Degree Requirements
Overview of Requirements
The degree requirements may be found at the GSAS Bulletin entry for the Atmosphere-Ocean Science and Mathematics (AOSM) PhD program. Our program shares most of the requirements for the PhD in Mathematics, and follows the general rules and procedures for doctoral studies in the Graduate School of Arts and Science (GSAS).
Note that per section 6.10 of the GSAS rules and procedures linked above, doctoral students must achieve doctoral candidacy within 4 years of initial enrollment. Candidacy is reached when the student earns the Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree, indicating that all requirements for the PhD, other than the dissertation, have been met. In particular, this means that all required 72 credit hours of course work must be completed by the end of the 4th year in the PhD program. Following advancement to candidacy, students must maintain enrollment by registering for Maintenance of Matriculation (MAINT-GA 4747) each semester. Students will be enrolled full-time for the duration of the program, which normally requires 5 years to complete.
Additional requirements, notes on the basic requirements, the curriculum and other details are covered below (the documents linked above take precedence over any details on this page).
Research and Advisement
While course work is important, the chief aim of the PhD program is train students to become researchers. We encourage all students to begin working with a research advisor and engaging in research as soon as possible.
Choosing a Thesis Advisor
Upon entering the AOSM PhD program, each student is assigned an academic advisor, who will help the student choose courses, and offer consultation about choosing a research area and research advisor. During the fall of Year I, if the student has not already identified a faculty member who has agreed to supervise the studen't research, the student should make individual appointments to discuss research opportunities with each of the faculty affiliated with CAOS. Ideally, the choice of research advisor would be based solely upon mutual agreement between the faculty and student. However, two additional factors must be taken into consideration: (i) research funding for graduate student support must be available to the potential faculty advisor, and (ii) students should be equitably distributed among the faculty affiliated with CAOS. To ensure that these requirements are satisfied, the choice of advisor must be approved by the AOSM DGS.
Thesis Committee
Within six months of completion of the oral examinations, the student, in conjunction with his or her advisor, will choose a three-member thesis committee, consisting of the student’s advisor, one additional CAOS faculty member, and one member from an academic institution beyond NYU. The final committee will consist of two additional non-readers who may be chosen closer to the time of the final dissertation defense.
Committee Meetings
The student should consult regularly with all members of the committee, and must meet to discuss his/her progress with the committee every 6-12 months. The outside committee member should be included by teleconference, unless funds are available to cover the member’s travel to Courant.
Thesis Topic Defense
In Year IV, the student will give a formal presentation to the members of CAOS and the student’s thesis committee. The presentation will cover the planned focus of the PhD thesis, and support the proposed topic with preliminary research. Upon completion of the formal presentation, the committee will meet alone with the student to give extended critical feedback on the student’s progress.
Dissertation Defense
The written dissertation should be based primarily on research published in peer-reviewed journals (at least one should be accepted before defending). The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at NYU sets requirements for all NYU PhD dissertations; these may be found at the Doctoral Dissertation Submission Guidelines page. Note in particular that students must register for graduation on Albert at least five months prior to the defense.
The oral defense is the final examination of the student’s dissertation. The defense is conducted by five faculty, including the three thesis committee “readers” and two additional “non-readers.” The candidate presents his/her thesis research to both the committee and a general audience, followed by a lengthy question-and-answer period, conducted primarily by the thesis committee.
The following schedule is required:
- Two months before defense: The additional two “non-reader” members of the committee should be chosen by the student and advisor.
- One month before defense: The completed written dissertation should be distributed to all five members of the committee.
- Within two weeks after defense: The final version of the written dissertation, including corrections and changes requested by the committee, must be submitted.
Curriculum
The curriculum for the AOSM PhD program is similar to that for any student focusing on applied mathematics, with the addition of a set of courses on disciplinary topics in atmosphere ocean science.
Core Courses
All AOSM PhD students are expected to take the following:
- Methods of Applied Mathematics (MATH-GA 2701.001 - Fall)
- Fluid Dynamics (MATH-GA 2702.001 - Fall)
- Geophysical Fluid Dynamics (MATH-GA 3001.001 - Fall)
- Ocean Dynamics (MATH-GA 3003.001 - Spring, alternate years)
- Atmospheric Dynamics (MATH-GA 3004.001 - Spring, alternate years)
- Advanced Topics in Atmosphere-Ocean Science (MATH-GA 3011.001 - Fall & Spring)
Electives and Advanced Topics Courses
The following are suggested courses, based on the student's background, interests and research topic.
- Linear Algebra, one-term format (MATH-GA 2111.001 - Fall)
- Real Variables (MATH-GA 2430.001)
- Complex Variables, one-term format (MATH-GA 2451.001)
- Ordinary Differential Equations (MATH-GA 2470.001 - Spring)
- Partial Differential Equations I (MATH-GA 2490.001 - Fall)
- Numerical Methods I (MATH-GA 2010.001 - Fall)
- Numerical Methods II (MATH-GA 2020.001 - Spring)
- Mechanics (MATH-GA 2710.001 - Spring)
- Applied Stochastic Analysis (MATH-GA 2704.001 - Spring)
- Probability and Limit Theorems I (MATH-GA 2911.001 - Fall)
In addition to the above, the Department of Mathematics offers a wide selection of additional courses, covering the range from fundamental topics to advanced research seminars, known as Advanced Topics courses. Many of the latter are taught as seminars, requiring only attendance. While the Advanced Topics courses are offered at irregular intervals, AOSM candidates are strongly encouraged to enroll in any that are relevant to AOS subjects.
