Degree Requirements

Overview of Requirements
Exams
Courses

• CAOS
• Math
• Research Credits
• Electives
  • Electives at Courant
  • Elective at Columbia

• Master's Degree
• In/Out CAOS

Overview of Requirements

The program follows rules and procedures for doctoral studies in the Faculty of Arts and Science at NYU. Ph.D. candidates will be full-time students. The program will normally require four years of full-time study; it must be completed within five years. The requirements for the Ph.D. are:

1. Completion of Courses.
2. Passing Written and Oral Exams.
3. Defense of Ph.D. dissertation.

Exams

Grade of A on three written comprehensive examinations. The exams are Linear Algebra, Advanced Calculus, and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics. They are taken sequentially over a two-day period in early September, or early January. Students may write these upon completing their first year, but well-prepared students may choose to take them earlier. These are considered as entrance-examinations, and the level of difficulty of questions is set accordingly (i.e., a solid undergraduate understanding of the basic concepts). Copies of previous examinations may be obtained from the graduate administration office (7th floor WWH).

Grade of Pass on oral examinations is required. This consists of two exams, one referred to as a General and the other as a Special exam. The exams are taken upon completion of the second year in the Program, usually in October, otherwise in April.

Courses

The curriculum for the atmosphere-ocean science (AOS) program provides a balance between mathematics and physical science. It aims to prepare students for research and teaching in all aspects of the modern applied mathematics needed in AOS, while providing courses in the physics needed in AO modeling. The program is sufficiently flexible to accommodate students with special interests in theoretical AOS and numerical aspects of AOS. The program includes courses designed especially for AOS students, as well as a subset of core mathematics courses.

A student needs to achieve 72 points credit (16 courses at 3 points credit each, 20 points research and 4 points seminar credits).

Basic requirements in CAOS (12 points)

Note: The NC designation marks AOS courses created specifically for the new program.

The courses listed below are maximal for fulfilling the basic math requirement. With the permission of the Director of Graduate Studies, a student with sufficient math background may replace courses in this list with other electives.

Note: The * designation marks alternatives for the more mathematically prepared students.

For active research, 24 points are awarded, of which 20 points are for a Ph.D. dissertation including the completion of a paper for publication, and 4 points for participation in a research seminar (1 point per semester).

Note: Upon sucessful completion of the Oral examination, students will be expected to register for at least one graduate course per semester (although the assignment of homework exercises is optional for such students, based on the discretion of the instructor).

Advanced electives, to bring the course-point-total to at least 48, will be chosen from the Courant graduate program. Not all courses are offered every year, and the following list only gives an illustration of what is on offer.

Note: A maximum of 2 courses may be taken at Columbia University's Graduate School of Earth and Environmental Sciences. Course registration must be pre-approved by the director of CAOS.

Sample Courses Schedule

Students have some flexibility in their choice of course schedule. Students will always register, as a priority, for CAOS courses offered in any given semester. An example course of study (excluding options for advanced math students) would be:

Transfers

Students will not normally obtain a Master's degree. However, those students who, for one reason or another, choose not to complete their Ph.D. studies may receive a Master's degree in Mathematics under the Master's requirements in Mathematics. That is, provided that the student (i) passes the comprehensive examinations for the Mathematics Ph.D. program with an overall grade of B or better, and (ii) completes at least 36 points of course work.

Students who are pursuing a mathematics Ph.D. who decide to switch to the CAOS option may do so by satisfying the special requirements of the program (and approval by the CAOS admisssions committee). Conversely, students in the CAOS program wishing to switch to mathematics would be treated exactly as a mathematics master's student wishing to enter the mathematics Ph.D. program, and will need to satisfy mathematics requirements for the written comprehensive examinations (and approval by the Mathematics admissions committee).

Visa Requirement

It is important that all foreign students keep their visa status with the United States accurate and up-to-date. Some pertinent information is found here.

Financial Aid

How to Apply?

Applications and Admission policy can be found on-line: