Typical Outline
Year 1
During first month, meet with supervisor, form
PhD committee, make research plans, start literature review,
take desired courses. By 4 months, receive short list of classic
texts to read, and prepare for Spring Review during year 1.
At Spring Review (April-May), make short presentation of research
theme to PhD committee, discuss academic accomplishments and
funding, and form a preliminary list of three comprehensive-exam
topics with reading lists. Receive recommendations from committee.
Year 2
PhD proposal (< 25 pages) submitted to PhD
committee no later than 3 months into this year. Roughly a week
later, student and committee meet to discuss and refine PhD
plans. Nature of the comprehensive exam, including testing methods
and topics, and final reading lists are set at this meeting.
Comprehensive Exam scheduled at 9 months into this year (or
6 months after the final reading lists were received by student,
whichever is later). The exam covers three levels of knowledge:
(1) basic but broad atmospheric knowledge (specified by textbooks
or equivalent courses, and tested during oral by one faculty
outside the PhD committee), (2) more-advanced knowledge focused
in 3 areas (tested for each topic with either a 2 hour written
exam, an oral exam, or a project), and (3) synthesis of knowledge
toward the research topic (20 minute presentation by student
followed by oral exam). All exam components are normally completed in a 2-week period.
The student must pass all 4 components
of the exam (all general question topics, oral presentation,
oral basic questions on atmospheric science, and oral focused
questions on PhD topic). Three possible outcomes of this exam
are: (1) full pass; (2) pass, with additional readings/courses
required; or (3) fail (but can retake within 4 months only once).
Year 3
Conduct research (field work, modeling, and/or
theoretical), analyze data, make oral presentations at conferences,
possible collaboration with other agencies. Meet with committee.
Year 4
Finish research. Write papers for publication.
Combine publishable papers with appropriate introduction and
conclusion into a coherent written dissertation. Conduct final
oral dissertation defense