Average GRE Scores for Atmospheric Sciences, Meteorology, Climate Change, Energy Policy Masters Program

The Program in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (AOS) offers graduate study under the sponsorship of the Geosciences. The Princeton AOS graduate program emphasizes theoretical studies and numerical model studies of the global climate system, and applicants are expected to have a strong background in natural sciences and mathematics.

The AOS program benefits from the research capabilities of the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Many GFDL scientists are active in the AOS program as lecturers, and major supercomputer resources within GFDL are accessible to students for their research. The Geosciences, with its activities in physical and chemical oceanography, paleoclimatology and atmospheric sciences, collaborates with GFDL in providing a comprehensive program of courses and seminars.

The flexible graduate program offers students opportunities for research and courses in a wide range of disciplines, including geophysical fluid dynamics, atmospheric physics, atmospheric chemistry, biogeochemistry of the land and ocean, atmospheric modeling, ocean modeling, climate dynamics, global climate change and paleo-climate. Through the Science, Technology and Environmental Policy (STEP) Program at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and the Princeton Environmental Institute, students can explore climate and air pollution-related policy.

The plan of study is flexible and is tailored to the needs of the individual, but during the first two years it normally concentrates on course work and independent preparation for the general examination. A student usually takes seven to ten courses during the first two years to prepare for the general examination.

The Master of Arts (M.A.) degree is normally an incidental degree on the way to full Ph.D. candidacy and is earned after a student successfully completes all course work and passes the written portion of the general examination. It may also be awarded to students who, for various reasons, leave the Ph.D. program, provided that these requirements have been met.

When students pass the general examination, they then pursue research for the Ph.D. thesis. This may or may not be a continuation of the research that was used as the basis for a student general examination seminar. Students who enter the program with a background in atmospheric and oceanic sciences are encouraged to finish their thesis at the end of their fourth year in the program. Students defend their thesis at the final public oral examination. Final acceptance of the dissertation is conditional on passing this examination.

The dissertation must show that a candidate has technical mastery in the chosen field and is capable of independent research. The dissertation is expected to be a positive contribution that is of publishable quality. The final public oral examination is a broad examination in the field of study.

Delworth, Geosciences, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Leo J. Donner, Geosciences, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Stephan A. Fueglistaler, Geosciences Stephen T. Garner, Geosciences, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Stephen Griffies, Geosciences, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Robert W. Hallberg, Geosciences, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Isaac M. Held, Geosciences, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Larry W. Horowitz, Geosciences, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Sonya A. Legg, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Geosciences Yi Ming, Geosciences, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Venkatachalam Ramaswamy, Geosciences, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Laure Resplandy, Geosciences, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Jorge L. Sarmiento, Geosciences Gabriel A. Vecchi, Geosciences, Princeton Environmental Institute Rong Zhang, Geosciences, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences.

Permanent courses may be offered by the department or program on an ongoing basis, depending on curricular needs, scheduling requirements, and student interest. Not listed below are courses and one-time-only graduate courses, which may be found for a specific term through the Registrar’s website. Also not listed are graduate-level independent reading and research courses, which may be approved by the Graduate School for individual students.

AOS 523 Water in the AtmosphereDespite the paramount importance of atmospheric water vapour for climate, our understanding of the processes that regulate its distribution and changes within a changing climate remains incomplete. This course analyses observations and discusses theoretical approaches, both basic concepts and novel ideas, to the problem. Course is for graduate students with a background in atmospheric and or oceanic sciences, and students are encouraged to provide contributions from their own research experiences that are related to the course topic.

) The structure and composition of terrestrial atmospheres. The fundamental aspects of electromagnetic radiation, absorption and emission by atmospheric gases, optical extinction by particles, the roles of atmospheric species in the Earth radiative energy balance, the perturbation of climate due to natural and anthropogenic causes, and satellite observations of climate systems are also studied.

) Natural gas phase and heterogeneous chemistry in the troposphere and stratosphere, with a focus on elementary chemical kinetics photolysis processes oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen chemistry transport of atmospheric trace species tropospheric hydrocarbon chemistry and stratospheric halogen chemistry stratospheric ozone destruction local and regional air pollution, and chemistry-climate interactions are studied.

