| Petroleum Engineering involves the technology of economically developing and producing subterranean reservoirs of oil, gas, steam, and hot water and designing underground waste disposal facilities. This technology relies on basic concepts of physics, chemistry, mathematics, geology, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and economics. Because more than 300 products are derived from petroleum, it has become a vital part of our everyday life. The petroleum industry is one of the largest and most prominent in the United States today, and the companies involved are dependent on the services of petroleum engineers to explore, discover, and produce oil and gas to meet energy needs.
The USC Viterbi School of Engineering's Petroleum Engineering program is one of the oldest in the country with considerable industry support and interaction. Its assets are numerous - the advantages of a relatively small, friendly program, combined with the University's impressive academic and research facilities; its proximity to major oil fields in California; and a quality education provided by experienced and nationally renowned faculty. |
Also Available Online via Distance Education Network (DEN@Viterbi)
This program is also available online to professional engineers through the Distance Education Network (DEN@Viterbi). Because the DEN@Viterbi program provides a fully equivalent academic experience, the degree a USC engineering student earns is the same whether they are on-campus or online. If you are interested in beginning classes as a DEN@Viterbi student next semester, explore the requirements and steps to enrolling as a Limited Status Student. |
Application Criteria |
| An undergraduate degree in Petroleum Engineering (or other engineering, math, or hard science with assigned deficiencies) from a regionally accredited college or university. |
| Satisfactory cumulative undergraduate GPA (grade point average) |
| Satisfactory GRE and TOEFL test scores. All scores must be officially reported to the university directly by ETS. |
| Satisfactory performance in previous coursework related to the intended major. |
| Apply Online: www.usc.edu/admission/graduate/apply |
Application Materials for All Applicants |
Additional Application Materials for International Applicants |
| USC Online Application: All applicants must complete and submit the USC Online Application. |
In addition to the general admission criteria listed above, international students whose first language is not English are required to take the TOEFL exam or IELTS to be considered a candidate for admission. There is no minimum TOEFL score required for admission to the Viterbi School; however you must achieve a score of 90 or above on the TOEFL in order to be considered for possible exemption from any additional language requirements. |
| Transcripts: Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, sealed by the institution.
Mail transcripts to: USC Graduate Office of Admission If via private carrier (UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc.): University of Southern California Office of Admission & Financial Aid |
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| GRE General Test: Satisfactory scores less than five years old. Official scores must be reported from ETS directly to USC using ETS school code 4852. A department code is not required. | |
| Letters of Recommendation (3 required): Letters of recommendation should be from faculty or others (supervisors, professional colleagues, etc.) qualified to evaluate your potential for graduate study. They should be written on official letterhead. |
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| Statement of Purpose (required): The statement of purpose should describe succinctly your reasons for applying to the proposed program at the Viterbi School of Engineering, your preparation for this field of study, study interests, future career plans, and other aspects of your background and interests which may aid the admissions committee in evaluating your aptitude and motivation for graduate study. |
Degree Completion Requirements |
| A minimum of 34 units is required to earn the MS in Petroleum Engineering - Geoscience Technologies degree. |
| Required core courses: 30 units |
| Elective courses: 4 units |
| Some deficiency courses may be required |
| A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required for graduation. |
Program Details and Course Offerings
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Required Courses18 units |
 PTE 507 | Engineering and Economic Evaluation of Subsurface Reservoirs |
| PTE 508 | Numerical Simulation of Subsurface Flow and Transport Processes |
| PTE 517 | Testing of Wells and Aquifers |
| PTE 531 | Enhanced Oil Recovery |
| PTE 555 | Well Completion, Stimulation, and Damage Control |
| PTE 582 | Fluid Flow and Transport Processes in Porous Media |
| PTE 502 | Advanced Reservoir Characterization |
| PTE 503 | Technology of Unconventional Oil and Gas Resources Development |
| PTE 504 | Geophysics for Petroleum Engineers |
| PTE 505 | Inverse Modeling for Dynamic Data Integration |
Electives4 units |
| Students must take 4 units of electives, 1 unit of PTE 590 (Directed Research) plus a three unit course such as PTE 572 (Engineering Geostatistics). |
Students without a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering must complete the following prerequisite courses: Introduction to Transport Processes in Porous Media (PTE 411x), Petroleum Reservoir Engineering (PTE 412x), Formation Evaluation (PTE 461), and Petroleum Geology (PTE 466) before beginning the M.S. program. Units from these courses cannot be applied towards the degree. Other prerequisite courses are to be decided on a case-by-case basis upon consultation with the Department Advisor. |
Elective courses and specific degree track requirements may vary. On-campus and off-campus students should consult with an academic advisor prior to registering for classes. Some degrees require prior departmental approval for all elective classes. |
*Please note that online DEN@Viterbi classes are subject to change and availability. |
For more detailed course information about this degree program visit the department website. |
