Chemical and Petroleum Engineering: Growth Continues
November 21, 2017
Peyton Johnson
With the 2017-2018 school year in full swing, the Swalm School of Chemical Engineering is continuing to display growing numbers in undergraduate enrollment and graduates. From 2016 to 2017, the number of enrollees and graduating seniors have increased in both chemical and petroleum engineering, as well as a growing faculty.
In the fall of 2016, the 444 students were enrolled in Chemical Engineering and 67 in Petroleum Engineering. For fall 2017 enrollment has grown slightly for chemical engineering with 449 undergraduates. Petroleum Engineering has grown significantly to 92 undergraduates.
Fall 2017 freshman ChE enrollment was at 77 compared to 64 in the fall 2016 semester. Freshman enrollment similarly grew in Petroleum Engineering from 20 in 2016 to 30 in the fall 2017 semester.
Petroleum Engineering undergraduate enrollment has continued on an upward trend since the degree program was renewed at Mississippi State in the fall 2015 semester. This runs counter to the dramatic declines in Petroleum Engineering shown at undergraduate programs across the nation. Consistent forecasts of renewed activity in the oil and gas industry offer significant hope for jobs for those graduating in petroleum engineering in the next few years.
In addition to higher enrollment numbers, the Swalm School of Chemical Engineering is producing growing numbers of graduates. From the fall of 2016 to the summer of 2017, 85 students were awarded undergraduate degrees from the Swalm School of Chemical Engineering, increasing from 79 for the previous year.
Faculty numbers have also increased in the Swalm School of Chemical Engineering. Among the active teaching faculty are 10 faculty dedicated to the chemical engineering program and 4 faculty for the petroleum engineering program. Additionally, Dr. Jason Keith, Dean for the Bagley College of Engineering, hails from the Swalm School of Chemical Engineering
As Mississippi State grows in both size and excellence, the Swalm School of Chemical Engineering continues to grow as well. From increasing enrollment to growing faculty, the chemical and petroleum engineering programs at Mississippi State continue to show signs of growth and success.