AOS 547 Atmospheric Thermodynamics and ConvectionThe thermodynamics of water-air systems. The course gives an of atmospheric energy sources and sinks. Planetary boundary layers, closure theories for atmospheric turbulence, cumulus convection, interactions between cumulus convection and large-scale atmospheric flows, cloud-convection-radiation interactions and their role in the climate system, and parameterization of boundary layers and convection in atmospheric general circulation models are also studied.

AOS 572 Atmospheric and Oceanic Wave DynamicsObservational evidence of atmospheric and oceanic waves laboratory simulation. Surface and internal gravity waves dispersion characteristics kinetic energy spectrum critical layer forced resonance and instabilities. Planetary waves: scale analysis physical description of planetary wave propagation reflections normal modes in a closed basin. Large-scale baroclinic and barotropic instabilities, Eady and Charney models for baroclinic instability, and energy transfer.

AOS 576 Current Topics in Dynamic Meteorology (also.

) An introduction to topics of current interest in the dynamics of large-scale atmospheric flow. Possible topics include wave-mean flow interaction and nonacceleration theorems, critical levels, quasigeostrophic instabilities, topographically and thermally forced stationary waves, theories for stratospheric sudden warmings and the quasi-biennial oscillation of the equatorial stratosphere, and quasi-geostrophic turbulence.

AOS 577 Climate of the Earth: Present, Past and Future (also.

) An examination of various components of the Earth climate system. Emphasis is placed on the role of radiative processes, climate feedbacks and sensitivity, and the nature of energy and water balances. The dynamics and physical interpretation of principal tropospheric circulation systems, including stationary and transient phenomena observed in middle and low latitudes, are studied. Phenomena of topical interest, such as El Niño, seasonal climate anomalies, and natural and anthropogenic climate changes, are also reviewed.

The instructor provides additional information such as the historical context, motivation of research, and impact on the field. The papers selected differ from year to year, with a semester papers organized around either: a collection of great papers that are seminal in the field of AOS a collection of recent high impact papers and papers discussing a specific topic. The detailed analysis of the research papers also helps students familiarize with the process of distilling essential results for publication.

) This course focuses on ground-based and satellite observations of aerosol particles and their impacts on climate through modeling studies. Course material includes satellite and ground-based measurements of aerosol particles, mathematical formulation of transport, and numerical models of aerosol distribution. It studies how aerosols impact climate change through direct and indirect effects including cloud-aerosol interactions.

Our climate and the air we breathe are affected by, and in turn affect, energy use and production through a complex set of processes. By analyzing those processes, we aim to gain a deeper understanding of the atmosphere and then design cleaner and more efficient energy systems, improving our health and environment and providing energy security for all.

The Atmosphere/Energy subprogram in Civil and Environmental Engineering, formed in 2004, combines atmospheric science with energy science and engineering. The program uses courses, research and public outreach to educate students and the public about the causes of climate change, air pollution and weather problems, and focuses on methods of addressing these problems through renewable and efficient energy systems. In addition, students learn about feedbacks between the atmosphere and renewable energy systems and the effects of the current energy infrastructure on the atmosphere.

Our graduates of the program go on to work for nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), companies, government agencies, public or private institutes, national research laboratories or educational institutes. Research is performed primarily at the PhD level, although MS and undergraduate students can become involved through a directed research course for credit, a student group or by working with a company on a research topic.

The atmospheric sciences include the disciplines of meteorology and climatology, which apply mathematics and the basic physical sciences to understand a very complex natural system. The scope of the field ranges from the small space and time scales of turbulent phenomena, through the diagnosis and prediction of weather events in meteorology, to continental and global scale climate change processes.

Our graduate program in atmospheric science is a relatively small, high quality program. Faculty members do not advise large numbers of graduate students, and this provides students with the opportunity to work closely with their advisor. This individual attention is combined with the advantages of a large and diverse research university, and the beautiful, livable environment of Ithaca.

