Master of Science in Geosciences with concentration in Applied Meteorology

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The M.S. degree in Geosciences with a concentration in Applied Meteorology is designed for individuals with meteorological, environmental or hazards-related careers worldwide. The program was developed in consultation with representatives from the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research; the Cooperative Program for Operational Meteorology, Education and Training; the National Weather Service and the Caribbean Weather Service.

Tuition & Fees

Tuition per credit hour	$558.50
Instructional Support Fee per credit hour	$25.00

Tuition and fees listed are subject to change and do not include all possible charges. Additional fees may apply. Please refer to the master class schedule for individual course charges.

What are some potential careers?

Program Structure

Students complete 36 semester hours which consists of 12 courses.
All courses are offered on the semester schedule.
All courses are offered online except for the final 4-5 day capstone course.
Students normally take two courses per semester but may elect to take only one per semester.
First year courses should be completed prior to attempting second year courses.
Students must attend the final 4-5 day capstone.
Students must pass the comprehensive written exam after completion of all course work.
Course materials such as exercises, assignments, study guides, exams, and lectures will be delivered via the Internet using Canvas. Canvas is a software program designed specifically for online learning.
Top-quality instructors teach the classes. All classes have instructors with advanced degrees who are recognized experts and real-life practitioners in their field.

Course Rotation

Listed below is the course schedule for the Applied Meteorology Program (AMP). The courses are offered only during the semester under which they are listed.

Year One

FALL	SPRING	SUMMER
GR 6303 Principles of GIS	GR 8833 Weather & Society	GR 8453 Quantitative Analysis in Climatology
and	and	and
Elective Options (choose one):	Elective Options (choose one):	Elective Options (choose one):
GR 6923 * Severe Weather	GR 6753 Satellite & Radar	GR 6603 Climatology
GR 6943 * Tropical Meteorology	GR 6823 Dynamic Meteorology I	GR 6933 Dynamic Meteorology II
GR 8133 Foundations in Forecasting	GR 8143 Advanced Forecasting Techniques	GR 8633 Climate Change
	GR 6313 Advanced GIS	GG 8203 Ocean Science
	GR 8613 Hydrometeorology

Year Two

FALL	SPRING	SUMMER
GR 8553 ** Research Methods in Geoscience Available to students only during their final fall semester		GR 8573 ** Research in Applied Meteorology Available to students only during their final summer semester Includes Capstone Workshop
and		and
Elective Options (choose one):	Elective Options (choose two):	Elective Options (choose one):
GR 8813 Advanced Hazards & Disasters	GR 6753 Satellite & Radar	GR 6603 Climatology
GR 6333 Remote Sensing	GR 6823 Dynamic Meteorology I	GR 6933 Dynamic Meteorology II
GR 8133 Foundations in Forecasting	GR 8143 Advanced Forecasting Techniques	GR 8633 Climate Change
GG 8233 Environmental Geoscience	GR 6313 Advanced GIS	GG 8203 Ocean Science
	GR 8613 Hydrometeorology

* Program of study requires either GR 6923 Severe Weather OR GR 6943 Tropical Meteorology, but a student may choose to take the other course as an elective in either year.

Students may combine required courses with other courses of their choice as shown above. However, the program must include 36 credit hours (12 courses) and at 18 of these must be at the 8000-level.

A student may not repeat at the graduate level a class they took at Mississippi State University as an undergrad (e.g. GR 4603 Climatology and GR 6603 Climatology cannot both be taken from MSU).

Admissions Process

An applicant for admission to the Applied Meteorology Program (AMP) must hold a bachelor's degree in a science field from a four-year educational institution that has unconditional accreditation from a regional accrediting agency. An upper level calculus-based Synoptic Meteorology course (or equivalent) and Calculus I are prerequisites for beginning the program of study.

Admission is based primarily on past performance and letters of recommendation. Regular admission to graduate study in the Master of Science in Geosciences program requires a minimum grade point average of 2.75 on the last 60 hours of undergraduate work. Please note that the GRE is not required for admission into this program.

Follow the guide below to ensure that you complete all that is necessary for taking courses in the Applied Meteorology Program (AMP) program at Mississippi State University.

