Graduate Student Guide5.7.19

Atmospheric Sciences Graduate Student Guide

Department of Atmospheric Sciences

College of Mines and Earth Sciences

University of Utah

Approved

January 8, 2016

This document is intended to be complementary, but subordinate, to the policies of

The Graduate School of the University of Utah.

Photo by Kimi Smith

Table of Contents

I. The Department ...................................................................................................................... 1

II. Admissions ............................................................................................................................ 1

Requirements for Admission: .................................................................................................. 1

Application Process:................................................................................................................ 2

Readmission:........................................................................................................................... 2

III. Registration .......................................................................................................................... 3

Continuous Registration Requirement: .................................................................................... 3

Fall & Spring Semester Registration: ...................................................................................... 3

Summer Semester Registration:............................................................................................... 3

Leave of Absence: ................................................................................................................... 4

IV. Academic Requirements for the M.S.: Thesis Option ........................................................... 5

Supervisory Committee: .......................................................................................................... 5

Program of Study: ................................................................................................................... 6

Comprehensive Examination: .................................................................................................. 6

Thesis Defense: ....................................................................................................................... 8

Student Access to Academic Information: ............................................................................... 8

Time Constraints: .................................................................................................................... 8

V. Academic Requirements for the M.S.: Non-Thesis Option ..................................................... 9

VI. Committee on Doctoral Advancement (CODA) ................................................................... 9

VII. Academic Requirements for the Ph.D. .............................................................................. 10

Supervisory Committee: ........................................................................................................ 10

Program of Study: ................................................................................................................. 11

Comprehensive Examination and CODA: ............................................................................. 11

Doctoral Qualifying Examination: ......................................................................................... 11

Dissertation Defense: ............................................................................................................ 12

Student Access to Academic Information: ............................................................................. 12

Time Constraints: .................................................................................................................. 13

VIII. Alternative Format Thesis/Dissertation ............................................................................ 13

IX. Criteria for Dismissal from the Program ............................................................................. 14

X. Financial Assistance ............................................................................................................ 14

Tuition & Health Insurance Benefits: .................................................................................... 15

Residency Status: .................................................................................................................. 15

Travel Assistance: ................................................................................................................. 15

XI. Changes in Guidelines......................................................................................................... 16

XII. Safety and Wellness………………………………………………………………………...17

I.##The#Department#

The Department of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Utah is the leading program of

weather and climate-related research and education in the Intermountain West and is recognized

internationally for its expertise in cloud-aerosol-climate interactions, mountain weather and

climate, climate physics and dynamics, weather and climate modeling, land-atmosphere

interactions, air quality, and tropical meteorology. Our research and teaching endeavors provide

the knowledge and tools needed to address the challenges posed by hazardous weather and

climate change in the 21

century. Our faculty and students also collaborate extensively with

departments and colleges throughout the University, including interdisciplinary programs

examining global change and sustainability. Our strengths include student-centered faculty,

internationally prominent scholars, a small student-to-faculty ratio, and programs that guide

students from classroom to careers.

The Department offers graduate courses and research opportunities leading to M.S. and Ph.D.

degrees. Class sizes are small and offer easy and frequent interaction with the faculty. The

graduate program has been carefully designed to provide students with a solid foundation in a

broad spectrum of the atmospheric sciences while allowing students to specialize for their thesis

or dissertation research. Through these goals, the Department expects our graduates to

contribute during their professional careers to a diverse range of issues that affect the public

locally, nationally, and internationally. Nearly all of our graduate students are supported by

graduate research assistantships.

For more information about the research interests of our faculty please visit our research

programs web page at http://www.atmos.utah.edu/research/index.php.

II.##Admissions#

Requirements#for#Admission:#

To be considered for admission to the M.S. program, applicants must meet the following

minimum requirements:

1. A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university, or recognized

equivalent from a similarly accredited international college or university;

2. Successful completion of courses in math (through ordinary differential equations),

calculus-based physics, general chemistry, and computer science comparable to those

required for an Atmospheric Sciences B.S.;

3. A cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

4. Provide the results of the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) revised General Test or

GRE General Exam (if taken before August 1, 2011). Scores must be less than five years

old; and

5. Demonstrate English-language proficiency by meeting minimum TOEFL or IELTS

scores and provide results to the University (for international student applicants, who do

not qualify for a waiver). Scores must be less than two years old.