The graduate field of atmospheric science offers full financial support, including tuition, stipend, and health insurance, to all students accepted into our program. This means that we sometimes must decline applications from students who are very well qualified, but for whom we cannot identify support because the student's interests are not a good match for our research programs, or because of limited availability of external grant funds. We offer graduate research assistantships through either the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences or through the external grants of individual faculty members, and teaching assistantships through the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. Prospective and continuing graduate students are encouraged to apply for full or partial funding from NSF, NASA, AMS, NOAA, and other agencies that offer fellowships and scholarships in the atmospheric sciences.

and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy logo.

This course is a perspective from the intersection of food and biology and will build upon principles of energy balance that were developed in Nutritional Biochemistry. In the first section, physiologic regulation of body weight and its dysregulation leading to obesity will be explored. The interaction between hormonal neuroendocrine systems and dietary factors will featured. In the second half of the course, lifestyle, pharmacologic and surgical approaches to obesity treatment as well as maintenance of lost weight will be presented.

Prerequisite: Prior completion of a course in nutritional biochemistry of the macronutrients or its equivalent. This course is open only to students who are in the Blended Master of Nutrition Science and Policy Program.

This is a named option within the Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences M.S.

Climate research involves defining the physical, chemical, and biological behavior of many components of the climate, modeling these components in an interactive system, and obtaining appropriate observational information to define the climate and its changes. We have ongoing studies on paleoclimate and recent climate observations and use these in conjunction with comprehensive climate system models to try to understand the characteristics and physics of climate variations on many time scales.

Substantive forcing and nonlinear processes are important for large scale dynamics of both the atmosphere and ocean circulations. The challenge remains to define and study the interactions of circulations with many time and spacial scales in order to understand the observed lifecycles of atmospheric and oceanic systems and the dominant variability time and spacial scales. Our studies include atmospheric intraseasonal and interannual variability and oceanic decadal variability.

Radiation emitted and absorbed by the Earth system drives the large scale circulations of the atmosphere and ocean. We are working to understand the flow of radiant energy through clear and cloudy skies, and to use measurements of radiation to remotely sense properties of the atmosphere and surface.

Clouds are the most visible part of weather phenomena and influence the larger scale environment through the release of latent heat. We study the physical and chemical processes related to the formation and growth of cloud and precipitation particles (cloud and rain drops, graupel, hail, and snow crystals) and the interaction between clouds and their dynamical environments. Other projects center on processes such atmospheric electricity, aerosol physics, and air pollution problems.

The ocean acts as the flywheel of the climate system because of its huge thermal inertia and ability to regulate the atmospheric carbon content. The ocean plays a critical role in short-term climate variability (including phenomena like El Nino) and long-term climate change. Research at the University of Wisconsin focuses on the fundamental physical and geochemical processes that drive ocean circulations, and on the climatic impacts that result.

Graduate admissions is a two-step process between academic programs and the Graduate School. Once you have researched the graduate program(s) you are interested in, apply online.

Not required but may be considered if available.

Evidence of interest in meteorological, climate, ocean, and.or remote sensing research.

Sufficient background in prerequisite courses to be successful in ATM OCN courses and research, regardless of academic major.

Prior experience in research through thesis work, practicum courses, internships, summer research experiences, presentation publication, etc.

GPA, GRE, and TOEFL scores reflective of academic strength.

Ability to enhance the academic, geographic, gender, ethnic, economic, or cultural diversity of our department, especially for underrepresented groups.

An offer of admission for fall, typically made in February or early March, does not guarantee funding. You will be notified if funding for you becomes available. Typically we are able to fund approximately 8-10 students a year, primarily by research assistantship. We do not typically provide teaching assistantships to incoming students. The department discourages self-funding of Ph.D. degrees, but will allow it for M.S. For fall admission, you will have until April 15 to accept or reject any offers of admission or funding.

Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid. Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.

Accelerated: Accelerated programs are offered at a fast pace that condenses the time to completion. Students are able to complete a program with minimal disruptions to careers and other commitments.

Students have the advantages of face-to-face courses with the flexibility to keep work and other life commitments.

Hybrid: These programs combine face-to-face and online learning formats.

Online: These programs are offered 100% online. Some programs may require an on-campus orientation or residency experience, but the courses will be facilitated in an online format.

15 credits must be graduate-level coursework.

