The University is divided into seven academic units principally concerned with instruction and research. These units are the College of Applied Engineering, the College of Engineering Sciences, the College of Sciences, the College of Industrial Management, the College of Environmental Design, the College of Computer Sciences and Engineering, and the Preparatory Year Program.

Although their function, administration, and student bodies are quite separate, all the academic units share common facilities and utilize to some extent a common faculty with similar disciplines in other college programs. Each of the academic colleges is managed by the Dean of the college and the Chairmen of the academic departments.

The Preparatory Year Program is staffed with instructors and lecturers who are assigned to the Program as well as faculty and staff members from other departments. The Dean of Educational Services manages the Preparatory Year Program. The various colleges and their respective departments are listed below.

1.8.1 College of Engineering Sciences

This College encompasses the six classical disciplines in engineering sciences, and hence is called the College of Engineering Sciences. These disciplines are: aerospace, electrical, mechanical, chemical, civil, and petroleum. The programs in the College were subjected to ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) evaluation in 1993 and 2001 except Aerospace Engineering, which was established as a separate department in 2002. They were described as substantially equivalent to their counterparts in U. S. universities. The College is formed of the following departments:

• Aerospace Engineering
  The Aerospace Engineering Department offers B.S degree in Aerospace Engineering.
• Chemical Engineering
  The Chemical Engineering Department offers B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Chemical Engineering.
• Civil Engineering
  The Civil Engineering Department offers B.S., M.S., M.Engg. (Master of Engineering) and Ph.D. degrees in Civil Engineering.
• Electrical Engineering
  The Electrical Engineering Department offers B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering.
• Mechanical Engineering
  The Mechanical Engineering Department offers B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Mechanical Engineering.
• Petroleum Engineering
  The Petroleum Engineering Department offers B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Petroleum Engineering

1.8.2 College of Applied Engineering

The College of Applied Engineering comprises the same disciplines as the College of Engineering Sciences, but with more emphasis on practical training during the undergraduate studies. A unique feature of the Applied Engineering Program is its emphasis upon industrial experience in conjunction with academic training. Each student in the Applied Engineering College must spend 28 weeks working in industry under a supervised program known as the "Cooperative Program”. During this training period, the students gain useful experience, which broadens their engineering background. The on-the-job training program is an essential core of the applied engineering disciplines. The academic departments of the College of Engineering Sciences manage the programs of the College of Applied Engineering and offer the same undergraduate academic degrees but in Applied Engineering.

1.8.3 College of Computer Sciences & Engineering

The College of Computer Sciences & Engineering was established in 1986. It was the result of reorganization based on grouping computer-related disciplines together to better serve the development plans of the Kingdom. These disciplines are represented in the College by three departments. The programs offered in these departments can be described as Engineering Programs that are not in the classical engineering domain. The programs prepare the students for challenging careers in the high technology area of computers. The College includes the following departments:

• Computer Engineering
  The Computer Engineering Department offers B.S (with an option to do it with or without co-op) and M.S. Programs in Computer Engineering. An M.S Program in Computer Networks and a PhD Program in Computer Science & Engineering are also offered jointly with the Information and Computer Science Department.
• Information & Computer Science
  The Information & Computer Science Department offers two B.S. Programs: one in Computer Science, and the other in Software Engineering. The Department offers an M.S. Program in Computer Science. An M.S Program in Computer Networks and a PhD Program in Computer Science & Engineering are also offered jointly with the Computer Engineering Department.
• Systems Engineering
  The Systems Engineering Department offers two options: one in Control and Automation, and the other in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research. It grants B.S. (one option without co-op and the other with co-op), M.S., and PhD degrees in Systems Engineering.

1.8.4 College of Environmental Design

The College of Environmental Design was established during the 1980/1981 academic year to meet an extremely large demand for professionals. The College was planned to bring together those programs that are concerned mainly with the built environment, both natural and man-made aspects of this environment, and to prepare students for professional practice in design. The undergraduate degrees comprise an Architecture Program that emphasizes the Design Studio and an Architectural Engineering Program that emphasizes both construction and design. The College comprises the following departments:

• Architecture
  The Architecture Department offers a bachelor degree in Architecture.
• Architectural Engineering
  The Architectural Engineering Department offers B.S. and M.S. degrees in Architectural Engineering.
• Construction Engineering and Management
  The Construction Engineering and Management Department offers M.S. and M.Engg (Master of Engineering) degrees in Construction Engineering & Management.
• City and Regional Planning
  The City and Regional Planning Department offers an M.S. degree in City and Regional Planning.

1.8.5 College of Industrial Management

The mission of the College of Industrial Management since its commencement in 1975 has been to be a prominent provider of management education through high quality teaching reinforced by experimental learning for students who will play a significant and productive role in the development of the Saudi economy within the global business environment. In the meantime it actively contributes to Saudi business, industry and community through relevant high quality research, professional services and dissemination of knowledge responsive to the evolving needs of stakeholders.

The College places particular emphasis on the interface between technological innovation and commerce and deals with matters such as environment, which play an ever-increasing role in management decision-making. The College programs and curricula are continually reviewed and updated to respond to the changing needs of the business environment and to meet the AACSB standards. The College of Industrial Management has been visited by AACSB (American Assembly of Collegiate and Schools of Business) accreditation team in February 2002. The College comprises the following departments:

• Finance and Economics
  The Finance and Economics Department offers a B.S. degree in Finance.
• Accounting & Management Information Systems
  The Accounting & Management Information Systems Department offers a B.S. degree in Accounting, a B.S. degree in Management Information Systems and a Master of Accountancy (MACC) degree.
• Management & Marketing
  The Management & Marketing Department offers two B.S. degrees: one in Management and the other in Marketing. Also, the Management & Marketing Department offers an MBA (Master of Business Administration) degree and is planning to offer an Executive MBA program at a convenient time for the business community.

1.8.6 College of Sciences

The College of Sciences curricula were formulated to provide the Kingdom with manpower for technological development and to provide students with a sound basis either for an immediate career in the technological development of the Kingdom or for graduate studies and further advancement in their chosen fields. All KFUPM students, irrespective of their majors, take courses within the College of Sciences at least for a period of three semesters. The College of Sciences comprises the following five departments:

• Chemistry
  The Chemistry Department offers a B.S. degree with two options: Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry. The Department also offers M.S. and Ph.D. programs in Chemistry.
• Earth Sciences
  The Department offers a B.S. degree in two majors: Geology and Geophysics. The Department also offers an M.S. program in Geology.
• Mathematical Sciences
  The Earth Sciences Department offers B.S. degree in two majors: Mathematics and Statistics. The Department also offers M.S. and Ph.D. programs in Mathematics.
• Physics
  The Physics Department offers B.S. and M.S. degrees in Physics.
• Islamic and Arabic Studies
  The Islamic and Arabic Studies Department offers service courses in Islamic ideology, Arab and Islamic history, Arabic literature, and General Studies in support of the degree programs in the other departments but not as an independent major.

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