Program Overview
The program offers specializations in Climate Modeling and Climate Data, with coursework taught by renowned faculty in atmospheric and oceanic sciences. Students with diverse backgrounds in science and engineering are welcome to apply, and an accelerated master's option is available.
Program Outline
Climate Science, MS Program Details:
Degree Overview:
The MS in Climate Science program at George Mason University aims to educate students to become climate professionals capable of analyzing and modeling advanced climate data. The program emphasizes the understanding of climate science, its application to modern climate variations, and the development of strategies to address climate challenges. The program's objectives include:
- Solving quantitative problems: Students develop skills to solve quantitative problems related to atmospheric properties, variability, fluid dynamics, and the role of the ocean and land surface in climate.
- Developing expertise in climate modeling or climate data: Students choose a concentration in either Climate Modeling or Climate Data to gain specific skills in these areas. The program welcomes students from diverse backgrounds in physical science, mathematics, and engineering. Students with atmospheric science or meteorology degrees can deepen their understanding, enhance computer skills, and gain a comprehensive view of climate as a multi-component system. Students with physics, math, or other degrees can apply their mathematical and computational skills to climate science. The program is taught by faculty from the Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Earth Sciences Department and the Center for Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Studies, renowned for their pioneering work in climate dynamics, climate modeling, predictability, and statistical analysis of climate data.
Outline:
The MS in Climate Science program requires a total of 33 credits. Students must complete the following components:
Core Courses (15 credits):
- CLIM 511 Atmospheric Dynamics (3 credits) or CLIM 711 Introduction to Atmospheric Dynamics (3 credits)
- CLIM 512 Physical Oceanography (3 credits) or CLIM 712 Physical and Dynamical Oceanography (3 credits)
- CLIM 610 Introduction to the Physical Climate System (3 credits)
- CLIM 614 Land-Climate Interactions (3 credits)
- CLIM 690 Scientific Basis of Climate Change (3 credits)
Seminar/Reading (3 credits):
- CLIM 991 Climate Dynamics Seminar (1 credit)
- Select 2 additional credits from the following:
- CLIM 796 Directed Reading and Research
- CLIM 991 Climate Dynamics Seminar
- CLIM 996 Doctoral Reading and Research
Thesis or Non-thesis Options (3 credits):
- Thesis Option: CLIM 799 Master's Thesis in Climate (3 credits)
- Non-thesis Option: Choose one unrestricted, graduate-level elective course (1 credit)
Concentrations (12 credits):
- Concentration in Climate Modeling (CM):
- CLIM 670 Earth System Modeling (3 credits)
- CLIM 715 Numerical Methods for Climate Modeling (3 credits)
- CLIM 751 Predictability and Prediction of Weather and Climate (3 credits)
- Choose one course from the elective lists (below) (3 credits)
- Concentration in Climate Data (CD):
- CLIM 680 Climate Data (3 credits)
- CLIM 762 Statistical Methods in Climate Research (3 credits)
- Choose two courses from the Mathematical, Computational, or Geographical elective list (below) (6 credits)
Electives (6 credits):
- Select courses not previously taken, paying close attention to course credit values and ensuring they fit into the degree program.
- Choose from the following lists:
- Climate Science: CLIM 631 Urban Climate, CLIM 680 Climate Data, CLIM 690 Scientific Basis of Climate Change, CLIM 713 Atmosphere-Ocean Interactions, CLIM 750 Geophysical Fluid Dynamics, CLIM 751 Predictability and Prediction of Weather and Climate, CLIM 752 Ocean General Circulation, CLIM 753 General Circulation of the Atmosphere, CLIM 754 Elements of the Tropical Climate System, CLIM 759 Topics in Climate Dynamics (when the topic is "Advanced Predictability" or "Convection"), GEOL 532 Paleoclimatology, GEOL 535 Quantitative Stratigraphy, GEOL 565 Paleoceanography, GGS 670 Introduction to Atmosphere and Weather
- Mathematical, Computational, or Geographical: CLIM 715 Numerical Methods for Climate Modeling, CLIM 751 Predictability and Prediction of Weather and Climate, CLIM 759 Topics in Climate Dynamics (when the topic is "Earth System Modeling"), CLIM 762 Statistical Methods in Climate Research, CLIM 763 Advanced Statistical Methods in Climate Research, GEOL 525 Modeling Earth Signals and Systems, GEOL 553 Field Mapping Techniques, CDS 501 Scientific Information and Data Visualization, CSI 501 Computational Science Programming, CSI 690 Numerical Methods, GGS 553 Geographic Information Systems, GGS 563 Advanced Geographic Information Systems, GGS 650 Introduction to GIS Algorithms and Programming, GGS 680 Earth Image Processing, GGS 692 Web-based Geographic Information Systems, PHYS 510 Computational Physics I
Teaching:
The program is taught by faculty from the Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Earth Sciences Department and the Center for Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Studies.
Other:
The program encourages applications from students with diverse backgrounds in physical science, mathematics, and engineering. Students with atmospheric science or meteorology degrees can deepen their understanding, enhance computer skills, and gain a comprehensive view of climate as a multi-component system. Students with physics, math, or other degrees can apply their mathematical and computational skills to climate science. The program offers an accelerated master's option for students who have earned at least 60 undergraduate credits. This option allows students to complete both a bachelor's and a master's degree in five years.