There is a set of five core courses which are highly recommended as a good foundation for graduate degrees in the Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences. A GPA of 3.0 must be maintained for both options.

The following is a listing of the core courses:.

Seminars, research, independent study or directed reading courses do not satisfy this requirement. A grade of B or greater is required for these 12 credits.

An additional 12 (at least) credits may be taken in or out of the department. These credits can include seminars, core courses, and other courses taken as a graduate student. Research credits do not count toward this requirement.

Up to 6 research credits in the department can be counted (but are not required) toward the 30 credit requirement.

With program approval, students are allowed to count no than 14 credits of graduate coursework from other institutions. Coursework earned five or years prior to admission to a master degree or earned ten years or prior to admission to a doctoral degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.

Coursework earned five or years prior to admission to a master degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.

Coursework earned five or years prior to admission to a master is not allowed to satisfy requirements.

Atmospheric Sciences, Meteorology, Climate Change, Energy Policy follows the Graduate School Probation policy.

Failure to do so may result in a hold being placed on the student registration.

The M.S. degree should be completed within three years.

These resources may be helpful in addressing your concerns:.

Take advantage of the Graduate School professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career.

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Online Graduate Programs in Weather and Climate Risk and Data Analytics.

The fastest growing employment sector in atmospheric sciences is the private sector get the data science skills you need to succeed!

Read full story New Graduate Student: Maile Sasaki.

A global clearinghouse for greenhouse gas emissions information should be created to support decision-makers working to address climate change, says a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medi.

Feed from Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences University of Colorado Boulder.

The Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (ATOC) at the University of Colorado Boulder provides a world-class, interdisciplinary research and educational environment to examine the dynamical, physical, and chemical processes that occur in the atmosphere and ocean. A major theme is the establishment of a physical basis for observing, modeling, and understanding climate and global change.

The proximity of ATOC to this atmospheric and oceanic science excellence is the foundation of our unique philosophy and vision, which elevates our department to one of worldwide prominence. The guiding principle of ATOC is to be the focal point for atmospheric and oceanic science education and research training in this geographic region of world-renowned excellence. The University of Colorado, Boulder was ranked number one in atmospheric science in ShanghaiRanking 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects.

The M.S. program at the University of Utah is designed to provide students with the advanced scientific and technical expertise necessary to allow our graduates to pursue a wide variety of challenging and rewarding career tracks. Motivated students should expect to complete the M.S. degree in 2 to 2.5 years. This page is intended to provide our current M.S. students with all of the Academic and Financial information required to successfully complete the M.S. degree in Atmospheric Sciences.

A detailed M.S. Thesis Completion Calendar is available to students. This one-page calendar contains a timeline of all the events that must take place for students to graduate with a M.S. degree.

A minimum of 20 SCH must be in coursework. A minimum of 6 SCH must be Thesis Research (ATMOS 6970). All work for the M.S. degree must be completed within four consecutive calendar years and all coursework must be taken from the University of Utah. The candidate is also required to maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Specific course requirements for the M.S. degree include:.

Core courses: ATMOS 6010, 6020, 6030, and 7810 .

A minimum of 20 semester credit hours must be in coursework (Core courses can be counted towards this requirement) .

All M.S. students are evaluated during their first year for knowledge in the atmospheric sciences and their intended field of research through the core classes (ATMOS 6010: Fundamentals of Dynamic Meteorology, ATMOS 6020 Fundamentals of Physical Meteorology, ATMOS 6030: Climate Dynamics) and the preparation of a Research Prospectus, consisting of both written and oral components. Collectively, this evaluation is known as the Comprehensive Examination even though it is based on a combination of coursework and research activities during the first year. The written component of the Research Prospectus, which will be evaluated by the Supervisory Committee, is due on the last day of classes during the spring semester of the first year in the graduate program.

A review of literature and existing knowledge in the area of intended study that contextualizes background information and identifies a key paradox, inconsistency, or gaps in understanding to be addressed by the research project .

A statement of the research goal or goals (may include a summary of key hypotheses or questions to be tested or examined) .

A summary of preliminary research, which may consist of any combination of (a) data analysis, (b) simulation results, and (c) observational analysis.

