For International Applicants

In addition to the requirements listed earlier, you must also provide the following:

• Official transcripts, certificates and/or mark/grade sheets must be sent directly from the college or university to the Office of Graduate Recruitment and Admissions, and must show proof of degree(s) earned, courses taken and marks/grades received. Also, ALL transcripts must be evaluated by World Education Services or AACRAO and be forwarded to Graduate Recruitment and Admissions.

• TOEFL Scores (Minimum computer-based score of 213 is required and only official score reports are accepted within 2 years of the test date)

Special Admission Requirements

Each student may be required to take a general entrance examination upon admission into the program. This examination is designed to identify deficiencies in the prerequisite areas and to allow for placement out of the introductory atmospheric sciences courses. A thorough preparation in physics and mathematics is necessary for successful graduate study in atmospheric sciences. If atmospheric chemistry is to be the area of specialty, a strong chemistry background is also required. A typical applicant will have an undergraduate degree in chemistry, physics, mathematics, meteorology, engineering or atmospheric sciences to be considered for HUPAS. Some background experience in computers or computer programming is strongly advised.
 

Because of the interdisciplinary nature of atmospheric sciences, students may be required to specify a concentration within the parent department which is most directly related to their area of study in atmospheric sciences. The particular concentration will then dictate which core and elective courses in the parent department will be necessary for the program student. 
 

Most applications are completed and submitted in the late fall or early spring of the applicant's senior or final year in college.

Course Requirements

Students enrolled in the HUPAS M.S. program should take a minimum of 24 credit hours including at least nine from Atmospheric Chemistry I & II, Atmospheric Physics I & II, and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics I & II. The remainder of the course credit hours must be taken from recommended electives.

Departmental master's degree students with a specialty in atmospheric sciences should take at least six credit hours from the core HUPAS electives and one additional course from the HUPAS curriculum.

Students enrolled in the HUPAS Ph.D. program should take a minimum of 36 credit hours including Atmospheric Chemistry I and II, Atmospheric Physics I and II, Geophysical Fluid Dynamics I and II, Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere, and Atmospheric Radiation. The remainder of the course credit hours must be taken from recommended electives. 

Departmental Ph.D. degree students with a specialty in atmospheric sciences should take at least nine credit hours from the core electives and two additional courses from the HUPAS curriculum. 

Students with no more than nine semester credit hours of approved courses having a grade of B or better can be transferred into the program from another university. 

Master of Science Requirements:

Each student wishing to qualify for candidacy for the Master's degree in Atmospheric Science must:
 

1. Demonstrate general proficiency in mathematics through introductory differential equations and physics through Newtonian mechanics. Students failing to exhibit proficiency will be required to take leveling courses to be determined by the Atmospheric Sciences Committee

2. Pass at least one of the three written proficiency examinations in one of the three general areas

3. Make an oral defense of their thesis proposal

4. Write and defend an original thesis 

Doctor of Philosophy Requirements

Each student wishing to qualify for candidacy for the Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science degree must: 

1. Demonstrate general proficiency in mathematics through introductory differential equations and physics through Newtonian mechanics. Students failing to exhibit proficiency will be required to take leveling courses to be determined by the Atmospheric Sciences Committee

2. Make an oral defense of their thesis proposal

3. Write and defend an original thesis

4. Pass written qualifiers prepared by the HUPAS faculty in the area of specialty