Texas Tech University Petroleum Engineering Department
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Programs FAQs

  1. What graduate degrees are offered?
  2. What is required to complete a graduate degree?
  3. What courses will I need to take?
  4. What about leveling courses?
  5. What does graduate research involve?
  6. Whom should I contact if I have questions?

What graduate degrees are offered?

The Department of Petroleum Engineering offers the following:

Graduate Certificate in Petroleum Engineering (pending)

Master of Science Degrees in:

  1. Petroleum Engineering with Thesis
  2. Petroleum Engineering without Thesis

Doctor of Philosophy in:

Petroleum Engineering with Dissertation

What is required to complete a graduate degree?

Requirements can be found in the catalog.  The link is http://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/

What courses will I need to take?

During orientation you will meet with the graduate advisor.  Courses will be selected for your degree plan.  Courses available in the Department of Petroleum Engineering cover a broad range of subjects spanning the diversity of Drilling and Completion, Formation Evaluation, Production and Facilities, Reservoir and Property Evaluation and Computational Modeling. One graduate level course in each of the five areas is required. Additional courses may be recommended.  Course descriptions may be found in the academic catalog.

What about leveling courses?

If you don’t have a B.S. degree in Petroleum Engineering, leveling courses are required. 

For candidates with a B.S. degree in an Engineering field (other than Petroleum) the following is a list of leveling courses that may be required:

GEOL 1101, 1303, 3302, 4324
PETR 2302, 3403, 2301, 3304, 3306
PETR 4303, 4306, 4405, 4407, 4300, 4308, 4309

For candidates with a non engineering bachelor’s degree more leveling courses will be required.  Often a better option is to seek a second bachelor’s degree in Petroleum Engineering.

What does graduate research involve?

An important decision is the choice of a thesis or dissertation topic, one that is both of interest to you and complementary to your committee’s research program. Following discussions with your primary advisor, you will submit a research proposal to your committee for approval. Typical times for completion of the M.S. degree are 12-18 months and for the Ph.D. degree are 3-4 years.

The Department of Petroleum Engineering has a continuing commitment to support quality scientific research among its faculty members and graduate students. The faculty includes established leaders in petroleum engineering who have held editorships of scientific journals and offices in scientific societies, as well as newer faculty with promising research careers. Intradepartmental organization for research is centered in the areas of drilling and completion, artificial lift, formation evaluation, reservoir fluid and rock properties, and reservoir management and modeling.

In addition to these departmental research groups, there are several University-wide research centers, institutes, and associated Federal research laboratories that promote and facilitate collaborative research.

Whom should I contact if I have questions?

For questions regarding your application to the Graduate School, including transcript, test scores, application fee, and issues relating to the status of international students, contact the Graduate School directly.

Graduate School

02 Holdon Hall
POB 41030
Lubbock, TX 79409-1030
Phone: 806.742.2781 | Fax: 805.742.1746

Graduate Admissions

03 Holdon Hall
POB 41030
Lubbock, TX 79409-1030
Phone: 806.742.2787 | Fax: 806.742.4038

Mailing Address

Office of Graduate Admissions
Broadway Ave. at Akron Ave.
Holdon Hall Room 3
Lubbock, TX 79409-1030