Extra-departmental Courses
It is possible to take courses relevant to the student’s research in other departments at NYU, and at other universities (for example, many AOS-related courses are offered at Columbia University's Graduate School of Earth and Environmental Sciences). A base minimum of 40 credits must be obtained at NYU, and 32 of these credits must be obtained in the Department of Mathematics. Registering for classes in other departments or institutions requires permission of the DGS.
Research Credits
After completion of the preliminary oral examination, PhD students may register for PhD Research (3 points per term), which may satisfy up to 20 points. Students need not register for PhD Research credits in order to engage in research. Rather, these credits allow students the option to reduce their course load in order to focus more time on their research.
Sample Course Schedule
Course schedules should be approved by the student’s advisor and the DGS. In any given semester, students must register for all core AOS courses they have not yet completed. An example course of study for Years 1 and 2 follows:
| Fall Term | Spring Term | |
| Year 1 |
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| Year 2 |
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Examinations
Written Comprehensive Examination
The written examination tests the basic knowledge required to begin PhD study in Atmosphere Ocean Science and Mathematics. All of the information found on the Mathematics PhD Written Examination page applies here, with the exception that AOSM PhD students replace the exam in Complex Variables with an exam in Geophysical Fluid Dynamics (GFD). Copies of previous examinations may be obtained from the Assistant Director for Student Affairs. Students may also wish to consult the Courant Math Wiki.
All PhD students must achieve a grade of A on written examinations in order to register for the Oral Preliminary Examination.
Oral Preliminary Examination
The purpose of the oral examination is to determine if the candidate has acquired sufficient knowledge and has developed sufficient skill in preliminary research to commence dissertation research. The oral examination is comprised of a General section and a Special section, each lasting one hour, and conducted by two different panels of three faculty members. The exam sections are usually taken together during the spring of Year II, but are offered each fall, mid-winter and late spring.
- The General Exam is based on five topics chosen by the student from a list of fundamental topics in applied mathematics and atmosphere-ocean-climate science. The list should be formed in conjunction with, and approved by the student’s advisor and the DGS.
- The Special Exam is used to assess the student's current research skill and promise. The format of this exam is similar to that of the general exam, but may include a research presentation as well. The format details for this exam will be determined in conjunction with the student's thesis advisor and the DGS.
PhD students must achieve a grade of Pass on both exam sections in order to continue in the program.
Additional Program Policies and Information
Seminar Attendance
All AOSM PhD students should attend both the Colloquium in Atmosphere Ocean Science (held Wednesdays at 3:30-4:30 during the academic year), and the Friday Seminar (held Fridays, 3:45-5 during the academic year). The Colloquium is a well-funded invited series that is intended to expose students (as well as postdocs and faculty) to a range of topics at the forefront of research in the climate sciences. The Student Seminar provides an invaluable opportunity to learn to present and discuss student research, and forms the core communal activity of the program.
Financial Support
All AOSM PhD students are supported by MacCracken Fellowships, which cover tuition, registration fees and the NYU individual comprehensive health insurance plan. MacCracken funding is renewable for a period of up to five years, contingent upon good progress toward the degree. Students will receive a stipend for the nine-month academic year, covered by the MacCracken Fellowship, support from faculty research grants, and/or external fellowships. A list of external fellowships and other support may be found at the Department of Mathematics Financial Aid Policies page.
Teaching Opportunities
There are ample opportunities for all supported PhD students in the Department of Mathematics to assist in teaching undergraduate mathematics courses. Teaching is optional, and compensation for teaching is provided in addition to the student's nine-month academic year stipend. Students may not teach during the first year of study, and may serve only as graders in the second year of study. During Years III through IV, students have the opportunity to act as Teaching Assistants (TA), for a maximum of four semesters in total.
Summer Support and Opportunities
While the department cannot explicitly guarantee financial support for graduate students during summer months, all past AOSM students who have sought support have received research assistantships while engaged in research with a faculty advisor. In addition, past students have attended summer schools on advanced topics, taken research internships at national labs, or participated in field projects. In lieu of other options, a limited number of teaching positions are available to all PhD students in the department.
Mentoring and Grievance Policy
For detailed information, consult the page on the Mentoring and Grievancy Policy.
Housing
Admitted PhD students are eligible for the MacCracken housing program, which provides subsidized housing in Stuyvesant Town for the first year of study. Details can be found at the GSAS graduate housing page. After the first year, students typically move to off-campus housing. The NYU Off-Campus Housing Office may be of some assistance in this process.
Master's Degree
The AOSM program does not offer a master’s degree. However, those students who choose not to complete their PhD may apply to receive a Master of Science (MS) in Mathematics. To obtain the MS in Mathematics, the student must (i) pass the written examinations for the Mathematics PhD program with an overall grade of B or better, and (ii) complete at least 36 points of course work. Additional policies and details for the MS in Mathematics may be found at the Mathematics MS page.
Transfers Between the AOSM and Mathematics PhD Programs
Students pursuing the PhD in Mathematics may transfer to the AOSM program, contingent upon satisfaction of the special requirements of the program, and approval by the AOSM Admissions Committee. Conversely, students in the AOSM program wishing to switch to the Mathematics PhD will be treated exactly as a mathematics MS student wishing to enter the mathematics PhD program.
Visa Requirements for International Students
It is important that all foreign students keep their visa status with the United States accurate and up-to-date. Please consult the Office of International Students and Scholars for pertinent details.
How to Apply?
Start at the Apply to the AOSM Program page.