Climate Dynamics Ph.D. Program
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 includes 48 credit hours of coursework plus an additional 24 hours of dissertation research. The 48 credit hours of coursework is divided into four logical 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). The degree requirements also include 24 credit hours of dissertation research. This curriculum structure provides students with a flexible set of options that can be used to create their own plan of study under the guidance of a faculty advisor.
Close to the time that coursework is completed, each student must form a dissertation committee. This committee prepares and administers a qualifying examination for the student. 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.
Program Timetable
Forms
As they progress through their graduate studies, students must complete a number of official forms. These are available HERE