Program of Study

The Climate Dynamics Program welcomes both full-time and part-time students. Many part-time students are professionals at Washington-area Federal laboratories where climate-related work is conducted.

The Climate Dynamics Ph.D. program requires 48 credit hours of coursework plus 24 credit hours of dissertation research. The 48 credit hours of coursework is divided into areas: 12 credit hours of fundamental climate science courses; 9 credit hours of core computational methods; 3 credits hour of seminar; and 24 credit hours of electives (including up to 5 of independent research).

Before beginning work on a dissertation, each student must form a dissertation committee and pass a qualifying examination. Following successful completion of the qualifying examination, the student begins work on a dissertation by presenting a written dissertation proposal to the committee. The student may enroll in CLIM 998, Doctoral Dissertation Proposal, to complete this effort. After approval of the Dissertation Proposal, the student is formally advanced to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree, and produces the dissertation. 

As students progress through their studies, they must submit a series of Department Forms. Full-time students are expected to progress at a pace consistent with the Program Timetable.

Questions?  Contact  Barry Klinger, AOES Graduate Coordinator.