To be considered for admission to the Ph.D. program, applicants must meet all of the M.S.

admission requirements and have completed a thesis-based M.S. degree in atmospheric sciences

or meteorology from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university, or recognized equivalent

from a similarly accredited international college or university. In addition, such students must

either have the Comprehensive Exam requirement waived by the Committee on Doctoral

Advancement (CODA) or complete the core classes, pass the Comprehensive Exam at the M.S.

level or higher, and be recommended by a majority vote of the faculty for continuation in the

Ph.D. program.

Application#Process:#

The Department only accepts new graduate students for the fall semester. In order to meet this

deadline, the Department accepts applications from October 1 through January 7

for admission to

the program the following fall semester. Late applications may be accepted, but graduate

research assistantships may no longer be available. The selection process is very competitive,

and not all qualified applicants can be admitted.

Prospective graduate students must apply for admission to graduate study through the

ApplyYourself online program administered by the Office of Admissions

(https://app.applyyourself.com/?id=utahgrad). The ApplyYourself online program allows

applicants to upload the required materials, solicit reference letters, and track the progress of

their applications. A complete summary of the application procedures for the Department of

Atmospheric Sciences is available at http://www.atmos.utah.edu/graduate/apply.php.

After reviewing each application, the Department will make its recommendation to the Office of

Admissions. The Department Chair will then contact applicants recommended for admission by

email to inform them of our decision and provide the offer details. A formal letter of admission

to The Graduate School will be sent by mail if the Office of Admissions accepts the

recommendations of the Department. The Department would appreciate a reply either accepting

or declining our offer as soon as possible. However, the University of Utah abides by the

Council of Graduate Schools Resolution Regarding Graduate Scholars, Fellows, Trainees and

Assistants (http://www.cgsnet.org/portals/0/pdf/CGS_Resolution.pdf), which does not require

prospective students to respond to offers of financial support prior to April 15.

An offer of acceptance is valid only for the semester the applicant is admitted. If an applicant

does not enroll during his/her admitted term, the applicant must resubmit an admissions

application and fee before the application deadline for the semester he/she wishes to begin.

Students should be aware that the Department makes a recommendation for admission to the

University. The Office of Admissions makes the final decision on admission. Please reference

the requirements outlined by the Office of Admissions available at

http://admissions.utah.edu/apply/graduate/.

Readmission:#

If an applicant chooses not to attend after being extended an offer of admission or if an applicant

wishes to reapply for a subsequent semester, he/she must restart the admission process from the

beginning.

III.##Registration#

Contin uous#Registration#Requirement:#

All graduate students must be registered for at least one course (each fall and spring semester)

from the time of formal admission through completion of all requirements for the degree they are

seeking, unless granted an official Leave of Absence. For the purposes of this continuous

registration requirement, The Graduate School accepts any graduate level course (5000-6000

level for masters; 6000-7000 level for doctoral) that awards one or more credits. However, in

order to be considered a full-time student, graduate students must be registered for 9 credit hours

of coursework or 3 credit hours of thesis research. A student defending his/her thesis must

summer). Students employed by the University should register for a minimum of 3 credits of

ATMOS 6970 (Thesis Research: Master’s) or ATMOS 7970 (Thesis Research: Ph.D.) to avoid

FICA taxes being withheld from their earnings. Domestic students who are no longer employed

by the University can choose to register for one credit of thesis research. International students

must always be registered for at least 3 credit hours to maintain their student visa status. If a

student does not comply with this continuous registration requirement and does not obtain an

official Leave of Absence, they will be automatically discontinued from the graduate program. In

this case, the student will be required to reapply for admission to the University through

Graduate Admissions upon approval of the home department.

Fall#&#Spring#Semester#Registration:#

Students eligible for the Tuition Benefit Program (TBP) (see Section X for details) should

hours from coursework is less than 11, students should register for thesis research (i.e., ATMOS

6970 or ATMOS 7970) to make up the difference. If a student’s tuition is being funded by a

source other than the TBP and coursework is required by their Program of Study, students should

University but are not eligible for the TBP should register for 3 credit hours of thesis research

during both the fall and spring semesters to avoid FICA taxes being withheld from their earnings.

