The climatology program emphasizes physical, synoptic, dynamic, and water budget climatology, as well as glaciology and climatic geomorphology. Climate research is directed toward solving numerous human/environmental problems, and the program has received funding from EPA, NASA, NOAA, and NSF. 

The human geography program covers a broad range of themes approached from cultural-historical, socio-economic and humanistic perspectives. The study of landscapes, geographic ideas, perceptions and attitudes in a cross-cultural context (including philosophic and literary aspects) is another area of the program. Interdisciplinary work with other departments and the colleges of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Marine Studies is encouraged. 

A University Center for Climatic Research has been established in the department, which also houses the Office of the State Climatologist for Delaware. Facilities include laboratories for cartography, climatology, and computer analysis. Graduate students have ready access to the University's Unix cluster with a variety of high-end machines, including Sun servers, a Silicon Graphics Power Challenge and a Cray J90. Departmental facilities include a smaller Unix cluster based on an SGI Challenge, Sparc stations, X terminals, a group of Pentium PCs, and high-capacity laser and other printers. Locally supported software includes: ArcInfo and ArcView GIS, and the McIDAS/Gempak weather analysis system. All of the department's computing facilities are fully integrated into the campus and worldwide networks. The department also is well-equipped with instrumentation for microclimatic studies and possesses an abundance of digitally-stored weather and climate data, principally for large scale investigations. 

General admissions requirements are an undergraduate index of 2.75 or more and combined GRE scores of at least 1050. Admission is selective and competitive based on the number of well qualified applicants and the limits of available faculty and facilities. Those who meet stated minimum academic requirements are not guaranteed admission, nor are those who fail to meet those requirements necessarily precluded from admission if they offer other appropriate strengths. The department will consider qualified applicants without previous background in geography, although additional preliminary work may be required. 

Students in either master's program complete (with a B average or better) a total of 24 course credits as well as a thesis (6 credits). In general, students in the human geography area will work toward the Master of Arts degree, while climatology students will pursue the Master of Science. Course work programs are tailored to the student's research interest, and each student's work is periodically reviewed. There is no special examination or language requirement. 

It is the responsibility of the student in consultation with the thesis adviser to complete the thesis and to obtain acceptance by the thesis committee. A public presentation of the thesis to the department also is required. 

Applicants to the Ph.D. program in climatology are expected to have completed a master's degree in geography-climatology, meteorology, or a related discipline. Students in this program must also have completed mathematics through ordinary differential equations (MATH 302) and must demonstrate a knowledge of at least one higher level computer programming language. Ph.D. students are expected to obtain an in-depth knowledge of two areas. One of these must be topical, such as bioclimatology, physical climatology or urban climatology, and the other must be methodological such as statistical methods, mathematics or computer science. 

Students are also expected to have a broad knowledge of climatology and to demonstrate a high level of professional competence by passing a written qualifying examination, an oral examination and an oral dissertation defense. A description of the Ph.D. program in climatology can be obtained by contacting the Geography Department.