Petroleum Engineering Program

Petroleum engineering is a broad-based discipline primarily concerned with the exploration, development, and conservation of oil and gas resources.  Petroleum engineers plan and supervise drilling and well-completion programs, design and select drilling and production equipment, estimate reserves, and manage oil and gas properties.  A petroleum engineering graduate may obtain a responsible position with an oil company, establish a consulting business, or become an independent oil producer.  In general, a petroleum and natural gas engineer may find employment with any industry, state, or federal institution which requires a specialist in activities related to producing and injecting fluids by means of wellbores.

Program Educational Objectives

Graduates of the University of Houston petroleum Engineering Program will:

• address the challenges of the world’s energy needs responsibly,
• exceed the evolving expectations of employers in the petroleum and energy industries,
• sustain industry leading skills, and
• be leaders in industry, academe, and government.

Admission Requirements

Deadline for application  & receipt of all materials for admission to the Master’s Program in Petroleum Engineering*:

*Currently admission is for the M.P.E.- non-thesis option degree.  Students aspiring to the M.S. program may petition after the completion of their first semester.

Fall term - April 1

Spring term - September 15

• Besides an undergraduate degree in Petroleum Engineering, Bachelor degree holders in other engineering discipline’s such as chemical, mechanical, civil, industrial, electrical, etc. are recommended to apply.
• If you have a bachelor’s degree outside of the field of engineering, we recommend that you consider a 2^nd bachelor’s path in petroleum engineering.  The background preparations necessary from the math, science and engineering academics of the undergraduate engineer are essential to success in the graduate program.  The master’s program curriculum assumes high competency in those areas.
• A GPA of at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale of all your undergraduate coursework completed.
• GRE score: Verbal=80^th percentile and Math=80^th percentile as advantageous in the admissions process (GRE must be valid within the last 5 years).  We also do not accept other graduate tests in lieu of the GRE and the GRE is not waived for students with a prior graduate degree.
  *Texas law prohibits the definition of minimum acceptable scores on the GRE. The 80^th percentile scores represent desirable scores.
• Work experience is considered a plus for the individual student’s overall knowledge base, but is not a factor in the admission process as it is not required.
• Students required to take the TOEFL or IELTS exam must meet the standard UH minimum scoring requirements to be admitted and the test must be dated within two years of the application term.  UH has a list of international countries that they exempt from the TOEFL or IELTS - please verify your country of degree with the exemption list. 
  This is not a requirement that is waived for US citizenship.  It is based on the country in which you received your university education.  (http://www.uh.edu/admissions/apply/international/admissions-criteria/english-proficiency-toefl/index.php).  Applicants who do not achieve the minimum TOEFL score required by the university are not considered candidates for admission.
• UH considers domestic and international students on the same basis.
• Scholarships are available when monies are donated.  Teaching assistantships are available by application and qualification of the student.  Financial sponsorship by the department is not available to incoming or current students in the Petroleum Engineering Master’s Program.
• The Petroleum Engineering Master’s Program does not offer pre-admission or conditional admission to the master’s program.
• All required materials toward review for admission must be received by the deadline to be considered for admission in the term of their application.
• We are admitting students in the fall and spring terms to the non-thesis option (MPE) in our master’s program (36 credit hours to degree/12 classes).  We do not have online petroleum courses available.  A typical full time master’s student enrolls in 9 hours/3 classes per term for the fall and spring terms.  Any student wishing to take more than 9 hours must have the permission of the Petroleum Director prior to enrolling.  Students may also choose to enroll full or part time as their schedules allow, but the time limit to complete all coursework for a master’s degree is 5 years.
• Additional prerequisites/leveling courses required of an admitted student will be indicated in the admission letter at the time that admission is offered to a prospective student.  Completion of the prerequisite courses is not available or required in advance of admission to the program.  This requirement comes from the thorough review of the candidates file.  Up to 4 additional classes may be required; such prerequisite/leveling courses do not count toward the degree.
• Students wishing to transfer credits from another master’s program should be aware that a maximum of 6 credit hours is allowed and approval is not guaranteed.  The Petroleum Engineering Program Director will make a determination based on the detailed course information required from the student.  Credits from an undergraduate degree or completed graduate degree cannot be used as transfer toward the UH Petroleum Engineering master’s degree.

Degrees offered:

• Petroleum Engineering, M.S.  
• Petroleum Engineering, M.P.E.