Domestic students who are not employed by the University may register for one credit hour of

thesis research. International students must always be registered for at least 3 credit hours to

maintain their student visa status.

Summer#Semester#Registration:#

Students who were eligible for the TBP during the fall and/or spring semesters should register

for 3 credit hours of thesis research during the summer semester. Students who plan to register

for the summer semester should discuss this with the Department Office during April to make

sure they qualify for the summer tuition waiver. It is in the best interest of the Department for

eligible students to enroll for summer credit hours because a portion of the tuition is returned to

the Department.

Resident and nonresident students not receiving tuition waivers, who wish to register for summer

semester courses are encouraged to do so only if credit hours are required for their Program of

Study. If credit hours are needed, students are encouraged to register for 3 credits of thesis

research because they are always billed at the resident rate. Students are advised that summer

credit hours count toward the 84 hour rule (see Section X for details).

Leave#of#Absence:#

Officially admitted, domestic graduate students who have registered for, and completed, at least

one semester of their designated program may apply for a University Leave of Absence to

postpone their studies for up to one year. Students who wish to discontinue their studies for one

or more semesters (other than summer term) must complete a Graduate Student Request for

Leave of Absence form. The form must be approved and signed by the Supervisory Committee

Chair and Department Chair and then forwarded to the Dean of The Graduate School for

approval.

Requests for a Leave of Absence may be granted for up to one year for circumstances related to:

• a serious health condition of the student or family member,

• parental leave to care for a newborn or newly adopted child,

• a call to serve in military service, or

• other compelling reasons that the student’s department believes is in the best interests of

both the student and the University.

For a complete list of details and requirements for a Leave of Absence please refer to

http://gradschool.utah.edu/graduate-catalog/registration/.

The form requesting a Leave of Absence for a current semester must be completed and received

in The Office of the Registrar by the last day of classes of that semester. Students must officially

withdraw from classes in any semester for which a Leave of Absence is granted; failure to

formally withdraw results in the reporting of E or EU grades for all classes. For more

information about official withdrawal, see Grading Policies in the University catalog. The period

during which a Leave of Absence is granted does not count toward the period allowed to

complete the degree. Leaves are granted for a maximum of one year at a time, and may be

renewed by submitting a new form to The Office of the Registrar. The Leave of Absence is void

if a student registers for classes in a semester for which a leave was granted. Although a Leave

of Absence preserves their status in the graduate program, students are advised that it does not

necessarily preserve their graduate research assistantship.

International students on a F1 or J1 visa must obtain permission from International Student &

Scholar Services prior to submitting a Leave of Absence application. Vacation semesters for

international students will only be approved for one semester. Medically necessary reduced

course loads are approved for one semester at a time, and may be extended through International

Student & Scholar Services for an additional semester to a maximum of three (3) semesters (i.e.,

one academic year). Failure to register for a fall or spring semester or to receive approval for a

vacation semester will result in an international student being automatically discontinued from

the graduate program with the subsequent loss of his/her visa status. In this case, the student will

be required to reapply for admission to the University through Graduate Admissions upon

approval of the home department.

Graduate students, eligible for a Leave of Absence as described above, who desire a leave that is

shorter than one semester, may apply for a Departmental Leave of Absence of up to 8 weeks.

The Departmental Leave of Absence form may be obtained from the Departmental Office. It

must be signed by the student, the Supervisory Committee Chair, and the Department Chair and

will only be approved for circumstances outlined above. Students on a Departmental Leave of

Absence must maintain registration as described in the Continuous Registration Requirement

section above to avoid potential loss of their student status and associated tuition and health

insurance benefits. In some circumstances, it may be necessary for students on a Departmental

Leave of Absence to be placed on a short work break resulting in unpaid leave. Students are

advised to consult with the Department Office before deciding on the length of the short work

break because students must earn a minimum threshold salary during the semester to maintain

eligibility for the TBP. Failure to maintain TBP eligibility would result in a student being

required to pay for their own tuition and health insurance. Students taking a Departmental Leave

of Absence during a semester will be provided reasonable accommodations with regards to

missed coursework within the Department. Ph.D. students taking a Departmental Leave of

Absence will be allowed to delay the Doctoral Qualifying Examination by one semester.

