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M.S. in Applied Meteorology
M.S. in Applied Meteorology

Curriculum & Degree requirements

Master of Science in Applied Meteorology (MSAM) Program Highlights

  • The only M.S. meteorology program in New Hampshire and one of only a handful in the northeastern United States
  • Outstanding technology and facilities
  • Dedicated faculty willing to work closely with students
  • Most professors have real operational meteorological experience
  • Active collaborations with NOAA, NASA, NWS, UNH, USAF, MWO, NHDOT and NHDES
  • Some full assistantships with tuition waivers are available
  • Flexibility in course selection to tailor a program to the student's need
  • Well-qualified students may be able to complete the program in approximately 18 months
  • Office area for graduate students
  • Cost efficient program; only 30 credits for a total cost of approximately $12,000

Program of Study / Degree requirements

The program requires a minimum of 30-credits to complete an M.S. degree. Students may choose either a thesis or non-thesis degree option. Credit minimums for each option are:

  • Thesis: 24 credits of coursework and six credits of thesis research
  • Non-thesis: 28 credits of coursework and two credits of independent study

Students taking the thesis option would take fewer formal courses and make up credits through thesis research. Nonthesis students would be expected to complete a shorter research paper through a two-credit independent study course. As part of their coursework, students must take a one-credit Graduate Seminar course each full semester. Only three credits from this course may count toward the 30-credit degree requirement.

Coursework

There are no specific courses required for degree completion except the graduate seminar and either thesis or independent study research credits. Students are encouraged to complete courses in a variety of areas, but have flexibility in selecting the courses that will fit their academic goals. Students will work closely with their academic advisors to develop an appropriate Graduate Program Plan, generally by the end of their first semester in the program. This plan must be approved by both the advisor and the Associate Vice President for the College of Graduate Studies.

Co-listed Courses

Some upper-division undergraduate courses are co-listed as graduate courses. Graduate students enrolled in these courses will be expected to complete additional coursework, such as paper(s)/project(s), to earn graduate credit in these courses. The co-listed courses are as follows:

Co-listed Meteorology Courses
MT 5300/4300 Synoptic Meteorology II - 4 credits
MT 5310/4310 Dynamic Meteorology I - 3 credits
MT 5320/4320 Dynamic Meteorology II - 3 credits
MT 5410/4410 Atmospheric Physics - 3 credits
MT 5110/4110 Air Quality - 3 credits
MT 5430/4430 Climate Change - 3 credits
MT 5450/4450 Advanced Synoptic Meteorology - 3 credits
MT 5470/4470 Micrometeorology - 3 credits
MT 5550/4550 Topics - 3 credits

Students with undergraduate degrees in meteorology or atmospheric science are expected to have already completed the bold-faced courses above or their equivalents and these students cannot take those courses for graduate credit. Eligible undergraduate students, desiring graduate credit for the non-bold listed courses, should sign up for the course using the graduate course number designator. Students entering into the program without a B.S. in meteorology or sufficient meteorology course background need to complete the four courses listed in bold-face as a minimum, but only two of those courses can be counted toward their 30 graduate credits requirement. Any further prerequisite deficiencies would have to be made up with non-degree credits.

Graduate Courses

At least 15 of the credits counting towards the M.S. degree must come from the non-co-listed, 5000 level, meteorology courses listed below. All students must sign up for the Graduate Seminar during each of their fall and spring semesters and may count up to three, seminar credits towards their 30-credit degree requirements.

Non Co-listed Meteorology Courses
MT 5350 Boundary Layer Meteorology - 3 credits
MT 5600 Computer Applications in Meteorology - 3 credits
MT 5620 Numerical Weather Prediction - 3 credits
MT 5200 Transportation Meteorology - 3 credits
MT 5340 Radar Meteorology - 3 credits
MT 5330 Satellite Meteorology - 3 credits
MT 5800 Thesis Research - 3 credits
MT 5700 Graduate Seminar - 1 credit
MT 5910 Independent Study - 1-4

Additional non-meteorology courses could also be used to fulfill up to nine credits towards degree requirements with approval of the advisor and Meteorology Graduate Program Coordinator. Examples (not a definitive list) of such courses are listed below:

Mathematics
MG 3120 Elements of Linear Algebra
MG 3300 Statistics II
MG 3410 Numerical Methods Using the Computer
MG 4420 Numerical Analysis Using the Computer
MG 4450 Seminar in Applied Mathematics (check topic)

Environment
ESP 5500 ST: Hydrology
ESP 5510 Limnology

Total for M.S. in Applied Meteorology - 30 credits

Completion Deadlines

All requirements for a graduate degree must be completed within six years from the date of admittance. The MSAM program can be completed by either full-time or part-time study.

Plymouth State University, 17 High Street, Plymouth, NH 03264-1595. Main Switchboard: (603) 535-5000.
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This page was last revised: 4/8/2008