Degree Requirements
General Requirements:
Atmospheric Sciences Graduate PhD and MS Degree Requirements (2019)
Grandfathering of Graduate Degree Requirements:
Graduate degree requirements are grandfathered for currently enrolled students. Students enrolled between Fall Quarter 2016 and Fall Quarter 2019 may abide by either the 2016 or 2019 approved graduate degree requirements. Students enrolled prior to Fall Quarter 2016 may use the 2004, 2016, or 2019 approved graduate degree requirements. The 2016 approved graduate degree requirements can be found here. The 2004 approved graduate degree requirements can be found here.
Scholarship:
Graduate students must maintain at least a 3.0 grade-point average in all upper division and graduate courses in order to remain in a graduate program or to be awarded a graduate degree.
M.S. Thesis Plan Requirements
ASGG M.S. Thesis Plan Course Plan Form (2017)
Here is a brief overview of the M.S. Thesis Plan requirements:
1. Coursework
A. Breadth Requirement: "B" grade average or better in ATM 120, 121a, 128, and (one of) 121b, 124, 133, 158, or 160. A grade of "B" or higher in an equivalent course at another institution may be used to satisfy any or all of these course requirements.
B. Depth Requirement: 30 units of upper division and/or graduate courses including at least 12 units of graded graduate-level atmospheric science courses with a "B" grade average or better.
C. Seminar: 2 units of ATM 290 or equivalent. During at least one offering, the student must give a formal oral presentation.
Advancement to Candidacy:
Every student must file an official application for Candidacy for the Degree of Master of Science after completing one-half of their course requirements and at least one quarter before completing all degree requirements. The MS Candidacy form can be found online at http://www.gradstudies.ucdavis.edu/forms/.
2. Satisfactory completion of a Master's Thesis
A Master’s thesis is an educational experience for the student, which is usually closely guided by the major professor. The thesis should demonstrate the student’s ability to pose a sound scientific hypothesis, test the hypothesis using scientific methods, and reach logical conclusions. The thesis must be written in accordance with the rules issued by Graduate Studies and be acceptable to the 3-member Thesis Committee.
3. Exit Seminar
The student is required to present the results of the thesis work in an exit seminar.
M.S. Examination Plan Requirements
ASGG M.S. Exam Plan Course Plan Form (2017)
Here is a brief overview of the M.S. Examination Plan requirements:
1. Coursework
A. Breadth Requirement: B grade average or better in ATM 120, 121a, 128, and (one of) 121b, 124, 133, 158, or 160. A grade of B or higher in an equivalent course at another institution may be used to satisfy any or all of these course requirements.
B. Depth Requirement: 36 units of upper division and/or graduate courses including at least 18 units of graded graduate-level atmospheric science courses with a "B" grade average or better.
C. Seminar: 2 units of ATM 290 or equivalent. During at least one offering, the student must give a formal oral presentation.
Advancement to Candidacy:
Every student must file an official application for Candidacy for the Degree of Master of Science after completing one-half of their course requirements and at least one quarter before completing all degree requirements. The MS Candidacy form can be found online at http://www.gradstudies.ucdavis.edu/forms/.
2. Written Examination
This plan requires satisfactory completion of a written examination. All students are required to answer one question from each of the required three breadth subjects and two depth questions to be selected by the student from a group of more advanced (200 course level) subjects in atmospheric science. Any or all of the three breadth subject questions may be waived. See the complete guidelines for more information.
To pass the MS comprehensive exam, a student must demonstrate strong proficiency in all but one of the tested subjects and cannot show any major deficiencies in the remaining subject.
Ph.D. Requirements
ASGG Ph.D. Course Plan Form (2017)
Here is a brief overview of the Ph.D. Thesis Plan requirements:
1. Coursework
A. Breadth Requirement: M.S. degree in accepted atmospheric science program OR a "B" grade average or better in ATM 120, 121a, 128, and (one of) 121b, 124, 133, 158 or 160. A grade of "B" or higher in an equivalent course at another institution may be used to satisfy any or all of these course requirements.