IV.##Academic#Requir ements#for#the #M.S.:#Thesis#Option#

Supervisory#Committee:#

Unless otherwise approved by the Department Chair, a Supervisory Committee must be

appointed during the first semester of the student’s residency. Master’s supervisory committees

consist of three members, the majority of whom must be tenure-line faculty in the student’s

major department. All University of Utah faculty members including tenure-line, career-line,

adjunct, visiting and emeritus are eligible to serve as Supervisory Committee members. The

members must hold an academic or professional doctorate, the terminal degree in the relevant

field, and/or must have demonstrated competence to do research and scholarly or artistic work in

the student’s general field. Persons not affiliated with the University of Utah may also serve as

committee members upon approval of the Dean of The Graduate School (a vita for the proposed

committee member must accompany each request). Committee chairs must be selected from

tenure-line faculty. Immediate family members are not eligible to serve on a student’s

Supervisory Committee.

Exceptions to these guidelines must be recommended and justified by the Department Chair and

approved by the Dean of The Graduate School. The two most common exceptions include a

career-line faculty member serving as a Supervisory Committee Chair and two career-line

faculty members serving on a Supervisory Committee chaired by a tenure-line faculty member.

Selection of the Supervisory Committee members should be made in consultation with the

student’s faculty advisor. The Supervisory Committee form may be obtained from the

Department Office. Once the Department Office has received the signed Supervisory Committee

form and it has been approved by the Department Chair, an Electronic Graduate Record File will

be generated and forwarded to The Graduate School for approval. Selection of the Supervisory

Committee membership is very important as the committee is responsible for approving the

Program of Study, evaluating the research prospectus, and judging the M.S. thesis and defense.

Each student must meet with their Supervisory Committee during the fall semester of their first

academic year to get their Program of Study approved. Students are then required to meet with

their Supervisory Committee at least once per academic year until completion of the program to

review research progress and update their Program of Study. An effort should be made to hold

one of these required meetings approximately 6 months prior to the thesis defense.

Program#of#Study:#

Students are expected to work with their Supervisory Committee to develop a detailed Program

of Study that provides the student with the necessary theoretical framework for their specific

research topic. Program of Study forms are available from the Departmental Office. A signed

Program of Study form must be submitted to the Department Office prior to the end of the first

semester of graduate study. The Program of Study must meet the University requirements for

the M.S. degree including:

1. A minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate courses (i.e., numbered 5000 or above) and a

thesis, or in rare instances, a non-thesis option;

2. A minimum of 20 credit hours must be in coursework other than ATMOS 6970: Thesis

Research or ATMOS 6980: Faculty Consultation;

3. A minimum of 6 credit hours must be Thesis Research (ATMOS 6970); and

4. An overall GPA of 3.0 or higher. A grade below C- is not accepted toward a graduate

degree.

The student is also required to complete one credit of ATMOS 7810 (Graduate Seminar) in both

the fall and spring semesters of the first year. Although the Program of Study may be

periodically revised, care should be taken by the Supervisory Committee to ensure that the

required courses will be available on a timeframe that will not unduly delay graduation.

Comprehensive # Examination:#

All M.S. students are evaluated during their first year for knowledge in the atmospheric sciences

and their intended field of research through the core classes (ATMOS 6010: Fundamentals of

Dynamic Meteorology, ATMOS 6020 Fundamentals of Physical Meteorology, ATMOS 6030:

Climate Dynamics) and the preparation of a Research Prospectus, consisting of both written and

oral components. Collectively, this evaluation is known as the Comprehensive Examination even

though it is based on a combination of coursework and research activities during the first year.

The written component of the Research Prospectus, which will be evaluated by the Supervisory

Committee, is due on the last day of classes during the spring semester of the first year in the

graduate program. The oral component of the Research Prospectus, which will be evaluated by

all Atmospheric Sciences faculty in attendance, must be completed at least two days prior to the

grade submission deadline for the spring semester of the first year in the graduate program.

