Admission Requirements

An applicant may be admitted to the Graduate School as either a regular degree student or a provisional degree student. For acceptance into the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (ATOC), the following requirements must be met:

Regular Degree Students must:

1. Hold a baccalaureate degree from a college or university of recognized standing, or have done work equivalent to that required for such a degree.
   
2. Show promise of ability to pursue advanced study and research, as judged by the student's previous scholastic record and letters of reference.
   
3. Have had adequate preparation to enter graduate study in the chosen field.
   
4. Have at least a 3.00 (B) undergraduate grade point average.

Students who do not meet the requirements for admission as regular degree students may be recommended for provisional degree status. With the concurrence of the dean of the Graduate School, these students are admitted to a probationary period of one or two semesters of full-time study or the equivalent for part-time students. At the end of the specified probationary period, provisional degree students must be either admitted to regular degree status or dismissed from the graduate program to which they were provisionally admitted. To change to regular degree status, a student must maintain a 3.25 grade point average in 12 hours of graduate course work.

Students with undergraduate degrees in the natural sciences (e.g. physics, chemistry, mathematics) and engineering are encouraged to apply. The general background expected of incoming graduate students includes:

1. Undergraduate courses in calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, and computer programming.
2. 1 year sequences of undergraduate physics (calculus based) and chemistry.

Upper-level undergraduate degrees in physics, chemistry, and mathematics are strongly recommended. Undergraduate courses in atmospheric science or oceanography are useful but not required as part of the undergraduate background. Students with undergraduate degrees in other fields, such as Biology, Environmental Science, Geography or Geology, are also invited to apply, provided they meet the standards given above. Exceptional students who might be lacking some math and/or physics coursework are encouraged to apply; these students will be considered on an individual basis.

Application Procedures

Information about the application process, instructions, and/or information about applying online can be found at:

http://www.colorado.edu/prospective/graduate/apply/process.html

An applicant for admission must present complete application materials that include the graduate application; two official transcripts of ALL academic work completed to date; four letters of recommendation; test scores from the verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing sections of the General Record Examination (GRE); a personal statement of academic interests (see the last item under "Additional Information" in the online application); and a $50 non-refundable application fee for domestic applicants or $70 for international applicants.

At a minimum, the personal statement of academic interests should describe the following:
(1) Motivation for applying to graduate school;
(2) Experience or other relevant qualifications;
(3) Long-term goals

If known, please also describe your specific field of interest, including faculty members or scientists with whom you would like to work. The personal statement will be evaluated not only for content, but also to gauge writing ability.

All international applicants are required to meet a minimum standard of English proficiency. The Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL), or an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score is required unless English is your native language. If you have completed at least one year full-time academic study at a US institution (or at an institution in a country where English is the native language) at the time you apply, you have fulfilled the English proficiency requirement for the Office of Admissions.

For admission in the fall semester with full consideration for financial assistance from the department, complete domestic applications must be received by January 15 and international applications by December 1.  Late applications will be considered until all positions are filled.

Financial Support Available:
Department financial support is in the form of teaching assistantships (TA), research assistantships (RA), and/or fellowship money. Please include a short note with your application asking to be included in the pool for these forms of financial support from the department or indicating that you have your own financial support. This note may be included in your personal statement in Part II of the application or an email sent to atocasst@colorado.edu.

Application Deadlines:
Fall admission: YES
Domestic application deadline: January 15*
International application deadline: December 1*

Spring admission: YES
Domestic application deadline: October 1
International application deadline: October 1

*For admission in the fall semester with full consideration for financial support from the department, complete domestic applications must be received by January 15 and international applications by December 1. Late applications will be considered until all positions are filled. Please note, while the department does accept late applications it is in the applicant's best interests to submit all application materials as soon as possible.

Contact Information:
Application materials including transcripts and letters of recommendation should be addressed to:

University of Colorado
ATOC - 311 UCB
Stadium Room 255, Gate 7
Boulder, CO 80309-0311
USA
ATTN: Graduate Admissions

Phone: (303) 492-6633
Fax: (303) 492-3524
Email: atocasst@colorado.edu