think a degree in ChemE would be beneficial unless you see yourself actually being a proper chemical engineer in the future. If you are going to work in the upstream oil industry then there is essentially no reason to get a ChemE degree after having already obtained a PetE degree (unless you actually want to be a facilities engineer).</p>
<p>Yeah I understand what you guys are saying. I guess where I’m stuck at is that unlike a lot of people who decide to go for a PE degree and work in the oil field, I don’t know anyone who works in it and I also don’t have any experience or knowledge about what the lifestyle of a PE would be upon graduation and landing a real job. I’m definitely interested I’m just afraid that if I get an internship and end up graduating with only my PE degree and not a ChemE degree as well and I end up deciding that the PE lifestyle isn’t for me it will be too late and I will be stuck.</p>
<p>Well we both take Foundations of Chem I and II and Organic Chem I. But for ChemE I would also have to take OChem II and PChem I and II. The only other classes that differ that I would have to take would be Process Thermo, Reactor Design, and the senior level ChemE Lab I and II and ChemE Design I and II classes.</p>