Doctoral Studies

Expectations

AOSS doctoral students are expected to have a high level of ability and scholarship in atmospheric science, oceanography, space and planetary sciences, or geoscience and remote sensing.
Students are expected to carry a course load of 9 — 12 credit hours (3-4 courses excluding seminar courses) each semester until the dissertation work is begun (68 Rackham Fee Totals).
There are no foreign language requirements.
During the first year the student must select courses from among the core courses for their particular program.
Typically after three semesters of classes, each student will take and must pass a qualifying examination before being advanced to candidacy. A PDF file describing the procedure and exam are available to download. (AOSS Qualifying Exam Description)
Most students begin research soon after beginning their program. No later than upon achieving candidacy, they focus on dissertation research under the guidance of an advisor.
The minimum GPA required to advance to candidacy is 6.0 on Rackham's 8.0 point scale.
During their first two years, students are expected to complete a total of two terms in seminar course AOSS 747 and a total of two terms in seminar course AOSS 749.

Program Description

The AOSS Ph.D. Program is an integrated study designed to give students first a broad base of study in atmospheric, space and planetary sciences followed by more in-depth, concentrated studies in specific areas. There are three levels of courses required of AOSS graduate students:

Departmental Core Courses: Required of all AOSS graduate students
Program Core Courses: Required courses in either atmospheric or space and planetary sciences
Further courses relevant to research: A minimum of three AOSS courses plus non-AOSS courses that are worthwhile and support your area of research

Areas of Study

Ph.D. in Atmospheric and Space Sciences

This program gives students the basic courses to allow them to specialize later in a broad range of sub-disciplines. Students are expected to learn the basic morphology of the atmosphere and the space environment, as well as the necessary physics, chemistry, and mathematics.

Advisor: Professor R. Paul Drake (AOSS)

Ph.D. in Geoscience and Remote Sensing

The AOSS/EECS/CEE Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Geoscience and Remote Sensing leads to a degree with designated combined specialties in Atmospheric Science and Electrical Engineering, Space Science and Electrical Engineering, or Environmental Science and Electrical Engineering.

Advisors: Professor Christopher Ruf (AOSS)

Professor Anthony England (AOSS & EECS)

Professor Steven Wright (CEE)

Ph.D. in Space and Planetary Physics

The emphasis of this joint graduate degree program is on the physics of the heliosphere, planetary magnetospheres, ionospheres and upper atmospheres (including those of the Earth). The S/PP program offers both Ph.D. and M.S. degrees.

Advisors: Professor R. Paul Drake (AOSS)

Meet the AOSS Faculty