Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, MS

Contact Information

Dr. William J. Capehart, Program Director
Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences
Mineral Industries 201
(605) 394-1994
E-mail: William.Capehart@sdsmt.edu

Department Website

Students are responsible for checking with their advisors for any program modifications that may occur after the publication of this catalog.

MS in Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences

The MS in Atmospheric Sciences offers two specializations, one in Environmental Science and one in Meteorology.

SD Mines undergraduate students admitted to the Accelerated MS may apply up to 9 credits of approved 400/500/600 level AES coursework toward both the BS and the MS degrees.

Degree requirements for thesis option

Distribution of credits

AES Core Requirements: 5 credits
Research or project requirements: 6-9 credits
Elective Coursework: 18-21 credits
Total credits: 32

A minimum of 16 credits of the 32 required must be taken at the 600 level or above.

Core requirements

AES 406/506 Global Environmental Change Credits: (3-0) 3
AES 690 Seminar Credits: (1-0) 1 *
* Two credits of AES 690 are required.

Research or project requirements

The completion of a master’s thesis, approved by the student’s graduate advisory committee and the Dean of Graduate Education, is required for this degree.
AES 798 Thesis Credits: 1 to 12 **
** At least 6 credits of AES 798 are required. No more than 9 credits of AES 798 may be counted toward the degree.

Elective requirements

This program requires 18-21 credit hours of electives. At least 15 credits must have an AES prefix and course number at the 500-level or above.

Examinations

A thesis defense and final oral examination are required for this degree.

Additional requirements

In addition to these degree-specific requirements, the student must also meet the requirements and policies applied to all graduate degrees by the Council of Graduate Education.

Degree requirements for non-thesis option

Distribution of credits

AES Core Requirements: 5 credits
Masters Research Project: 3 credits
Elective Coursework: 24 credits
Total credits: 32

A minimum of 16 credits of the 32 required must be taken at the 600 level or above.

Core requirements

The core courses must be taken at the 500 level or above.
AES 406/506 Global Environmental Change Credits: (3-0) 3
AES 690 Seminar Credits: (1-0) 1 **
** Two credits of AES 690 are required.

Research or project requirements

A research project is required for this degree.
AES 788 Research Problems/Projects Credits: 1 to 3 **
**Up to 3 credits of AES 788 may be counted toward the degree.

Elective requirements

This program requires 24 credits of electives. At least 15 credits must have an AES prefix and course number at the 500-level or above.

Examinations

No final degree examination is required for the non-thesis option. Individual courses may hold final examinations as part of the course.

Additional requirements

In addition to these degree-specific requirements, the student must also meet the requirements and policies applied to all graduate degrees by the Council of Graduate Education.

Objectives and Outcomes

Student Outcomes:

apply diagnostic, prognostic, and technological tools (e.g., python, numerical weather prediction, analytical chemistry equipment, GIS) to evaluate earth system processes across spatial and temporal scales;
apply critical and analytical thinking to solve relevant scientific problems, through creating and testing well-developed hypotheses to draw conclusions, across atmospheric and environmental sciences;
effectively communicate scientific information in oral and written form at an appropriate level for their audience, including peer scientists, policy makers, and the general public;
understand and utilize the principles of proper ethical behavior within the earth system sciences regarding professional conduct and be aware of the scientific limits of prediction, and
create and synthesize knowledge within the earth system sciences and its intersection with other disciplines, for example, through a research project, thesis, dissertation.