The written component of the Research Prospectus is typically a document of 3000 words or less

(not including figure captions and references) prepared in consultation with the faculty advisor

consisting of:

1. A working title for the research project;

2. A review of literature and existing knowledge in the area of intended study that

contextualizes background information and identifies a key paradox, inconsistency, or

gaps in understanding to be addressed by the research project;

3. A statement of the research goal or goals (may include a summary of key hypotheses or

questions to be tested or examined);

4. A description of the project components and organization; and

5. A summary of preliminary research, which may consist of any combination of (a) data

analysis, (b) simulation results, and (c) observational analysis.

The oral component of the Research Prospectus is a summary of the written prospectus followed

by a question and answer session. The entire oral presentation (including questions and answers)

must be less than 30 minutes with no more than 20 minutes devoted to the student summary. The

oral presentation will be made to the faculty of the Department of Atmospheric Sciences and will

be closed to the public.

The written and oral components of the Research Prospectus will be evaluated separately based

on the following scale:

Grade

Criterion

Meets expectations at M.S. and Ph.D. levels

Meets expectations at M.S. level

Marginally passable at M.S. level, unacceptable at Ph.D. level

Unacceptable for graduate work in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences

At the end of the spring semester of the first year of graduate study, the performance on the

Comprehensive Exam will be reviewed by the faculty of the Department of Atmospheric

Sciences and each student will be placed in one of the following categories by majority decision:

• Pass with Distinction: The student may enter the Ph.D. program directly without

completion of a M.S. thesis, but has the option to complete a M.S. degree if desired.

• Pass: The student is encouraged to complete the requirements for the M.S. degree.

Following a successful M.S. defense, the student may submit a petition to the Committee

on Doctoral Advancement (CODA) for consideration of continuation toward the Ph.D.

(see Section VI for details).

• Failure: The student will be immediately dismissed from the graduate program unless:

(1) the student’s Supervisory Committee recommends that the student be allowed to

continue work toward a degree, and (2) the student successfully completes all remedial

activities dictated by the majority vote of the faculty prior to the commencement of the

fall semester (for M.S. students) or prior to the end of the spring semester of the

following year (for Ph.D. students). Failure to satisfactorily complete the prescribed

remedial activities in the allotted time frame will result in immediate dismissal from the

graduate program.

We expect only a small percentage of M.S. students to Pass with Distinction. Typically these

receive an A or A- in each core class, an A for both components of the Research Prospectus, and

express a clear capability to conduct independent research during their first year. Most M.S.

students will receive a Pass. Although rare, cases of poor performance for either M.S. or Ph.D.

students can result in Failure.

Thesis#Defense:#

Students are required to complete and orally defend a M.S. thesis, except in rare, non-thesis

option cases (see Section V for details). In preparation for defense, a complete draft of the thesis

must be submitted to the Supervisory Committee Chair at least three weeks prior to the defense,

and to the remainder of the committee no later than two weeks prior (see also:

www.regulations.utah.edu/academics/6-201.html). The draft must abide by standard publication

practices in terms of content, language, and style. The final thesis format must also adhere to

University guidelines published by the University Thesis Office

(www.gradschool.utah.edu/thesis/index.php). University guidelines permit the use of an

alternative thesis/dissertation format comprised of chapters that are authored or co-authored by

the student and are either published or suitable for publication in a peer-reviewed journal (see

Section VIII for details). A student may wish to submit all, or a portion, of his/her thesis to the

University Writing Center for assistance. In addition, a student may also submit a copy of

his/her thesis to the Thesis Office prior to the defense to check for potential formatting problems.

An oral defense must be scheduled with the Department Office. Students should reference the

Thesis Office deadlines to submit a defended manuscript when scheduling a defense date. After

the oral presentation, which is open to the public, a question and answer period must be allowed

involving questions from the committee and public. At the conclusion of the public participation,

the committee will excuse the public and conduct further questioning on the thesis and related

topics. The outcome of the thesis defense is reported on the Supervisory Committee Approval

form. A majority of the committee must sign and approve this form. Once a student has

successfully defended their thesis and obtained the signature of the Department Chair, they can

submit it to the Thesis Office for final editing and approval. Students should refer to the

“Handbook for Thesis and Dissertations” for instructions and details on acceptable formatting.

No degree will be conferred until the Thesis Office issues a thesis release.

Student#Access#to#Academic#Information:

Once The Graduate School has approved the Supervisory Committee, the student can view their

Electronic Graduate Record File online. Students can access their graduate student record by

logging into Campus Information Services (cis.utah.edu) and clicking on Graduate Student

Summary under the Graduate Student section.

