Our students come from Hawai‘i, from the US mainland and from other countries. The main qualification to join our program is good performance in an undergraduate program that includes basic training in mathematics (at least through differential equations) and physics.

Some of our graduate students have come to us with undergraduate degrees in atmospheric science, but many others have come with undergraduate degrees in physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering or related subjects, and without any prior courses in meteorology.

The department provides two paths to a Master's degree (M.S.) The first track, Plan A, requires a student-written thesis. The second track, Plan B, requires additional courses and a project instead of a thesis.