Unacceptable for graduate work in the Atmospheric Sciences.

Pass with Distinction: The student may enter the Ph.D. program directly without completion of a M.S. thesis, but has the option to complete a M.S. degree if desired.

Pass: The student is encouraged to complete the requirements for the M.S. degree. Following a successful M.S. defense, the student may submit a petition to the Committee on Doctoral Advancement (CODA) for consideration of continuation toward the Ph.D.

Failure to satisfactorily complete the prescribed remedial activities in the allotted time frame will result in immediate dismissal from the graduate program.

Students must be continuously enrolled as a full-time student during each fall and spring semester from the date of formal admission through the semester of the thesis defense in order to maintain an active student status. In order to be considered a full-time student, graduate students must be registered for 9 credit hours of coursework, or 3 credit hours of thesis research (ATMOS 6970). Official Graduate School policies on continuous registration can be found here.

Officially-admitted, domestic graduate students who have registered for, and completed, at least one semester of their designated program may apply for a leave of absence to postpone their studies for up to one year. Circumstances requiring students to take a leave of absence must be of a serious nature (e.g., serious health condition, parental leave, or call to military service etc). Postdated leave of absence applications will not be approved. A complete list of details and requirements for a leave of absence can be found here.

Failure to register for a fall or spring semester or to request a leave of absence will result in a student being dropped from the program. Students wishing to continue their graduate studies after being dropped from the program will need to re University.

Students wishing to continue their graduate studies after being dropped from the program will need to re University.

Students who intend to register for summer credit hours may be eligible for a summer tuition waiver (3 credit hours of Thesis Research only). In order to receive a summer tuition waiver, a student must:.

It is in the best interest of the Department for eligible students to enroll for summer credit hours because a portion of the tuition is returned to the Department.

Resident and nonresident students, not receiving tuition waivers, that wish to register for summer semester are encouraged to do so only if credit hours are needed for their program of study. If credit hours are needed, students are encouraged to register for 3 Thesis Research (ATMOS 6970) credit hours, which are always billed at the resident rate.

Students are required to complete and orally defend a M.S. thesis. The draft must adhere to standard publication practices in terms of content, language, and style.

After the oral presentation, a question and answer period must be allowed. At the conclusion of the public participation, the committee may excuse the public and conduct further questioning on the thesis and related topics. A majority of the committee must sign and approve these forms. grade will remain indefinitely. details.

The Graduate School maintains a detailed checklist of the steps necessary to complete the M.S. degree. All M.S. students are encouraged to become familiar with these requirements and the deadlines for completing them.

Once The Graduate School has approved the supervisory committee, the student can view their Electronic Graduate Record File online.

Details on the Tuition Benefit Program (TBP) which covers tuition and mandatory student fees can be found here. M.S. candidates are limited to two years (4 semesters) of tuition benefit support. It is important for students to set any monthly pay increases aside in order to pay for health insurance (due in August) and tuition and fees (due in September January).

Details on the Subsidized Graduate Student Health Insurance can be found here.

Out-of-state, non-international graduate students receiving a tuition benefit must apply for Utah residency upon fulfilling 40 semester credit hours at the University. A complete set of guidelines for residency reclassification can be found here. In addition, these ties must be established at least three (3) months (90 days) prior to the first day of class for the academic term for which resident student status is requested (See Board of Regents Policy R512 for detail). Domestic students who do not obtain residency status with the University of Utah before they reach 84 cumulative enrolled credit hours will be billed for tuition at the non-resident rate if registered for credit hours other than Thesis Research hours.

University regulations regarding travel reimbursements are complex and failure to strictly adhere to them may result in non-reimbursable expenses.

The graduate school provides partial funding for students to attend conferences if submitting an abstract.

The odds for receiving funding are higher if funds are applied for early in the academic year rather than late.

As a general rule, graduate students should not be responsible for making any type of purchase on behalf of the the University. Failure to do so may result in non-reimbursable expenses.

The Atmospheric Science is top-rated and focuses on graduate education, cutting-edge research, and public service.

Your department may have financial aid options available and please check our financial resource section for additional opportunities.