B. Depth Requirement:
- 6 units of graded ATM graduate courses with a "B" grade average or better.
- 9 units of additional graded upper division or graduate courses.
- Additional graduate and upper division units to complete the 36-unit coursework requirement, chosen with the advice and consent of the major professor and/or the Graduate Advisor.
- Of the 36-unit Depth Courses requirement, at least 12 units must be graduate-level courses in ATM, instructed by an ASGG-affiliated faculty member, or approved by the Graduate Advisor. These courses may also be used to satisfy requirements 1-3 above.
- Up to 2 additional seminar units beyond the 4 required units may contribute to the Depth Courses requirement.
C. Seminar: 4 units of ATM 290 or equivalent. During at least two offering2, the student must give a formal oral presentation.
2. Satisfactory completion of the Preliminary Examination (PE)
All students are required to answer one question from each of the required three breadth subjects and one to be selected from the specialty/advanced subjects. Any or all questions may be waived for a student. See the complete guidelines for more information.
To pass the PE, a student must demonstrate strong proficiency in all but one of the tested subjects and cannot show any major deficiencies in the remaining subject. A student must pass the PE before attempting the QE. The PE will normally be offered twice a year and scheduled near the beginning of fall quarter and the end of spring quarter. In general, students will take their PE in spring after their first year.
3. Satisfactory completion of the Qualifying Examination (QE)
ASGG Qualifying Exam Guidelines (September 2021)
The Qualifying Examination should be completed before the end of the student's third academic year, ideally sometime during the student’s second year. Before conducting the QE the student must fulfill all coursework requirements for the PhD. The committee is composed of 5 members, including at least 3 members from the Atmospheric Science Graduate Group, and at least 1 member from outside of the group. The student’s major professor may not be the Chair of this committee but may be a member of the committee.
A. Dissertation Prospectus
ASGG Prospectus Guidelines (June 2017)
The Prospectus is an independently prepared proposal not to exceed 12 single spaced pages including figures, tables and appendices. The font size must be no smaller than Times Roman 11 (or equivalent). The references are not included in the 12 page limit. The prospectus should include: an introduction to the topic (including a survey of the relevant literature), a hypothesis or set of questions to be addressed, methods to be used to address the hypothesis/questions, any preliminary results, and cited references. The Prospectus must be submitted to the QE Committee at least ten working days prior to the date of the Oral Exam.
B. Oral Qualifying Examination
The oral portion of the QE is administered by the student’s QE Committee, and is open to all ASGG faculty with the unanimous consent of the committee and student. The oral portion of the QE will include two parts. The first part is a student presentation of the prospectus, which should be prepared as approximately a 20 – 30 minute talk. The actual presentation will take longer because of questions from the committee. The second part of the exam will be oral questions by the Committee and interested faculty regarding the student’s prospectus, general knowledge of atmospheric science, depth area of study, and any follow up questions related to the Preliminary Exam. The total length of the Exam should be approximately three (3) hours.
4. Advancement to Candidacy
Successful completion of the preliminary exam and qualifying exam, followed by filing the application for Advancement to Candidacy with Graduate Studies, promotes the student to a candidate for the Doctor of Philosophy degree.
5. Dissertation
Satisfactory completion of a Ph.D. Dissertation. The Ph.D. dissertation must be an original and substantial contribution to knowledge in the student's major field. It must demonstrate the ability to carry out a program of advanced research, relying extensively upon one's own initiative and skills, and must report the results in accordance with standards observed in recognized scientific journals.
6. Dissertation Defense
The defense is composed of two parts:
- an exit seminar open to students, faculty and the public
- an oral examination administered and evaluated by the five members of the Dissertation Committee. The oral examination will focus on the dissertation and the relationship of the candidate’s research to the overall discipline.
