Contact our Student Services Office for more information about the program: clasp–um@umich.edu
Please Note: If you intend to continue your program and pursue a PhD, you should apply directly to the Climate & Space Doctoral Program. The Climate & Space MS program is designed for students interested in receiving a terminal MS degree.
Applicants to the Climate & Space master’s program may have a bachelor’s degree in any field of study, but they are expected to have completed minimum requirements in mathematics, physics, and chemistry. Normally this would include five semesters of mathematics, eight credit hours of physics, including two laboratories, and five credit hours of chemistry. Thirty semester hours are required for the master’s degree, fifteen of which must be from the Department’s offerings. A minimum of four additional hours must be in mathematics, natural science, or engineering.
Funding
Unlike PhD students, there is no funding available for MS only students. Need-based funding may be available, usually in the form of a student loan, through the University’s Office of Financial Aid. There are application materials required to complete this process.
The general CoE Funding information can be found here. Particularly, it contains information about the Bridge to the Doctorate program, a CoE program that funds a MS for those on the way to a PhD.
General Program Requirements
Climate & Space academic programs are integrated studies designed to give students a broad base of study in atmospheric, space and planetary science. The MS program is similar to the first two years of the doctoral program, however the core courses are not required. Each MS student creates a course schedule with their advisor. More specific information on courses is available on the Climate & Space PhD Program web page and on the Climate & Space Courses web page.
The MS degree requires 30 credit hours of coursework, of which 15 must be in Climate & Space courses. The Rackham School of Graduate Studies has a cognate requirement that each student take a minimum of four (4) credit hours of coursework in a different department. Climate & Space requires that these courses be non-seminar courses and not be courses cross-listed with Climate & Space.
Admissions
The deadline for the Fall MS student cohort (Program Code 02219) is January 15th. It is recommended that you submit your application early to ensure that it arrives on or before the deadline. If your application will be significantly delayed, please contact Student Services (clasp–um@umich.edu) to discuss your situation. Information about the cost of attending the University of Michigan is available from The Office of Registrar.
All Climate & Space MS students are admitted to the program through the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies.
You are encouraged to explore the Rackham web site and familiarize yourself with the resources, tools and other information for masters students. The Climate & Space Student Handbook, which will give you additional information about the Department, is available on the Climate & Space Graduate Students Resources page along with other helpful information and links. To assist you in applying, a Graduate Application Checklist is also available.
Admission Requirements
Climate & Space requires a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. Most applicants from undergraduate engineering, science, or mathematics programs will have taken the necessary prerequisite courses (see below). Applicants from non-related undergraduate programs (for example, Art History) will be required to take these courses before applying to the graduate programs. Additional undergraduate prerequisite courses are:
Four terms of calculus, including one term of differential equations
Two terms of physics with lab
One term of chemistry with lab
At least one course in computer programming, preferably FORTRAN or C
Climate & Space does not require a GRE subject test or the general test. However, if you are very strong in a particular subject (for example, physics) then it will count in your favor if you take the subject test and score well on it.
GRE Test Codes:
0806 Planetary Science
0501 Atmospheric Science
1839 School Number
All non-native English-speaking applicants are required to take the Test Of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) within two years of applying. Required TOEFL score is: 230 or better (computer test) OR 84 or better (Internet-based test). If your undergraduate program instruction language was exclusively in English, the TOEFL requirement can be waived.
OEFL/TSE Test Codes:
75 Oceanography
99 Other
1839 School Number
Photocopies of your GRE and TOEFL scores cannot be considered. Official score documents must be sent.
All applicants are required to submit transcripts to Rackham. It is your responsibility to request the release of any records from the institutions. Official documents must be provided from the institution awarding the degree.
Email: rackadmis@umich.edu
NOTE: All credentials submitted for admission consideration become the property of the University of Michigan and will not be returned in original or copy form.
