Mar 29, 2024  
2022-2023 Graduate Catalog 
    
2022-2023 Graduate Catalog [Not Current Academic Year. Consult with Your Academic Advisor for Your Catalog Year]

Petroleum Engineering, PhD


Cullen College of Engineering  > Department of Petroleum Engineering  > Petroleum Engineering, PhD

The mission of the University of Houston Department of Petroleum Engineering is to educate students to become highly qualified petroleum engineers, to conduct innovative research in petroleum engineering and related interdisciplinary areas, and provide service to the profession and to society.

The Petroleum Engineering PhD curriculum emphasizes connecting-the-dots between classroom lessons and their real-world applications through professional development and research opportunities.

Petroleum Engineering graduates are prepared to address the challenges of the world’s energy needs responsibly, to exceed the evolving expectations of employers in the petroleum and energy industries, to sustain industry-leading skills and to be leaders in industry, academia, and government.

For more information, please visit the Petroleum Engineering Graduate Program website: http://www.petro.uh.edu/graduate.

Admission Requirements


Admission to the University of Houston PhD Program in Petroleum Engineering will require the following:

  1. GRE - An acceptable score within the Cullen College of Engineering standard on the Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical portions of the Graduate Record Examination. 
  2. Three letters of recommendation from recognized professionals who can attest to the applicant’s capability for independent and creative thinking for the graduate level research in petroleum engineering.
  3. A written statement of the applicant’s professional goals.
  4. English language proficiency, as evidenced by either prior US degree or reported test scores. Details can be found on the Graduate School English Language Proficiency Requirements page: http://www.uh.edu/graduate-school/admissions/international-students/english-proficiency/.

*Be advised that meeting these criteria does not guarantee admission.*

Acceptance into the program is based on a competitive combination of academic background, GRE scores, recommendation letters, resume, and the statement of purpose. The Checklist below lists all requirements for the Application Submission:

Applicant Checklist

  • UH Graduate School Application, please visit How to Apply to UH Graduate School for more information: http://www.uh.edu/graduate-school/admissions/how-to-apply/
  • Scanned copies of an official transcript will be used for the application evaluation (upload). However, if admitted, an official transcript with the date your degree was conferred/awarded must be submitted to the Graduate School before enrollment can take place.
  • GRE scores (University code is 6870): http://www.gre.org/
  • Statement of Purpose (uploaded- if possible no longer than 2 pages)
  • Resume (uploaded)
  • 3 Letters of Recommendation (emails must be listed on the online application)
  • Non-refundable application fee
  • Additional documentation and test scores for international students, including English language proficiency requirements as detailed on the International Graduate Student page: http://www.uh.edu/graduate-school/international-students/.

Degree Requirements


Credit hours required for this degree: BS to PhD - 66.0/MS to PhD - 54.0

There are two paths to the PhD Degree:

  • BS to PhD - Direct from BS to PhD, bypassing the MS degree, or by
  • MS to PhD - Obtaining an MS degree first at UH (or elsewhere).

Both BS and MS degrees must have been obtained from an accredited institution in Petroleum Engineering or a relevant engineering or scientific discipline. The applicants must maintain a grade point average of 3.2/4.0 (BS candidate) or 3.3/4.0 (MS candidate).

The chart below demonstrates course requirements for either path to PhD.

Category Semester Credit Hours BS - PhD Semester Credit Hours MS - PhD
Required Courses 30 18
Research 18 18
Dissertation 12 12
Seminar 6 6
TOTAL 66 54

Students without sufficient background for the required courses must complete leveling courses that will not count toward the degree. Each PhD student must maintain a grade point average (GPA) above 3.00 throughout the PhD program.