Our undergraduate program is a four-year program culminating in a Bachelor of Science in Meteorology and Atmospheric Science.
In addition to the General option, students may choose to pursue one of four other options, or specialties, within the Meteorology and Atmospheric Science program. The four specialty options plus the general option are listed below and provide more information about each option.
This option challenges students to strengthen and broaden their understanding of the physics and chemistry of the atmosphere and oceans. It helps prepare them for employment in the diverse field of the atmospheric sciences and for graduate study in the atmospheric or related disciplines. Students are encouraged to participate in undergraduate research projects under the supervision of atmospheric and oceanic scientists in the department.
METEO 422 Dynamic Meteorology II (3)
METEO 473 Application of Computers to Meteorology (3)# or METEO 474 (3)# Computer Methods of Meteorological Analysis and Forecasting
METEO 436 Radiation and Climate (3)$
METEO 437 Atmospheric Chemistry and Cloud Physics (3)$
METEO 454 Introduction to Micrometeorology (3)$
# satisfies the the meteorological data analysis course requirement.
$ satisfies the the physical meteorology course requirement.
METEO 414 Mesoscale Meteorology (4)
METEO 434 Radar Meteorology (3)
METEO 436 Radiation and Climate (3)*
METEO 437 Atmospheric Chemistry and Cloud Physics (3)*
METEO 451 Introduction to Physical Oceanography (3)
METEO 452 Tropical Meteorology (3)
METEO 454 Introduction to Micrometeorology (3)*
METEO 455 Atmospheric Dispersion (3)
METEO 465 Middle Atmosphere Meteorology (3)
METEO 466 Planetary Atmospheres (3)
METEO 471W Observing Meteorological Phenomena
METEO 473 Application of Computers to Meteorology (3)*
METEO 474 Computer Methods of Meteorological Analysis and Forecasting (3)*
METEO 480W Undergraduate Research (3)
METEO 494 Research Project (3)
Up to nine credits from relevant courses in acoustics, chemistry, engineering, geosciences, information science, mathematics, physics, and statistics may be substituted with the approval of the student’s advisor.
Three credits of W courses or their equivalent in addition to METEO 440W are required for the option.
*If not used to meet the required courses.
Professor Sukyoung Lee
519 Walker Building
Telephone: (814) 863-1587
Email: sxl13@psu.edu
Environmental Meteorology prepares the student for understanding the impact of the weather and climate on the environment, which is to say the impacts of air and water on natural and human-altered ecosystems. In order to do this, the option establishes links between atmospheric physics and a variety of environmental disciplines pertaining to land, water, soils, and plants. Depending on his/her interests, the student will select courses in Air Quality and Dispersion, Ecology, Environmental Chemistry, Geographic Information Systems, or Hydrology.
C E 370 Introduction to Environmental Engineering (3)
METEO 454 Micrometeorology (3)$
METEO 455 Atmospheric Dispersion (3)
METEO 473 Application of Computers to Meteorology (3)#
or METEO 474 Computer Methods of Meteorological Analysis and Forecasting (3)#
# satisfies the the meteorological data analysis course requirement.
$ satisfies the the physical meteorology course requirement.
In some cases there are prerequisites, so careful planning is needed in scheduling these. For those with interests in the chemistry or biological sciences, BIO 110, CHEM 112, CHEM 111 and CHEM 113 are recommended prerequisites for a variety of courses.
BIOL 110 Biology: Basic Concepts and Biodiversity (4)
C E 360 Fluid Mechanics (3) (E MCH 212 required)
C E 461 Water-resource Engineering (3) (C E 360 required)
C E 475 Water Quality Analysis (4) (CHEM 110 required)
C E 479 Environmental Microbiology for Engineers (3) (CHEM 111 and C E 370 required)
CHEM 112 Chemical Principles II (3) (CHEM 110 or CHEM 116 required)
CHEM 113 Experimental Chemistry (1) (CHEM 111 required)
CHEM 450 Physical Chemistry - Thermodynamics (3)
CHEM 457 Experimental Physical Chemistry (2)
CHEM 464 Chemical Kinetics and Dynamics (3) (CHEM 450 or CH E 220 and CHEM 452 required)
E R M 430 Environmental Resource Management (3) (Biology 220W required)
E R M 435 Limnology (3) (BIOL 110, BIOL 220W, CHEM 110 required)
E R M 447 Stream Restoration (3) (A S M 327 or A B E307 or C E 361 required)
E R M 450 Wetland Conservation (3) (E R M 300 or W F S 209 required)
GEOG 314 Biogeography and Global Ecology (3)
GEOG 311 Landscape Ecology (3) (GEOG 111, BIOL 110, FOR 308 or W F S 209)
GEOG 313 Introduction to Field Geography (3) (GEOG 160 required)
GEOG 361 Cartography--Maps and Map Construction (3) (GEOG 160 required)
GEOG 362 Image Analysis (3) (Geog 160 [121] required)
GEOG 363 Geographic Information Systems (3) (Geog 160 [121] required)
GEOG 417 Satellite Climatology (3) (GEOG 362)
GEOG 463 Geospatial Information Management (3) (GEOG 363)
M E 405 Indoor Air Quality Engineering (3)
M E 433 Fundamentals of Air Pollution (3) (M E 201 or M E 300)
METEO 419 Air Quality Forecasting (3)
METEO 437 Atmospheric Chemistry and Cloud Physics (3)
In addition to the recommendations included in the above list, the student may request with the approval of his/her advisor a different 300- or 400-level, 3-credit course that will contribute significantly to his/her professional educational goals.
