Atmospheric Science faculty and graduate students engage in a wide range of atmospheric research, with specializations that include climate variability, numerical modeling, atmospheric dynamics, mesoscale and synoptic meteorology, air-pollution meteorology, and data analytics. Our program is an excellent place for graduate study because of our research excellence, close collaboration between faculty and students, friendly environment, and open-door policy for questions.
The Atmospheric Science M.S. program is a thesis-based program that is designed to prepare students for employment in weather, climate, or data-driven fields, or for continued study in pursuit of the Ph.D. The M.S. program typically requires two years to complete for students entering with a B.S. in Atmospheric Science or a related discipline. Students are typically supported as either Research or Teaching Assistantships.
Though it can be intimidating to do so, we highly encourage all prospective graduate students to reach out to the faculty members who do research in the areas of greatest interest to you. This does not have to be very formal: an e-mail that introduces yourself and lets us know that you are interested in learning more about our graduate programs is a great starting point! Reaching out helps you get more information about our program, learn more about potential research opportunities, start to determine if one of us would be a good fit for you as a mentor, and ask any questions about the application process that you might have.
Admission Requirements
Application Deadlines
Application deadlines vary by program, please review the application deadline chart for specific programs. Other important dates and deadlines can be found by using the One Stop calendars.
Admission
An applicant must meet Graduate School requirements plus these departmental requirements to be considered for admission to the program:
- A general background in both physics and mathematics, including calculus and ordinary differential equations. Students who lack this background may be admitted if the deficiencies amount to no more than two courses. Deficiencies must be made up within the first three enrolled semesters of graduate study.
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Submission of a Reason Statement. Statements are used to determine the appropriateness of your educational and professional goals and serves as an example of your ability to express yourself in writing. Your reason statement should include:
- your reasons for pursuing graduate study
- your specific background interests and background in the field
- any relevant skills or training you've acquired
- any academic awards or honors you have received
- the name(s) of faculty members with whom your research interests most closely align
Optional
Submission of scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
Credits and Courses
Students enrolled in the MS in Atmospheric Science degree program must complete a total of thirty (30) credits.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 9 credits at the ATM SCI or FRSHWTR 700-level or greater | 9 | |
| Select 6 credits in approved graduate elective courses | 6 | |
| Select one of the following: | 6 | |
| Advanced Engineering Mathematics I and Advanced Engineering Mathematics II | ||
| Statistical Methods in Atmospheric Sciences and Statistical Methods in Atmospheric Sciences II: Signal Detection | ||
| Complete 9 thesis credits: | 9 | |
| Master's Thesis | ||
| Total Credits | 30 | |
Students receiving financial support from the School of Freshwater Sciences must enroll in a minimum of fifteen (15) credits offered by the department during each academic year.
Courses in Atmospheric Science that may be taken for graduate credit are listed below.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ATM SCI 330 | Air-Pollution Meteorology | 3 |
| ATM SCI 350 | Atmospheric Thermodynamics | 3 |
| ATM SCI 351 | Dynamic Meteorology I | 3 |
| ATM SCI 352 | Dynamic Meteorology II | 3 |
| ATM SCI 360 | Synoptic Meteorology I | 4 |
| ATM SCI 361 | Synoptic Meteorology II | 4 |
| ATM SCI 460 | Mesoscale Circulations | 3 |
| ATM SCI 464 | Physical Meteorology: Cloud Physics | 3 |
| ATM SCI 470 | Tropical Meteorology | 3 |
| ATM SCI 480 | The General Circulation and Climate Dynamics | 3 |
| ATM SCI 497 | Study Abroad: (subtitled) | 3 |
| ATM SCI 500 | Statistical Methods in Atmospheric Sciences | 3 |
| ATM SCI 505 | Micrometeorology | 3 |
| ATM SCI 511 | Seminar in Atmospheric Radiation and Remote Sensing | 3 |
| ATM SCI 600 | Data Analytics | 3 |
| ATM SCI 690 | Seminar in Atmospheric Sciences: | 3 |
| ATM SCI 700 | Statistical Methods in Atmospheric Sciences II: Signal Detection | 3 |
| ATM SCI 705 | Air Pollution Modeling | 3 |
| ATM SCI 711 | Cloud Dynamics | 3 |
| ATM SCI 730 | Numerical Weather Prediction | 3 |
| ATM SCI 750 | Nonlinear Time Series Analysis | 3 |
| ATM SCI 761 | Advanced Synoptic/Mesoscale Meteorology | 3 |
| ATM SCI 950 | Seminar on Topics in Atmospheric Sciences: | 3 |
| ATM SCI 990 | Master's Thesis | 1-8 |
| ATM SCI 997 | Doctoral Externship | 1-12 |
| ATM SCI 998 | Doctoral Dissertation | 1-12 |
| ATM SCI 999 | Advanced Independent Reading | 1-4 |
Additional Requirements
Major Professor as Advisor
The student must have a major professor to advise and supervise the student’s studies as specified in Graduate School regulations.
Thesis
Prior to graduation, students, under the direction of a major professor and supervision of a three-member evaluation committee comprised of Atmospheric Science graduate faculty, must complete and orally defend an acceptable thesis. An acceptable thesis is defined as one representing an original contribution in the atmospheric science of sufficient caliber for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
Time Limit
Entering full-time students without deficiencies are expected to complete all degree requirements within two years of first enrollment. All degree requirements must be completed within five years of first enrollment.
Atmospheric Science MS Learning Outcomes
Students graduating from the Atmospheric Science MS program will be able to:
- Conduct supervised research that builds upon existing theory and methods to result in an original contribution to understanding in the atmospheric sciences. This requires critical thinking, creativity, and a mastery of appropriate analysis, interpretation, and synthesis techniques.
- Communicate fundamental tenets of the atmospheric sciences and specialized research findings clearly and effectively to diverse audiences, including students, professionals, and the public.