DEPARTMENT OF ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES

REQUIRED GRADUATE COURSES

 

 

 

  The required classes for all entering graduate students are:

 

ATMS 501 (5) Fundamentals of Physical Meteorology.         (A)

ATMS 502 (3) Introduction to Synoptic Meteorology.          (A)

ATMS 535 (3) Cloud Physics                                                (W)

ATMS 532 (3) Radiation (Introductory)                                  (Sp)

ATMS 558 (3) Atmospheric Chemistry (Introductory)          (Sp)

 

and either of the following sequences

 

ATMS 505 (4) Introduction to Fluid Dynamics.        (A)

ATMS 509 (4) Geophysical Fluid Dynamics             (W)

ATMS 542 (3) Dynamic Meteorology of Mid-Latitude

                 Weather Systems                                                   (Sp)

 

or

 

ATMS 503 (3) Atmospheric Motions I                                   (A)

ATMS 504 (5) Atmospheric Motions II                                 (W)

 

 

The two-course dynamics sequence is intended for those whose research specialty will be well outside the realm of dynamic meteorology.  Most students are encouraged to take the three-course sequence in dynamics.  The total units for these required courses is 25 or 28.

 

 Ph.D students are required to take a minimum of 36 units of ATMS classes  500 or higher (excluding seminars and colloquia), as well as 6 credits of related coursework outside the department.  (Note that for PCC students the series of 9 credits is easily accommodated).

 

Master's students need 27 units of course credit to graduate (excluding seminars and colloquia), with 24 of those units in Atmospheric Sciences.  However, those students intending to pursue a Ph.D should take all of the courses required above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The required courses are distributed over a student’s first two years as follows:

 

AUTUMN QUARTER YEAR I:

ATMS  501 (5) Fundamentals of Physical Meteorology.        

ATMS  505 (4) Introduction to Fluid Dynamics.                   

(ATMS 503 Atmospheric Motions I may replace 505 in some cases)

Elective (usually AMATH 401 or AMATH 567)

 

WINTER QUARTER YEAR 1:

ATMS 535 (3) Cloud Physics                                               

ATMS 509 (4) Geophysical Fluid Dynamics

            (ATMS 504 Atmospheric Motions II may replace 509 in some cases)

Elective (usually AMATH 402 or AMATH 568)                   

 

SPRING QUARTER YEAR I:

 

For those who took 503-504:

ATMS 532 (3) Radiation (Introductory)                                  

ATMS 558 (3) Atmospheric Chemistry (Introductory)

Elective

           

For those who took 505-509:

ATMS 542 (3) Dynamic Meteorology of Mid-Latitude Weather Systems

And two of the following:

ATMS 532 (3) Radiation (Introductory)                                  

ATMS 558 (3) Atmospheric Chemistry (Introductory)

Elective

 

AUTUMN QUARTER YEAR 2:

ATMS 502 (3) Introduction to Synoptic Meteorology.

 

WINTER QUARTER YEAR 2:

Elective

 

SPRING QUARTER YEAR 2:

One of:

ATMS 532 (3) Radiation (Introductory)                                  

ATMS 558 (3) Atmospheric Chemistry (Introductory)

Elective

 

 

Note that those interested in numerical modeling should take

ATMS 581/AMATH 586 (Numerical Analysis for Time Dependent Problems)

as an elective in the spring of their first year and take either  532 or 558 in the spring quarter of their second year.