College Preparatory Center

Saudi Aramco's College Preparatory Center (CPC) is where College Preparatory Program takes place. It is a pre-requisite to entering the College Degree Program for Non Employees (CDPNE), a highly selective program run by the Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Saudi Aramco (established in 1985). CPP is an 11-months program of study at the CPC (near Industrial Training Center in Dhahran), after which students move on to universities to finish their education under the CDPNE program.

CPC Campus - Building D

- In 2003–2004, the admission rate was 1.20%, 148 admitted from a pool of 12,300 qualified applicants. Each student is assigned to a Saudi Aramco department related to his concentration of study.

CPP Students are divided into four tracks according to their Math and English placement test:

    1- CH: High level in both Math and English.

    2- CR: Regular  Math and C in English.

    3- BR: Regular Math and B in English.

    4- AR: Regular Math and A in English.

• where C in English is the highest and A is the lowest.

In 2007-2008, a new track has been introduced, CH-ES (Early Startup). Students chosen for this track start the CPP earlier than regular admitted students because of their high standards in the highschool Transcript, Qiyas score, and the CPP placement test (Math and English). They have more advantages in choosing the major and the placement for universities. 36 males and 4 females were chosen in 2007 among the admitted students (255 students).

The year in CPP is divided into three trimesters in which students take different subjects according to their level and major. All students take ESL courses, research courses, computer & internet skills courses and library skills courses. All the students also take AP preparation courses. Engineering majors student take AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Chemistry, AP Physics B, AP Physics C depending on their level and major. Students with other majors, such as Business and Computer Science majors, take AP Statistics, AP Macroeconomics, AP Computer Science.

The CPP is divided into departments, headed by the Principal (Dr. Maurice Coogan) as follows :

Chemistry & Geology Department (Chairman: Dr. Muhammad Fawaz),

Computer Science Department (Chairman: Dr. Jamil Ahmed),

General Studies & English Department (Chairman: Mr. Julian Harris and Mr. Patric Melia),

Physics Department (Chairman: Mr. Vepan Keith),

Mathematics Department (Chairman: Mr. Eric Clinton Ramseur, Master's of Mathematics Degree Holder),

Business Studies Department. (Chairman: Mr. Eric Clinton Ramseur, Master's of Mathematics Degree Holder),

Personal Fitness & Sports (PE) Department. (Chairman: Mike Galaviz),

- The requirements for applying CPC are as follows:

   1- a grade of 80 or higher in Qiyas assessment test must be scored in order for a student to be admitted to the program.

   2- a school GPA of at least 90% (3.60 / 4 ) must be scored by the student in order to be admitted to the program.

   3- Passing their Math and English placement test by getting an 5 out of 8 in Math and 3 out of 7 in English. 

- The graduation requirements for CPC are as follows:

   1- a TOEFL score of 550 (79 iBT" Internet-Based Test") or higher for CH and CR students, an IELTS score of 6.0 or higher for BR students, or an IELTS score of 5.5 or higher for AR students.

   2- a CGPA (Cumulative grade point average) of 2.5/4 or higher.

   3- a GPA of 2.5/4 or higher in the three trimesters.

   4- passing the "Writing and Research" class.

- All students who pass their first year in CPP are transferred to the CDPNE ( collage degree programme for non employee) and granted a full scholarship to one of the top overseas universities, mostly in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Turkey, Netherlands and Australia with all expenses covered. Each scholar is given the opportunity to continue graduate studies up to the PhD degree, while receiving a full-time salary after working at least 5 years in the company.

CPC Campus - Central lawn

Students are allocated degree paths upon acceptance. There are around 23-degree paths for students to choose from. Most of these degrees relate to Engineering and Geosciences. These paths are:

• Chemical Engineering
• Supply Chain Management
• Petroleum Engineering
• Industrial Engineering
• Metallurgical Engineering
• Material Science & Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Electronics Engineering
• Environmental Engineering
• Environmental Sciences
• Aeronautical Engineering
• Fire Protection Engineering
• Hydrographic Surveying Engineering
• Safety Engineering
• Software Engineering
• Systems Engineering
• Computer Engineering
• Computer Science
• Geology
• Geophysics
• Geomatics Engineering
• Nautical Science
• Naval Architect & Engineering
• Chemistry
• Industrial Chemistry
• Accounting
• Business Administration
• Criminal Justice
• Finance
• Human Resource Development
• Human Resource Management
• Industrial Psychology
• Journalism
• Management Information Systems
• Marketing
• Public Relations

Most of the staff who work in the CPP are from English speaking countries. The style of education instruction mimics most American universities (schools) in the United States.

The program was exclusive for Saudi male students until Saudi Aramco announced it will give scholarships to female students during Summer-2006. For the Academic Year 2006–2007 251 males and 56 females were accepted in the program. For the Academic Year 2009-2010 182 males and 43 females were accepted in the program; the number of students were shortened because of the world economical crisis in the late 2008 and the early 2009.