The Whitacre College of Engineering is home to eight academic departments (chemical, civil and environmental, electrical and computer, industrial, mechanical, and petroleum engineering, along with computer science and construction engineering and engineering technology) and offers over 30 degrees to more than 5,000 students, including more than 700 master’s and doctoral students. Research funding has grown significantly in the last few years, with research awards totaling $22.1 million in the last fiscal year.

The Whitacre College of Engineering is dedicated to discovering solutions to the nation’s challenge in accessing sufficient and sustainable energy sources to power its future. The college is committed to conducting innovative research and providing educational programs related to traditional and unconventional energy production, storage, integration and infrastructure. Current expertise in oil and gas production, wind energy, biofuels, energetics and vehicle technologies will be complemented with investments to grow research expertise in renewable energy areas. Through this commitment to build a breadth and depth of research and workforce preparation programs related to energy.

Total Student Enrollment: 5,033
Total Undergraduate Enrollment: 4,308
Number of Faculty: 140

* Chemical Engineering
* Civil Engineering
* Computer Engineering
* Computer Science
* Construction Engineering
* Environmental Engineering
* Electrical Engineering
* Engineering Physics
* Engineering Technology
* Industrial Engineering
* Mechanical Engineering
* Petroleum Engineering

The ConocoPhillips Academic Success Bridge program provides incoming freshmen with study skills training, academic preparation, tutoring, mentoring, and other academic support services. After completing the Bridge experience, students will have an academic foundation and the confidence to succeed in engineering.

Studies show that students are more likely to get better grades, stay in engineering, and get better, higher paying jobs if:

* They have enhanced study skills before starting college
* They understand how an engineering degree can be used. The Bridge program helps with each of these areas.

The Bridge program is for students that need a little help getting into the college rhythm. The resources allow freshmen to take a concentrated math review, a fall freshman seminar, and a spring engineering seminar. The intense academic support includes interaction with engineering faculty and engineering student mentors. The Bridge program begins with the Bridge Connections Experience, starting the week before the freshman year, and continues through your first year at Texas Tech.

The Whicare College of Engineering features more than 400,000 square feet of space in on-campus buildings, with 130,000 square feet dedicated to teaching and 160,000 square feet dedicated to research. Teaching and research in the college is also carried out in off-campus sites at the Reese Technology Center and selected sites in the Lubbock area.

The Advanced Vehicle Engineering Laboratory (AVEL) the Transdisciplinary-Sustainable Energy Research Laboratory (T-SER) are housed in a 25,000 square foot facility at the Reese Technology Center about 10 miles west of the Texas Tech main campus.

The Bob L. Herd Department of Petroleum Engineering is home to a test well. Red Raider No. 1, drilled to a depth of 4120 feet, is the largest test well on university property in the United States. The test well is operated under Texas Tech’s Center of Advanced Production Research Operations (CAPRO), and is located on a 8.72 acre tract of Texas Tech property.

The Whitacre College of Engineering offers a number of externally funded scholarships. Incoming freshman and transfer students can apply at www.applytexas.org. Current students can apply at www.financialaid.ttu.edu and choose “Scholarships” and “Apply”. Once a student applies, he/she is matched to the scholarship for which he/she qualifies.

Each of the eight departments within the college offer merit-based and need-based scholarships.

Students in the Whitacre College of Engineering have many opportunities to participate in internships and co-ops. Approximately 75% of undergraduate students in the college participate in internships.

Cooperative education (co-op) in the Whitacre College of Engineering is a partnership between the employer, the student, and the university. Student participants in the co-op program gain invaluable job experience and training, while learning alongside actual engineers in the field. Students in co-ops gain on-the-job experience, participate in projects that have an impact, and learn skills that will benefit the the future.

There is a growing demand for engineering graduates with international experience. Employers are seeking applicants with an awareness of global business practices, cross-cultural communications skills, and language fluency. The Fluor International Engineering Program provides students with quality international engineering experiences that prepare them to work in a global environment. In the 2010-11 academic year, 110 engineering students chose to study abroad. The program’s goal is to have 50% of the college’s students complete a study abroad experience before graduation.

One opportunity for engineering students is faculty-led experiences. Texas Tech faculty members lead study abroad programs in their area of expertise in environments outside the U.S. These engineering programs allow students to enroll in Texas Tech courses with Texas Tech professors, but on foreign soil.

Students in the college also have the opportunity to participate in semester-long exchange programs and service abroad opportunities through student organizations, such as Engineers Without Borders.

In the last few years, Texas Tech engineers studied abroad in Spain, France, Germany, Norway, Chile, Sweden, Mexico, the Czech Republic, Brazil, and other countries.

Students with an eye towards graduate studies in the sciences and engineering can become involved as early as the spring of their freshman year. Many departments discuss possible undergraduate research experiences at student society meetings, department undergraduate seminars, and in the first freshman engineering course. Students are encouraged to approach faculty members and even graduate students in topics that are of interest to them.

The faculty are always delighted to discuss their theoretical, experimental, and applied research activities and many do have room in their labs for undergraduates to participate and to become members of a team with graduate and other more senior undergraduate students. Part-time lab employment may also be available, especially in the summer periods.

Joining a student organization is the greatest way to get involved on campus and in the college. There are approximately 40 organizations within the Whitacre College of Engineering and more than 450 organizations currently registered at Texas Tech University, with more than 20,000 members participating in these groups.

Engineering student organizations include professional societies, honor societies, competition groups, and other organizations. These organizations provide valuable social support for students outside of the classrooms allowing them to build contacts and friendships across the college.

Students develop leadership, communication, and networking skills through involvement in on-campus organization activities and by attending regional conferences. Membership in professional societies helps students learn more about the professional opportunities in their chosen engineering discipline. Life-long membership in these societies is encouraged by the engineering profession. Many student organizations host career sessions that allow company representatives to present information about their company and provide opportunities for students to meet recruiters.

A variety of opportunities for tutoring are available for Whitacre College of Engineering students. Tutoring is available through the college, individual departments, student organizations, and the university.

Free tutoring is available each week of the fall and spring semesters for all engineering majors.

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Whitacre College of Engineering 2009 graduates were hired by 103 different companies in the following industries: aerospace, automotive, biotechnology, chemical, computers, construction, consulting, electrical services, electronics, energy, manufacturing, oil and gas, recycling or waste management, and research.

2010 Undergraduate Starting Salaries
Low High Average
Chemical Engineering 63,000 81,500 74,000
Civil & Environmental Engineering 40,000 70,000 55,100
Computer Science 45,000 62,000 56,000
Electrical & Computer Engineering 43,600 90,000 59,500
Engineering Technology 44,000 50,000 48,000
Industrial Engineering 40,000 60,000 51,400
Mechanical Engineering 42,000 90,000 64,600
Petroleum Engineering 50,000 100,000 83,600
ALL COE MAJORS 40,000 100,000 61,525
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Our graduates become highly successful leaders in the engineering profession and business world. More than 900 of our graduates are currently presidents or CEOs of companies. Some of these include:

* Ed Whitacre
o former chairman of the board and CEO of General Motors Company
o former chairman, CEO, and president of AT&T
* Dain Hancock
o past president of Lockheed-Martin Aeronautics
* Fred Bucy
o past president and CEO of Texas Instruments
* Rick Husband
o United States Astronaut – Space Shuttle pilot on STS-96, Space shuttle commander of STS-107 (Columbia disaster)

We have honored 207 Distinguished Engineers over the past 45 years and look forward to recognizing more of our exceptional graduates.