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Plymouth State University
MSC 11
17 High Street
Plymouth, NH 03264-1595
Admission to the M.S. in Applied Meteorology (MSAM)
Plymouth considers applications on a rolling admission basis. Students may apply at any time of the year. The MSAM Program is based on full fall, winter/spring and summer semesters. However, it is generally recommended that students consider starting the program during the fall semester. Applicants wanting to start in the fall semester should submit complete admission applications by January 31st for priority consideration for the limited enrollment slots and available assistantships. Applicants wanting to start the spring semester should apply by August 31st for limited enrollment slots, but should be advised that assistantship support may not be available. Students may take up to 12 graduate credits before being officially admitted to the program.
Application Requirements
Applications are submitted to the College of Graduate Studies. The non-refundable application fee is $75 and must accompany the application. A complete application package includes the following:
- Completed application form
- Application fee
- Official transcripts of undergraduate degree
- Official transcripts for any additional coursework (if any) that may be important for consideration
- Three recommendations on the forms provided
- Official GRE scores for the quantitative, verbal, and analytical writing components
- Resumé
- Statement of interest
All interested candidates are encouraged to contact the PSU Meteorology Program for an in-person or phone interview before submitting their applications. You can contact the Meteorology Graduate Program Coordinator at msmeteorology@plymouth.edu.
Applicants from Foreign Countries
In addition to the above documentation, international students must provide the following information:
- Notarized copies (translated into English) of transcripts of their undergraduate degree evaluated for institutional equivalency and any other institutions you have attended
- Most recent Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
- Certified or notarized Affidavit of Support form (U.S. Immigration for I-13 4), which is required before an I-20 can be issued for F-1 status. This serves as evidence that all financial requirements for a year of tuition and living expenses can be met
- Proof of country of citizenship and birth, which is required before an I-20 can be issued for F-1 status
Types of Admittance
A bachelor's degree with a 3.0 grade point average or higher and strong supporting course work in mathematics and physics, solid recommendations, well-written Statement of Interest/Intent, resumé and GRE scores are required for admittance. When admission documents have been received, the application is then screened by the MSAM Admissions Advisory Group. Graduate Studies informs applicants of the group's decision.
Full admission to the MSAM program may be granted to students meeting all of the criteria for admission. The most highly qualified admitted students may also be offered assistantships and/or tuition waivers based on available resources for such purposes.
Full admission to the College of Graduate Studies with the opportunity to enroll in graduate meteorology courses may be granted to some students with marginal credentials. Such students would not initially be eligible for assistantships. Upon completion of a successful semester—3.0 or higher cumulative grade point average (GPA)—the student would automatically be granted full admission to the MSAM degree program and could then be considered for an assistantship.
Admission Regulations
Persons holding a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university may enroll in graduate meteorology courses providing they meet the necessary prerequisites. Students taking courses will be classified in the following ways:
Graduate Status: Students who have officially been accepted into the MSAM Program or College of Graduate Studies and are enrolled in courses that will eventually lead to their degree.
Non-degree Status: Students taking courses before or without being formally admitted into the graduate program are allowed to take up to 12 credits before a hold is placed on their registration.
Graduate Study by Undergraduate Seniors: Plymouth State University seniors with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better, may take up to six graduate credits with prior permission of the instructor, advisor, department chair and the Associate Vice President as outlined in the Student Request form. The total (graduate and undergraduate) credits taken at any one time may not exceed 17 credits.
All applications for admission become part of the permanent records of Plymouth State University and will not be returned. Access to this material is limited under the Family Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. Materials received as part of the application process will not be duplicated for use by the applicant nor forwarded to a third party. Please note: Plymouth is under no obligation to accept more than 12 credits taken at Plymouth State University prior to admittance into a degree program. Courses older than six years at the time of admittance may not be counted toward a degree.
Course Policies
Audits
Full tuition is charged for audits. A change from credit to audit may occur any time prior to the third week of the semester.
Transfer Credits
Transfer of graduate credits from other accredited institution(s) is limited to nine credits. All courses for transfer must have the approval of the Meteorology Program Coordinator. For courses taken elsewhere during the program, prior approval by the Program Coordinator is recommended.
Grades for transfer courses must be at the B level or higher (A = 4.0 scale). Only credits are transferred, not grades; therefore grades for transfer courses do not count toward the required 3.0 grade point average for program completion. Courses taken more than six years before the admission date will not be accepted for transfer.
No graduate transfer credit will be given for correspondence courses, curriculum workshops, or pass/fail courses. An official transcript must be on file in the College of Graduate Studies office before credits can be transferred.
Continuation Fee
In some circumstances, a graduate student will have completed or will have been enrolled in the prescribed courses/credits listed in their program of study, but may not have completed their degree requirements, such as, final completion of a thesis/dissertation or project. In such cases, where the student's faculty advisor determines that it will take more than half of the next enrollment period for the student to complete the final degree requirements, the student will be required to pay a continuation fee equivalent to three tuition credits for that period. This fee would also be required for subsequent enrollment periods, if additional time beyond more than half of the period would still be needed.
MSAM Grading System
MSAM graduate students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in the program to maintain satisfactory progress. Only one passing course grade of less than B– will be allowed to count toward the 30-credit degree minimum.
Students fully enrolled in the MSAM who fall below a 3.0 cumulative GPA would have one semester to restore it to the satisfactory level. If a student does not achieve this level after this semester, the student would be barred from future coursework and pursuit of the MSAM degree and lose assistantship support (if applicable).
Students admitted into the College of Graduate Studies, but not formally enrolled in the MSAM program, would not be eligible to enroll in the MSAM program and pursue the degree, if they fail to earn a satisfactory GPA during their first semester.
If you have not reviewed the general admission requirements for all graduate school applicants, please visit the general admissions page.