Professor William Brune
617 Walker Building
Telephone: (814) 865-3286
Email: whb2@psu.edu
Weather and climate are fundamental drivers of economic activity and financial risk. Weather affects a wide range of industries, including energy, agriculture, insurance, construction, retail, and transport, among others. Weather and climate variation play central roles in the availability of water resources, the spread of disease, and an array of other processes vital for human welfare. There are, consequently, many organizations that confront risks related to weather, and that have a demand for experts who can help them manage these risks.
The Weather Risk Management option is designed for students who wish to work professionally at this intersection of meteorology and risk management. The option combines study of meteorology and atmospheric sciences with training in risk, finance, and decision-making.
ECON 102 (GS) Introductory Microeconomic Analysis and Policy (3)
EBF 473 Risk Management in Energy Industries (3)
METEO 436 Radiation and Climate (3)$
or METEO 437 Atmospheric Chemistry and Cloud Physics (3)$
or METEO 454 Introduction to Micrometeorology (3) [Preferred]$
METEO 460 Weather Risk and Financial Markets (3)
EBF 301 Global Finance for the Earth, Energy, and Materials Industries (3)
EBF 483 Introduction to Electricity Markets (3)
EBF 484 Energy Economics (3)
EME 460 Geo-resource Evaluation and Investment Analysis (3)
EGEE 437 Design of Solar Energy Conversion Systems (3)
EGEE 438 Wind and Hydropower Energy Conversion (3)
METEO 415 Forecasting Practicum (3)
METEO 473 Application of Computers to Meteorology (3)#
METEO 474 Computer Methods of Meteorological Analysis and Forecasting (3)#
ECON 490 Introduction to Econometrics (3)
STAT 318 Elementary Probability (3)
STAT 319 Applied Statistics in Science (3)
STAT 414 Introduction to Probability Theory (3)
STAT 415 Introduction to Mathematical Statistics (3)
STAT 460 Intermediate Applied Statistics (3)
STAT 462 Applied Regression Analysis (3)
Substitutions are possible subject to prior approval by the option director.
# satisfies the the meteorological data analysis course requirement.
$ satisfies the the physical meteorology course requirement.
Comment: Students are also encouraged to undertake during the course of the program a professional internship with an organization involved with weather risk management.
Professor Jon M. Nese
518 Walker Building
Telephone: (814) 863-4076
Email: j2n@psu.edu
This option prepares students for careers in which their skills as weather forecasters are effectively used in a variety of ways, from science reporting and television broadcasting to web design, computer-based weather graphics production, and developing innovative applications of weather and climate data to industry.
Students in this option are encouraged to get involved with Weather World, the department's weekday weather magazine show, either behind-the-scenes or on-air. To be considered for on-air work, you must take the Weather Communications classes (Meteo 481 and 482) and take (or be taking) the Forecasting Practicum (Meteo 415), and get the recommendation of the 415 instructor. You must also record an audition for the show that will be evaluated by the Weather Communications Group.
METEO 414 Mesoscale Meteorology (4)
METEO 415 Forecasting Practicum (3)
METEO 436 Radiation and Climate (3)$
or METEO 437 Atmospheric Chemistry and Cloud Physics (3)$
METEO 473 Application of Computers to Meteorology (3)#
or METEO 474 Computer Methods of Meteorological Analysis and Forecasting (3)#
METEO 481 Weather Communications I (3)
METEO 482 Weather Communications II (3)
# satisfies the the meteorological data analysis course requirement.
$ satisfies the the physical meteorology course requirement.
