Graduate Degree

Master of Science, Ph.D. or Doctorate of Engineering Degree in Petroleum Engineering

As a student in the program, your curriculum will be designed around a set of core petroleum engineering courses with other courses supporting specific research interests.

The petroleum engineering program offers a master's of science, doctor of philosophy and doctor of engineering. The master’s degree can be earned with either a thesis option or a non-thesis option.

The petroleum engineering program offers courses of study leading to the master's of science, doctor of philosophy, or doctor of engineering degrees. The master’s degree can be earned with either a thesis option or a non-thesis option.

While the program encourages students with an undergraduate degree in petroleum engineering to pursue graduate study, many graduate students are accepted with backgrounds in other areas of engineering, such as chemical engineering, mechanical engineering or geological engineering. The program accepts such students with the expectation that any remedial petroleum engineering coursework will be met by the student while in residence for the master’s degree. Students with backgrounds in geology or geophysics will also need to complete all fundamental engineering courses required for a degree in engineering.

For more information, check out the university catalog:

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The master of science degree with thesis requires a minimum of thirty hours of graduate credit. The plan of study (Form 1/1-A) must include a minimum of eighteen credit hours of 4000-, 5000-, and 6000-level lecture courses (1000/2000-level courses cannot be included).   A minimum of six credit hours of the required coursework must come from the group of 6000-level lecture courses. Additionally, a minimum of six credit hours of graduate research is required. If a student has co-advisors in different departments, the student’s graduate research credit may be shared by all departments involved.

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General Information:

The non-thesis Master of Science program in Petroleum Engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology offers a dynamic and flexible curriculum designed to prepare students for leadership roles in the ever-evolving energy sector. This program integrates advanced engineering principles with practical applications, equipping students to address complex challenges in oil and gas production, and energy sustainability. Through a blend of rigorous coursework, access to cutting-edge facilities, and mentorship from leading experts, students gain the technical expertise and industry insight necessary to excel in competitive and innovative professional environments. Whether advancing in their current roles or transitioning into specialized areas of petroleum engineering, graduates of this program are well-positioned to contribute to the future of energy development and gas/energy subsurface storage on a global scale.

This program is offered in-person. The program consists of a minimum of 30 credit hours, as specified below. Students gain access to state-of-the-art laboratories, expert faculty, and strong industry partnerships, ensuring a robust and marketable education.

Petroleum Engineering is one of three programs in the Earth Sciences and Engineering Department at Missouri S&T, comprising one natural science degree program (Geology and Geophysics) and two engineering programs (Geological Engineering and Petroleum Engineering). Students in all three programs benefit from interdisciplinary education that spans both science and engineering domains, enhancing their skill sets and marketability in diverse industries, including energy, mining, and environmental consulting.

Admission Requirements:

  • BS degree in petroleum engineering or a related field
  • GPA: 3.0 for regular admission and 2.75 for probationary admission
  • Transcripts: Official transcripts required
  • English proficiency test score requirements (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, Duolingo)

(international students only)

  • Other requirements: Resume/CV, Statement of Purpose

Program Requirements:

  • Total number of credit hours of lecture courses: 30
  • Minimum number of hours of petroleum engineering, geology and geophysics, or geological engineering courses: 24, of which at least 18 in PE.
  • Non-thesis MS students without a BS in PE must take all courses in the ESE department, with at least seven in PE.
  • Minimum number of hours of 6xxx courses in petroleum engineering courses: 9
Required Core Courses (12 credit hours):
  • PET ENG 5050: Carbon Storage (LEC 3.0, offered every spring)
  • PET ENG 6801 or PET ENG 6621: Petroleum Data Analytics; Advanced Applied Reservoir Simulation* (LEC 3.0, offered every fall)
  • PET ENG 6631 or PET ENG 6541: A Survey of Improved Recovery Processes; Advanced Reservoir Engineering I* (LEC 3.0, offered every spring)
  • PET ENG 6100: Advanced Professional Geoscience Skills (LEC 3.0, offered every spring)

* If a student selects one of them as required, he/she can select another as elective.

