Graduate Program
Degrees Offered
The department offers both a Master of Science in Petroleum Engineering and a Doctor of Philosophy in Petroleum Engineering.
There is a minimum core requirement of (18 for MS or 21 for PhD) credit hours in drilling, production, formation evaluation, reservoir engineering, and engineering mathematics as shown in the department's Core Curriculum Requirements document. A secondary concentration area consisting of a minimum of 6 hours of earned credit in a specified field of study may be required by the advisory committee. The Master's Examination Milestones and PhD Examination Milestones defines expectations of student achievements at various states in the program.
Eligibility
The MS and PhD programs are open to student's holding degrees in petroleum engineering, other engineering disciplines, or sciences. For students with a degree in other engineering fields or science, additional coursework is required with no graduate credit. The amount is based on the student's previous academic training.
Students with a BS in Petroleum Engineering can finish graduate work in 3 regular semesters. LSU students may sometimes shorten this period to 2 regular semesters if they qualify to take 2 or more courses for graduate credit during their last semester as an undergraduate. The minimum requirement is 30 semester hours of graduate work, 24 hours of which must be in course work. At least 15 semester hours must be in courses either at or above the 7000 level. Students will concentrate in petroleum engineering, but the department may require a minor of 6 semester hours in a related field.
Students whose degrees are in other engineering fields should expect a graduate program of at least 4 semesters. They will be required to take additional courses in geology and petroleum engineering. The additional courses will be based on the individual student’s previous training. The usual curriculum is given below. The department may make changes based on the student’s previous academic training. Courses showing zero credit hours are not credited toward the degree.
The following examples assume a thesis option. For a non-thesis option, substitute 12 hours of elective credit for the six hours of PETE 8000.
First Semester
| Course | Credit Hrs |
|---|---|
| GEOL 1001 (Physical) | 0 |
| PETE 2031 (Rock Properties) | 0 |
| PETE 2032 (Fluid Properties) | 0 |
| PETE 3036 (Well Logging) | 0 |
| Total Credit Hours = 0 | |
Second Semester
| Course | Credit Hrs |
|---|---|
| PETE 4051 (Reservoir) | 3 |
| PETE 4045 (Drilling) | 3 |
| PETE elective, 4000 level | 3 |
| PETE 3053 or GEOL elective | 0 |
| Total Credit Hours = 9 | |
Third Semester
| Course | Credit Hrs |
|---|---|
| PETE 4046 (Well Design) | 3 |
| PETE 4052 (Well Testing) | 3 |
| PETE elective, 7000 level | 3 |
| PETE 8000 (Thesis) | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours = 10 | |
Fourth Semester
| Course | Credit Hrs |
|---|---|
| PETE elective, 7000 level | 3 |
| PETE elective, 7000 level | 3 |
| PETE 8000 (Thesis) | 5 |
| Total Credit Hours = 11 | |
Students with a B. in science whose curriculum included chemistry, physics, and mathematics through calculus may be admitted but will be required to take additional courses in geology, engineering science, and petroleum engineering. The additional courses will be based on the individual student’s previous training. Students should expect the graduate program of at least 5 semesters. The usual curriculum is listed below. However, the department may make changes based on an individual student’s previous training. Courses showing zero credit do not count as credit toward the degree.
First Semester
| Course | Credit Hrs |
|---|---|
| GEOL 1001 (Physical) | 0 |
| PETE 2031 (Rock Properties) | 0 |
| PETE 2032 (Fluid Properties) | 0 |
| Statics | 0 |
| Total Credit Hours = 0 | |
Second Semester
| Course | Credit Hrs |
|---|---|
| Dynamics | 0 |
| Fluid Mechanics | 0 |
| Strength of Materials | 0 |
| PETE 3036 (Well Logging) | 0 |
| Total Credit Hours = 0 | |
Third Semester
| Course | Credit Hrs |
|---|---|
| PETE 4051 (Reservoir) | 3 |
| PETE 4045 (Drilling) | 3 |
| PETE elective, 4000 level | 3 |
| Electrical Engineering or Thermodynamics | 0 |
| Total Credit Hours = 9 | |
Fourth Semester
| Course | Credit Hrs |
|---|---|
| PETE 4046 (Well Design) | 3 |
| PETE 4052 (Well Testing) | 3 |
| PETE elective, 7000 level | 3 |
| PETE 8000 (Thesis) | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours = 10 | |
Fifth Semester
| Course | Credit Hrs |
|---|---|
| PETE elective, 7000 level | 3 |
| PETE elective, 7000 level | 3 |
| PETE 8000 (Thesis) | 5 |
| Total Credit Hours = 11 | |
Master of Science in Petroleum Engineering
The master's program is open to students holding BS degrees in petroleum engineering, other engineering disciplines, or sciences. The department level academic course plan for each student will be developed in consultation with and approved by the student's advisory committee.
The degree is either a thesis or a non-thesis degree that requires a special project.
- The thesis option requires completion of 24 hours of approved coursework, 12 coursework hours should be at the 7000 level or above, excluding thesis hours, 6 hours credit for thesis research. The thesis option student must have their thesis approved by the committee and pass a comprehensive final oral exam.
- The non-thesis option requires completion of 36 hours of approved graduate coursework that may include 3 credits for the special project and at least 18 hours at the 7000 level or above, including credit earned for the special project. Must pass a comprehensive oral exam, after successful completion of minimum 3 hours of the special project, that may (but does not have to) include approval of the special project. At the discretion of the student's advisory committee, a written exam may be required.
In short:
- Thesis option: 24 course credit hours (of which minimum 12 credits of graduate (7000)-level coursework), plus 6 thesis research credit hours
- Non-thesis option: 36 course credit hours (of which minimum 18 credits of graduate (7000)-level coursework), with 3 special project credit hours
Doctor of Philosophy in Petroleum Engineering
The Doctor of Philosophy in Petroleum Engineering is open to students holding a MS in petroleum engineering. However, special programs involving additional course work can be developed for those with MS degrees in related branches of engineering or science.
To become a doctoral candidate, a student must pass a qualifying examination, meet the one-year residence requirement, and complete a minimum of either 54 semester hours of approved course work beyond the BS or 30 semester hours beyond the MS.
The Craft & Hawkins Department of Petroleum Engineering does not require a minor for doctoral students. The department does recognize the value of taking courses outside the curriculum to augment a student’s research and/or to expand a student’s knowledge in other areas. Therefore, a doctoral student in petroleum engineering must meet at least one of the following requirements:
- Acquire an approved minor or take 9 to 12 semester hours of courses outside of the department. Courses must be selected by both the student and his/her major professor and approved by the department’s graduate faculty. The courses must represent a logical and cohesive package that satisfies one or both of the previously mentioned goals.
- The PhD is conferred after a candidate has successfully completed the dissertation and passed the general and final examinations.
In short:
- With MS: 30 course credit hours (of which minimum 15 credits of graduate (7000)-level coursework), plus 15 dissertation research credit hours
- Without MS: 54 course credit hours (of which minimum 27 credits of graduate (7000)-level coursework), plus 15 dissertation research credit hours