EE 477 Fundamentals of Remote Sensing Systems (3)
ENGL 416 Science Writing (3)
GEOG 333 Human Dimensions of Natural Hazards (3)
(Controlled course. METEO students can enroll if space is available at the beginning of the semester.)
GEOG 361 Cartography--Maps and Map Construction (3)+
GEOG 362 Image Analysis (3)+
GEOG 363, Geographic Information Systems (3)+
GEOG 417 Satellite Climatology (3)
GEOG 463 Geospatial Information Management (3)
GEOG 467 Applied Cartographic Design (3)
GEOSC 402Y (IL) Natural Disasters (3)
METEO 412 Synoptic Applications of Dynamic Meteorology (4)
METEO 413 Map Analysis (3)
METEO 416 Advanced Forecasting (3)
METEO 419 Air Quality Forecasting (3)
METEO 422 Dynamic Meteorology II (3)
METEO 434 Radar Meteorology (3)
METEO 451 Introduction to Physical Oceanography (3)
METEO 452 Tropical Meteorology (3)
METEO 454 Introduction to Micrometeorology (3)
METEO 466 Planetary Atmospheres (3)
METEO 471W Observing Meteorological Phenomena (3)
METEO 473 Application of Computers to Meteorology (3)*
METEO 474 Computer Methods of Meteorological Analysis and Forecasting (3)*
METEO 483 Weather Communications III (3)
METEO 484 Weather Communications Apprenticeship (3)
METEO 486 Pennsylvania Climate Studies (3 credit maximum)
METEO 495A,B,C,D,E Meteorological Internship (6 credit maximum)
____________________________
+Students wishing to take these Geography courses should take GEOG 160 Mapping Our Changing World as one of their GS courses
*If not used to meet the required courses.
Professor Jon M. Nese
518 Walker Building
Telephone: (814) 863-4076
Email: j2n@psu.edu
The General option has sufficient flexibility to serve the needs of students who wish to pursue topics chosen broadly from sub-disciplines of meteorology or from related areas. The General option is appropriate both for students who intend to pursue postgraduate degrees and for students who want to emphasize a topic for which no option exists.
Three credits from METEO 436 (Radiation and Climate), METEO 437 (Atmospheric Chemistry and Cloud Physics), or METEO 454 (Introduction to Micrometeorology)
Three credits from either METEO 473 (Application of Computers to Meteorology) or METEO 474 (Computer Methods of Meteorological Analysis and Forecasting) (3 credits)
Select 21-23 additional credits from 400-level METEO courses and/or 300- or 400-level courses from the Colleges of Agricultural Sciences, Earth and Mineral Sciences, Engineering, and/or Science (some 200-level courses may be acceptable with approval of advisor). The courses below are Meteorology electives.
METEO 412 Synoptic Applications of Dynamic Meteorology (3)
METEO 413 Map Analysis (3)
METEO 414 Mesoscale Meteorology (4)
METEO 415 Forecasting Practicum (3)
METEO 416 Advanced Forecasting (3)
METEO 418W Topics in Mesoscale Meteorology (3)
METEO 419 Air-Quality Forecasting (3)
METEO 422 Dynamic Meteorology II (3)
METEO 434 Radar Meteorology (3)
METEO 436 Radiation and Climate* (3)
METEO 437 Atmospheric Chemistry and Cloud Physics* (3)
METEO 451 Elements of Physical Oceanography (3)
METEO 452 Tropical Meteorology (3)
METEO 454 Micrometeorology* (3)
METEO 455 Atmospheric Dispersion (3)
METEO 465 Middle Atmosphere Meteorology (3)
METEO 466 Planetary Atmospheres (3)
METEO 471W Observing Meteorological Phenomena (3)
METEO 473 Application of Computers to Meteorology* (3)
METEO 474 Computer Methods of Meteorological Analysis and Forecasting* (3)
EE/METEO 477 Fundamentals of Remote Sensing Systems (3)
METEO 480W Undergraduate Research (3)
METEO 481 Weather Communications I (taken in junior year) (3)
METEO 482 Weather Communications II (taken in junior year) (3)
METEO 483 Weather Communications III (3)
METEO 484 Weather Communications Apprenticeship (3)
METEO 485 National Weather Service Operations (2-3)
METEO 486 Climate Studies (1-2)
Meteo 495A, B, C, D, E, Internship (6 credits maximum)
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*If not used to satisfy the six-credit requirement
