Graduate Admissions

Considering a graduate degree in atmospheric science? You’ve come to the right place. Through over 45 graduate courses taught by award-winning faculty and hands-on research opportunities, graduates gain the knowledge and skills necessary to enter diverse careers, including weather and climate forecasting, insurance, government laboratories, NGOs, and environmental consulting.

You will find the following information below:

Requirements for Admission to M.S. Program

• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in physics, math, atmospheric science, engineering, chemistry or related field with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0
• Calculus-based math course sequence including differential equations and vector analysis
• Calculus-based physics course sequence including kinetics, electricity and magnetism, and some modern topics

Depending on your chosen area of specialization in atmospheric science, you may find coursework in one or more of the following areas helpful: fluid mechanics, statistical thermodynamics, kinetic theory, modern physics, physical and/or analytical chemistry, statistics, applied math and numerical analysis.

Requirements for Admission to Ph.D. Program

• Successful completion of an M.S. degree with thesis in atmospheric science or related field with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0
• Demonstration of basic principles of atmospheric science and aptitude for research

Please note that the department does not have a direct-to-Ph.D. program.  If you have not earned an M.S. degree, you must apply for the M.S. program.

Graduate Research Assistantships

Applicants to both the M.S. and Ph.D. programs are automatically considered for funding in the form of graduate research assistantships. No additional paperwork is required. These assistantships include tuition and university mandatory fees, health insurance coverage, and a monthly stipend.

Application Process

Application deadlines for full consideration:  

• Fall admission: January 1
• Spring admission: September 

Most offers are extended for fall admission.

Research focus areas: 

Prospective students should review the research themes of the department prior to applying as applicants must provide a statement of purpose describing their research interests. Applicants are also strongly encouraged to list those faculty they would be interested in working with.

How to apply:

To begin the formal admission process, applicants must complete an application to the Graduate School at CSU. When filling out the application, please be aware of the following:

• Required documents (uploaded in application):
  • Statement of purpose (200-500 words). Please address a subset of the following questions in your personal statement:
    • Why do you want to attend graduate school at CSU, and in general?
    • What are your research interests for graduate school?
    • Discuss a specific science question in atmospheric science or another field that intrigues you. Why does it interest you? How might we go about solving it?
    • What other information would you like us to consider about your life experiences in support of your graduate school application?
  • Curriculum vitae
  • At least three letters of recommendation
  • Transcripts (see below for additional information)
  • The department does not require or consider GRE scores

• Required supplemental questions (answered in application):
  • For full consideration, you must provide responses to supplemental question prompts:
    • Have you applied for or received outside funding (e.g. SOARS, government, or other fellowships)?
    • Describe an academic or personal challenge that you faced, how you handled the situation, what you learned from it, and any self-improvement that came of it. (200-word maximum)
    • How does your lived experience inform your skillset as related to our program?

• Application fee
  • Applicants are responsible for the application fee. The department cannot provide application fee waivers at this time.
  • December 1 is a free application day. If you submit an application on this day, you will not have to pay an application fee.
  • The Graduate School supports fee waivers for applicants who can demonstrate membership in or affiliation with specific programs and/or partnerships. More information available on the Graduate School application fee waiver request form.

• Transcripts from all collegiate institutions attended (one copy from each)
  • The department accepts unofficial copies of transcripts for admission review. Applicants can upload those copies to their application.
  • Admitted students must submit official transcripts from all universities/colleges attended before the end of their first semester. Failure to do so may result in expulsion from the graduate program.

• International applicants must also submit proof of English proficiency:
  • The department follows CSU Graduate School’s requirements. Please visit their English proficiency page for detailed information on what tests are accepted, required minimum scores, and how to submit scores.

Mailing Address

Any documents not submitted online should be mailed directly to the Graduate Admissions Office at:

Colorado State University
Office of Admissions
1062 Campus Delivery
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1062

Prospective Student Visits

Please contact the department by phone at 970-491-8360 or by email at sarah.tisdale@colostate.edu.

Questions, Comments or Concerns?

Useful pages of our website that may help answer your questions:

• M.S. program requirements
• Ph.D. program requirements,
• Course listings
• Financial aid
• Research overview

If you need additional information or have questions, please contact Graduate Adviser Sarah Tisdale by email at sarah.tisdale@colostate.edu or by phone at 970-491-8360.