Fill out the online Application for Admission. The application requires a Statement of Purpose and the names and email addresses of 3 individuals submitting letters of recommendation on your behalf. A form will be provided to your recommenders for completion.
Submit a $60.00 or $80.00 international (non-refundable) application fee, payable online
Transcripts and application fee can be sent either electronically or by mail to:

Electronically (eScripted)to gradapps@grad.msstate.edu.
or
Paper Transcripts Address (USPS):
Mississippi State University
The Office of the Graduate School
P.O. Box G
Mississippi State, MS 39762
Textbooks are available 2 to 3 weeks prior to classes beginning and can be ordered through Barnes & Noble at MSU
You will be able to access Canvas on the first day of the semester. To access your courses, enter your NetID and NetPassword and click the Classroom tab.

Academic Advising

Yasma Jacobs

Geosciences

Academic Advisor

yjacobs@geosci.msstate.edu 662-325-3476 Fax: 662-325-9423

Students should contact Yasma Jacobs, Academic Advisor, about advising or if you have not been released to register by the time registration begins.

All returning students will be sent an email to their MsState email account during the advising periods with course schedule recommendations and a release to register.

Milestones

Year 1

Fall, Spring, Summer
Concentrate on course work. Try to complete required courses as they are offered so your graduation will not be delayed if you are unable to take them later. Remember that a minimum of 15 hours of coursework must be at the 8000-level. You may take some 6000-level courses but be sure that half of all coursework is at the 8000-level.

Year 2

Fall Semester
In the Fall of your second year, you will enroll in GR 8553 Research Methods. This course will assist you in applying research principles to develop the research project that you will present in the summer capstone workshop (GR 8573 course - Research in Applied Meteorology). Note that the Spring offering of GR 8553 is for ENGS students only.

Spring Semester
Continue coursework as you approach your final summer semester prior to graduation. Continue working toward the completion of your capstone project (that you proposed and developed in GR 8553 Research Methods). You should collect and properly analyze all data for your capstone project during this semester. In addition to working toward completing your capstone project, you will need to monitor your email for information regarding your Comprehensive Exam. This information will typically be emailed in February. During the Spring registration period, be sure to register for your summer capstone workshop (GR 8573 Research in Applied Meteorology) as this is a required course and must be completed prior to graduation.

Summer Semester
As you prepare for your end of summer graduation, you will complete the Comprehensive Exam (typically offered in mid to late May). MSU requires that non-thesis graduate students must be within 6 hours of graduation, or in their final semester to take the Comprehensive Exam. Students must also have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. In the summer term, you will also apply for graduation via your myState portal (in June) and complete your GR 8573 Research in Applied Meteorology course as well as any remaining coursework.

Important Notes for Students Taking Only 1 Course per Semester:
You will need to complete GR 8553 – Research Methods in Geosciences before beginning your capstone project. For AMP students, GR 8553 should be taken during the fall before you plan to complete the capstone. AMP students should also take GR 8573 – Research in Applied Meteorology in their final summer semester.

Geospatial Technologies Minor

The Department of Geosciences at Mississippi State University offers a minor in geospatial and remote sensing technologies. The minor can be fulfilled by completion of 12 credit hours in GIS courses.
GIS minor highlights

All classes have instructors with advanced degrees who are recognized experts and real-life practitioners in their field.
The minor can be completed along with your master’s degree.

Requirements

Select four courses from the courses below to obtain the GIS minor:

Fall Courses

GR 6303 Principles of GIS (offered summer and fall)
GR 6333 Remote Sensing Phys Env (offered fall)
GR 6363 GIS Programming (offered fall)

Spring Courses

GR 6353 Geodatabase Design (offered spring)
GR 6313 Advanced GIS (offered spring)

What are some potential career advantages?

Consider this minor if you would like to enhance your skills in other professions that may require or sometimes use GIS such as geology, meteorology, forestry, emergency management, environmental science, city planning and organization, utilities management and more.

Who should pursue this minor?

This minor can serve the needs of graduate students with diverse backgrounds from a variety of disciplines.

GIS Minor Request

Any current graduate student interested in earning a Geospatial Technologies (GIS) minor through MSU Geosciences Online Education Department can submit an official request by completing and submitting a GIS Minor Request Form.

By completing the request form, you are officially requesting to declare a minor in GIS along with your graduate degree from MSU.

*A committee request form will be required during your final 1-2 semesters in the graduate program

Minor Form