Ph.D. in Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences

Objectives

·        Enhance interdisciplinary research at SDSM&T in atmospheric and environmental topics

·        Combine theory, experiment, and applications to address regional and local issues (that may be globally significant)

·        Link field and laboratory research with larger-scale observations, such as remote sensing

·        Build predictive capabilities, useful in regional resource management and climate-sensitive economic development

·        Generate marketable applications of regional and global significance

·        Create a nationally and internationally recognized research program that produces cutting-edge research

·        Prepare its students well for a lifetime of scholarly and/or entrepreneurial activity with particular emphasis on building teams to solve complex problems.

 

Outcomes

·        Students demonstrate a broad understanding of general scientific knowledge in physics, chemistry, and the geosciences.

·        Students can utilize  tools available for measuring, monitoring, visualizing, modeling, and analyzing environmental systems.

·        Students demonstrate specialized advanced knowledge in atmospheric and/or environmental studies.

·        Students work effectively with teams to identify and develop solutions to problems requiring multidisciplinary approaches.

·        Students achieve familiarity with scientific literature in their area of specialization, including an understanding of the main issues and advances under development. 

·        Students demonstrate a scholarly understanding of the milestones and of the key contributors whose work marks the progression of knowledge in their area of focus.

·        Students can frame a fundamental research problem and develop a technically sound research plan to address it.

·        Students can communicate effectively in written standard scientific English.

·        Students can communicate effectively in oral presentations.

·        Students can identify weaknesses of written and oral presentations, and provide tactful constructive criticism.

·        Students demonstrate intellectual honesty when working with data and ideas.    They understand the concepts of attribution and plagiarism, as well as the differences between opinion, consensus, hypothesis, theory, and fact.  

·        Students have made an original contribution to science or engineering.  

·        Students can define the scope of their contribution and defend the methodology employed based on an understanding of the underlying fundamental concepts.

·        Students demonstrate critical thinking skills:  to sift through vast quantities of information, to assimilate knowledge and to identify errors, and to develop logical plans to solve problems. 

·        Students demonstrate good work habits, including setting short-term and long-term goals, evaluating their own progress, organizing critical information, and meeting deadlines.  Students must be able to discern critical from non-essential tasks and organize their time effectively.