Other Elective 6 XXX Courses (18 credit hours):
  • PET ENG 6551: Advanced Reservoir Engineering II (LEC 3.0, offered periodically)
  • PET ENG 6441: Advanced Well Stimulation (LEC 3.0, offered periodically)
  • PET ENG 6521: Advanced Well Test Analysis (LAB 1.0 and LEC 2.0, offered every fall)
  • PET ENG 6711: Geodynamics (LEC 3.0, offered periodically)
  • PET ENG 6211: Advanced Directional Drilling and MWD (LEC 3.0, offered periodically)
  • PET ENG 6231: Drilling Optimization (LEC 3.0, offered periodically)
  • PET ENG 6431: Advanced Well Completion Design (LEC 3.0, offered every fall)
  • PET ENG 6811: Advanced Offshore Petroleum Technology (LEC 3.0, offered periodically)
  • PET ENG 6621: Advanced Applied Reservoir Simulation (LAB 1.0 and LEC 2.0, offered every fall)
  • GEOLOGY 6811: Sedimentary Basin Analysis (LEC 3.0, offered periodically)
  • GEOPHYS 6211: Advanced Seismic Interpretation (LAB 1.0 and LEC 2.0, offered every fall)

Other 3xxx, 4xxx, 5xxx, and 6xxx courses as approved by the advisor.

Course Availability:

A full list of course availability and timing can be found here: https://cec.mst.edu/academics/course-availability/

Please note:  During the semester a student will have completed nine hours of graduate credit, the student must formally plan the remainder of their graduate program in consultation with their academic advisor, and submit a Form 1 for approval, first to the department chair and then to the vice provost of graduate education.

 

Research

Our program has a wealth of equipment and instrumentation for research in geology, geochemistry and geophysics. In addition to our own facilities, Missouri S&T has a large collection of cutting edge facilities in centers such as the Materials Research Center and the Center for Research in Energy and Environment.  
Research Areas
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Facilities and Instrumentation
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SECURING AN ADVISOR

There are two options in the master's program (thesis option and non-thesis option). The non-thesis option requires coursework only, while the thesis option requires a thesis with your research advisor with less coursework.

Both options are equally considered for admission without preference or priority. For the thesis option, the procedure of how to secure an advisor and seek his or her confirmation is the same as that of Ph.D. (see Doctoral Degree below).

The most important thing for Ph.D. admission is to secure your tentative advisor prior to applying. You can do this by viewing the department's faculty directory* to review each faculty member's research areas and identify your potential Ph.D. advisor. Contact the faculty member by email with your portfolio (CV, transcript, and publication(s)) and a detailed description of what interests you about that faculty’s research. Since faculty receive many emails from prospective students, emails identifying specific topics of interest rather than generic emails are most likely to be answered.

Once you find a potential advisor, specify that you would like to work with that faculty member in your Statement of Purpose in your application. Please note that a faculty member’s interest to potentially serve as your advisor does not mean you’ll automatically be offered financial assistantship. You need to ask the advisor about the availability of assistantships.

*Look for Petroleum Engineering next to the faculty's name to find those in our program.

PROGRAM-SPECIFIC FUNDING

There are two major mechanisms of assistantship for graduate students in PE: Graduate Research Assistants (GRA) and Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTA). Students can be appointed as GRA or GTA by any rate up to 50% FTE (Full-Time Equivalent), which is the maximum part-time employment rate for students. The monthly wage for 50% FTE is approximately $2,000, which is proportional to the % FTE (e.g. $400 for 10% FTE). Additionally, if students have out-of-state tuition, this is waived if offered at least a 25% FTE or higher.

Graduate degree funding

At Missouri S&T, we value our graduate students. In our commitment to your education, we've put together several funding opportunities to help make your degree an excellent return on investment. Take a look at what we have to offer.
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