Graduate Assistantships and Cost of Study

Several graduate student assistantships within the Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences Program may be made available each year to qualified students in atmospheric sciences and related topic areas. These assistantships are funded through grants and/or contracts held by departmental investigators.

Most graduate assistantships are based on half-time commitment (20 hours/week) during the school year, and full time commitment for three months (40 hours/week) during the summer. Activities to be carried out by a research assistant are assigned and monitored by the principal investigator. In order to qualify for the partial tuition payment, students must carry 9 credit hours during the school year and 6 credit hours during the summer. This requirement is reduced after a student has fulfilled all coursework requirements.

The atmospheric and environmental sciences master of science program is included in the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP). Students who are residents from any of the cooperating states may enroll in the South Dakota Mines atmospheric and environmental sciences program at in-state rates.