Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
While earning a Ph.D. degree, students acquire an advanced level of knowledge in a specialty of atmospheric or oceanic sciences, and demonstrate an ability to conduct independent research on current problems. They also refine their ability to present and defend their work both orally and in writing.
Steps
Steps necessary to complete this degree include: (1) qualifying examination passage to demonstrate potential to conduct independent research; (2) formation of a Ph.D. committee; (3) completion of general background in atmospheric/oceanic sciences; (4) broadening your educational experiences (two requirements: minor and supplemental); (5) acquisition of focused knowledge on the particular research topic; (6) preliminary examination; (7) original research; (8) dissertation writing; and (9) oral presentation and final defense.
A major professor guides the student along these steps. The major professor must be identified before the student can be admitted into our Ph.D. program.
The timeline for receiving a PhD degree is approximately 4-5 years.
Progress Guidelines
Students normally take a full time credit load of 8 to 12 credits each semester prior to the preliminary examination. During this time they complete the minor course requirements, the ATM OCN 900 course requirements, and any other required courses. As time continues, a larger percentage of the credits each semester are research and/or seminar credits, as recommended by the major professor and Ph.D. committee.
After the preliminary exam, the student need take only 3 credits each semester as a dissertator.
Each Ph.D. student must meet annually with their committee to discuss degree progress. A written summation of the meeting should be given to the grad coordinator for the student's file.
Each student must make satisfactory progress, as specified by the departmental and Graduate School satisfactory progress guidelines, which are available from the grad chair or grad coordinator. Failure to maintain satisfactory progress may result in probation, or dismissal from the department. The Ph.D. degree should be completed within five years. All grades must be C or better to count towards the degree. The cumulative GPA in Graduate School must be no less than 3.0.
1. Ph.D. Qualifying Exam
This written exam, offered each fall semester, tests the candidate's ability to formulate problems, suggest logical methods of solution, and synthesize diverse aspects of problems relevant to the atmosphere and/or ocean, as is necessary for conducting original research. A fundamental background in general atmospheric sciences including dynamics, as well as college calculus, physics, and chemistry is assumed. This background is normally obtained by completing an M.S. degree, or approximately two semesters of full time graduate study in the atmospheric and oceanic sciences.
The results of the departmental qualifying exam, along with other information, will be used by faculty members to determine if they are willing to form a formal Ph.D. committee and administer a preliminary exam.
The exam should be taken within one year of completion of the MS degree or within two years of beginning graduate studies at UW-Madison if student already has MS or intends to go directly for the Ph.D.
The exam will consist of a formal written exam. The exam will be administered over a two day period at the start of the fall semester. The exam will be prepared from faculty input by an examination committee appointed by the Chair.
Each question will be graded by at least two faculty members. The graders will not know the identity of the candidates. The examination committee will provide a clear pass/fail determination for each question. The results of the exam grading will be presented to and discussed with the entire faculty. The advisor will meet with the student after this faculty meeting to discuss the results of the exam. Candidates who fail may take the exam once more.
2. Formation of a Ph.D. Committee
The candidate, under the guidance of the major professor, must form a committee of five professors to supervise and evaluate their work. The committee consists of the major professor, three other professors from our department, and one professor from outside our department (often from the minor department). Additional members may be added if appropriate. Adjunct faculty cannot be included in the five committee members. If the committee dissolves for any reason, the candidate cannot continue in the Ph.D. program unless a new committee is formed.
The first meeting of this committee should normally occur after the Qualifying Exam, but within the same semester. During this first meeting, the committee reviews the student's professional history and general research plans, recommends any additional courses or activities that might be needed, agrees on a minor, specifies any additional or supplemental requirements, and sets a date for the preliminary exam. Results from this meeting are submitted in writing to the grad chair to be filed with the student's academic record. This letter indicates that a committee has indeed been formed.
3. Completion of General Atmospheric or Oceanic Background
At the first Ph.D. committee meeting, the committee specifies how the following requirements are to be (or have been) met:
Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Breadth. Specific requirements are determined by the Ph.D. committee during its first meeting. Generally, atmospheric and oceanic sciences breadth includes a background in dynamics, weather and climate, physical meteorology/oceanography, and observation techniques, equivalent to that required by the M.S. core courses.
Credit Requirement. The student must take and pass at least 15 credits of lecture courses numbered 600 and higher in our department. Seminars and audited courses are not included. Courses taken while working on an M.S. count toward this requirement. The Graduate School requires 32 graduate level credits (300 or above) earned at the UW-Madison. They will not allow transfer credits from another school to satisfy this requirement. Since not all 300 level courses are acceptable by the department, check with your advisor before taking any of these courses.