Time#Constraints:#

A detailed M.S. Thesis Completion Calendar is available to students. This calendar contains a

timeline of all the events that must take place for students to graduate with a M.S. degree. All

work for the M.S. degree must be completed within four consecutive calendar years. On

recommendation of the student’s Supervisory Committee, The Graduate School can modify or

waive this requirement in meritorious cases.

V.##Academic#Require ments#for#the# M.S.:#Non-Thesis#Option#

In rare instances, a student may be allowed to pursue a non-thesis M.S. option. This requires

completion of a Program of Study that is approved by the M.S. Supervisory Committee and

Department Chair. A project or exam will be given as advised by the Supervisory Committee.

This exam date must be entered into the Electronic Graduate Record File by the Department

Office and approved by the Supervisory Committee Chair no later than the last day of the

semester in which the student expects to graduate.

VI.##Committee#on#Doctoral#Advancement# (CODA)##

The goal of the CODA is to provide an independent assessment of the potential for a student to

obtain a Ph.D. degree. The CODA consists of three members appointed by the Department Chair

for each CODA application. All CODA members must be tenure-line faculty members in the

Department of Atmospheric Sciences. In addition, no CODA member can be a member of the

student's M.S. committee or the Department Chair.

M.S. students who have received a “Pass” on the Comprehensive Exam and wish to continue in

the Ph.D. program may initiate the CODA process after full acceptance of the M.S. thesis by the

M.S. committee (i.e., after the “Supervisory Committee Approval Form” has been signed). For

consideration, the following materials must be submitted to the Department in electronic form:

1. M.S. thesis;

2. Curriculum vitae;

3. Copies of any papers or conference preprints the student has authored or coauthored;

4. A cover letter indicating the student's desire to be considered for acceptance into the

Ph.D. program. This letter should summarize the student's motivation and credentials.

Upon submission of a CODA application, letters of recommendation will be solicited from the

M.S. Supervisory Committee members. The CODA then has 30 days to reach a majority

decision to determine if a M.S. student is eligible for continuation in the Ph.D. program. In cases

when a student CODA petition is not successful, the CODA Chair will provide a written

summary of the decision rationale to the Department Chair. At the conclusion of the CODA

process, the Department Chair will communicate the results to the student and his/her faculty

advisor.

Students entering the program with a thesis-based M.S. in atmospheric sciences or meteorology

from another regionally accredited U.S. college or university, or recognized equivalent from a

similarly accredited international college or university, may be nominated by a faculty member

to be evaluated by CODA for the waiver of the Comprehensive Exam requirement. Such a

waiver will be granted only for students with an exceptional background in atmospheric sciences

beyond the M.S. degree. The CODA evaluation in this instance involves a process similar to

above except that the nomination must be initiated at least 120 days prior to the start of the Fall

semester, all materials must be provided to the Department at least 90 days prior to the start of

the Fall semester, and the CODA decision must be made 30 days before the start of the Fall

semester.

All CODA decisions are final and cannot be appealed unless a procedural error was made that

adversely impacted the student’s credentials that were evaluated by CODA. Students may

reapply to the CODA one time if they have significant additional scholarly credentials (i.e.,

publications) to present.

VII.##Academic#Requirements# for#the#Ph.D.#

Supervisory#Committee:#

Unless otherwise approved by the Department Chair, a Supervisory Committee must be

appointed during the first semester of the student’s residency. Doctoral supervisory committees

consist of five members, the majority of whom must be tenure-line faculty in the student’s major

department. One member of the supervisory committee must be from outside the department. All

University of Utah faculty members including tenure-line, career-line, adjunct, visiting and

emeritus are eligible to serve as Supervisory Committee members. The members must hold an

academic or professional doctorate, the terminal degree in the relevant field, and/or must have

demonstrated competence to do research and scholarly or artistic work in the student’s general

field. Persons not from the University of Utah may also serve as committee members upon

approval of the Dean of The Graduate School (a vita for the proposed committee members must

accompany the request). Committee chairs must be selected from tenure-line faculty. Immediate

family members are not eligible to serve on a student’s Supervisory Committee.