The Doctor of Philosophy degree is a research-oriented degree awarded upon the demonstration of scholarly competence. To obtain the Ph.D. degree in Atmospheric Science, each student must satisfy all requirements of the Graduate School, as well as those of the Atmospheric Science Program. Admission to the Ph.D. program in Atmospheric Science is dependent upon satisfactory performance on the Preliminary Examination, which is administered twice a year. Students entering UAH with an M.S. degree or previous graduate training in Atmospheric Science must pass the Preliminary Examination at an early opportunity. Students are permitted two attempts to pass the Preliminary Examination.
In summary, the five major requirements for the Ph.D. degree in Atmospheric Science are the following:
1. Take the core courses and pass the preliminary examination
Each student must pass the Preliminary Examination covering material in the three core courses plus three other AES courses as outlined in the Ph.D. Preliminary Exam policies. The core courses are:
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| AES 541 | ATMOSPHERIC THERMODYNAMICS & CLOUD PHYSICS | 3 |
| AES 551 | ATMOSPHERIC FLUID DYNAMICS I | 3 |
| AES 561 | ATMOSPHERIC RADIATION I | 3 |
It is anticipated that a student will take the exam during the second year of graduate study, but those with a strong background in Atmospheric Science may take the exam within the first year. The Preliminary Examination may be taken only twice. The student must pass all six sections in order to continue toward Ph.D. candidacy.
Supervisory Committee
After a student has passed the Preliminary Examination, a Supervisory Committee will be formed. The committee will consist of the student’s academic advisor plus at least four other members. Three of the Committee Members, including the Committee Chair, must be tenured or tenure-track members of the AES faculty. The committee must be approved by the Graduate Dean. The committee will later administer the Qualifying Examination, and with consent of the Graduate Dean, give approval to all aspects of requirements 2-5.
2. Satisfy the residence requirement
According to graduate school policy, residence may be established through either:
- being enrolled as a full-time student (at least nine graduate semester hours) either for one continuous academic year, or for Spring and Fall semesters in the same calendar year, or
- being enrolled in at least six semester hours of graduate course work in at least three of four consecutive semesters.
3. Complete an acceptable Program of Study (POS)
Students must formulate an appropriate POS, in consultation with a faculty advisor and chair, before the end of the second semester. Each POS, individualized to meet the student’s needs and requirements of the program, will stress breadth, depth, and research competence, and relate the major area to its applications. Any prerequisites for courses on the POS must be fulfilled before attempting the courses.
- Minimum degree requirements of this POS will include at least 48 semester hours of graduate level course work. These include the core courses needed to prepare for the Preliminary Examination and courses required in a major area of concentration that will prepare the student to conduct original research. While required, supporting courses, AES 509, AES 780 , AES 781 , and AES 782 are not included in the minimum degree requirements of 48 semester hours.
- Students can transfer up to 24 semester hours of course work from their M.S. program.
- Students can transfer an additional 6 semester hours of course work, including, with approval, special topics courses but not including thesis semester hours.
- 50 percent of the minimum degree requirements (48 semester hours) must be from 600 level or higher courses.
- A minimum of 18 semester hours of doctoral dissertation (AES 799 ) is required.
- Students must register for a total of three semester hours of Seminar and Professional Development. ( AES 780 , AES 781 AES 782)
- Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.000.
4. Pass the Qualifying Examination
Once the Program of Study has been submitted and the Ph.D. Student Advisory Committee (SAC) has been formed, the next steps are to submit a written dissertation proposal to the SAC and then make an oral presentation (usually two to three weeks later). This will be followed by the Qualifying Examination, which will cover the major areas of study and the student’s proposal for the dissertation topic. It will have both written and oral components and will be prepared and graded by the SAC. This examination may be taken at most twice.
5. Complete and defend a research dissertation
Each student must complete and successfully defend a research dissertation, the results of which are publishable in a nationally recognized journal. The dissertation, which must comply with the regulations set forth in the Graduate School’s Thesis and Dissertation Manual, must be approved by the student’s supervisory committee, the chair of the Atmospheric and Earth Science Department, the Dean of the College of Science, and the Dean of the Graduate School. A significant portion of the dissertation must be submitted for publication in an approved journal.
Additional Information
All requirements for the Ph.D. must be completed in no more than five years after the student has passed the qualifying examination.
The atmospheric science program does not require knowledge of a foreign language, but it does require proficiency in both spoken and written English.