Current and Classical Problems in Meteorology. Students must take and pass this course, ATM OCN 900.
Courses Outside of AOS
Here is a listing of courses that students have taken outside of the department to satisfy degree requirements.
4. Broadening Requirements
At the first committee meeting, the committee specifies how the following two broadening requirements will be satisfied:
Minor Requirement. A minor program consists of Option A (external) 10 or more course credits in one discipline or Option B (distributed) 10 or more credits in one or more departments and can include course work in the major department. Selection of Option A requires approval of the minor department. Selection of Option B requires approval of the major department. The department monitors minor requirements.
Supplemental Requirement. Possibilities include:
- an augmented minor, consisting of more than the minimum number of courses required by the Graduate School;
- substantial foreign language skill;
- significant field or professional experience: or
- interdisciplinary courses, or other courses related to the Ph.D. research, at the professional level.
Some of these possibilities can be met by prior experience.
5. Focused Knowledge, and the Research Proposal
The student conducts a literature search to gain state-of-the-art knowledge in the chosen research area. During this literature search, potential new research topics are identified. The student works with the major professor to focus this knowledge and define an appropriate research topic. This topic is written into a several page research proposal that is given to the Ph.D. committee members a few weeks prior to the preliminary examination.
6. Preliminary Examination
The Ph.D. committee administers an oral preliminary exam that is essentially a defense of the research proposal. It is normally taken within about one year after completion of the qualifying exam, which roughly coincides with the time when all of the other course requirements are completed. About three weeks before the exam, the candidate requests the Minor Agreement Form and the Ph. D. Preliminary Exam Warrant Application from the grad coordinator of our department. After the forms are returned, the grad coordinator will request the Preliminary Warrant from the Graduate School. The candidate should bring the warrant to the examination.
During the examination, the candidate first gives a short presentation to the committee summarizing the proposed research. The committee then asks questions of the candidate to ensure that the problem is solvable within a couple years, and that the candidate has sufficient skill and background to solve it. If the committee wishes, it may administer a written portion of the preliminary examination in addition to, or instead of, the oral portion. If the student passes the exam, the Ph.D. committee members sign the warrant, and the student becomes a Ph.D. candidate. A letter summarizing the results of this examination is written by the major professor and given to the grad coordinator to be placed in the student's file.
Dissertators must register each Spring and Fall for 3 credits. They register for 3 credits of research ATM OCN 990. Summer registration of 3 credits is required for research assistants, trainees, fellows and dissertators using university facilities. Dissertators cannot register for any courses without special permission.
7. Original Research
After the preliminary examination and all course requirements are successfully completed, the student normally concentrates on conducting research, and is designated a dissertator. The research might continue for one semester to several years, depending on the project.
During this research, the student works closely with the major professor. The Ph.D. committee receives progress reports at least every year from the student, and offers advice where appropriate.
8. Dissertation
The results of the research are written into a report called a dissertation. This dissertation includes a statement of goals, literature review, list of methods and procedures, research results, conclusions, and other sections as appropriate. The major professor checks the dissertation closely, and recommends changes and corrections. When a semi-final draft of the dissertation has been completed and approved by the major professor, copies are given to each of the Ph.D. committee members. They might also recommend changes.
Graduate School format requirements must be followed. Our department does not have any formatting requirements. Information on these guidelines is available on the Graduate School's web site. Information on deadlines, defending and depositing your dissertation is also available.
9. Oral Presentation and Final Defense
After the dissertation is accepted by all committee members, the student requests in advance a final Ph.D. warrant from the grad coordinator. The warrant should be ordered at least three weeks before the final defense. They present the research results at a public departmental seminar called a Ph.D. Seminar.
The student schedules a time when all committee members can meet with the student for a final defense. At this final examination, the student gives a brief oral presentation summarizing the final results, and defends the research during oral questions from the Ph.D. committee. If the committee is satisfied with the defense, they sign the warrant. The student takes the signed warrant to the Graduate School at the time of the final thesis review. An unbound copy of the dissertation is given to the Memorial Library. Hardbound copies are given to the department, to the major professor, and to any other committee members who request it. The Graduate School checks to see that all requirements are satisfied, and awards the Ph.D. degree.
For information on commencement, you can call the Commencement Information Hotline at 262-9076. You can also get information on the web site for the Secretary of the Faculty.
If you have an assistantship, it will end on the date that you deposit your thesis at the Graduate School.
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