Undergraduate Curriculum

Curriculum

Faculty

Atmospheric & Climatic Studies

Undergraduates who are interested in the Atmospheric and Climatic Studies will need to meet the following requirements and complete the required course work to earn a B.S. in Geography. Undergraduates also will be interested in the acquired skill sets as a part of this course work, the types of issues and topics that are addressed, and the career opportunities that are available within this field.

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Requirements

Required Geography credit hours:43+
Other Required course:Statistics 245 or higher

Required courses

Below are the course requirements for undergraduates in the Atmospheric and Climatic Studies specialization. Please be aware that requirements are subject to change. The definitive version can be found in the Department of Geography Undergraduate Manual.

CourseCreditsPrerequisitesQuarter(s) Offered
AS/Geog 620: Synoptic Lab3AS 230 or Geog 520Autumn
Geog 622.01: Boundary Layer Climatology5Geog 520, Physics 132, AS631 PreferredWinter
Geog 622.02: Microclimatological Measurements5Geog 622.01Autumn
Geog 623.01: Synoptic Analysis and Forecasting5Geog 520 & 620, Physics 132Winter
Geog 623.02: Severe Storm Forecasting5Geog 623.01Spring
Geog 520: Climatology OR AS 230: Basic Meteorology5None/Physics 132, Math 152Autumn/Winter / Spring

Additional Courses: Atmospheric Science Option

CourseCreditsPrerequisitesQuarter(s) Offered
AS 631: Atmospheric Thermodynamics5Math 153Autumn
AS 637: Dynamic Meteorology I5AS 631, Math 255 or 415Winter
AS 638: Dynamic Meteorology II5AS 637Spring

Additional Courses: Climatic Studies Option

CourseCreditsPrerequisitesQuarter(s) Offered
Geog 580: Introduction to Cartography5NoneAll
Geog 695: Undergrad. Seminar Applied Geography OR Geog 795: Seminar in Geography520 hours in Geography/NoneSpring / Varies
Any Human Geography Course (600 or Higher)5NoneAll

Issues and topics

The following is an example of the types of issues and topics students will study within the Atmospheric and Climatic Studies specialization.

Weather forecasting

  • Satellite images
  • Radar
  • Model output
  • Reporting

Severe weather

  • Thunderstorms
  • Tornadoes
  • Hail
  • Hurricanes

Micrometeorology

  • Urban heat island
  • Dust devils
  • Radiation budgets
  • Surface effects
  • Pollution

Global climate change

  • Human influence
  • Impacts
  • Detection

Climatology

  • Drought and floods
  • Classification

Atmospheric dynamics and thermodynamics

Acquired skill sets

Students can expect to acquire and perform the following skills sets within this specialization. Students also should have a solid background in mathematics and the physical science

  • Critical thinking
  • Critical writing
  • Research
  • Strong organizational skills

Technical skills

  • Quantitative data analysis
  • Graphic communication (including map reading and development)
  • Synoptic and mesoscale weather forecasting

Career opportunities

Geographers can find career opportunities in many fields both within and outside the field of geography. Below is a partial listing of careers that students within the Atmospheric and Climatic Studies specialization are well-suited and where previous graduates have found employment.

  • Meteorologist (national weather service, television, radio, private firm)
  • Climatologist
  • Air quality analyst
  • Outdoor parks service guide
  • Professional storm chaser / weather guide
  • Environmental specialist for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • Environmental monitor
  • Researcher (U.S. Geological Survey, National Resource and Conservation Departments Center for Atmospheric Research, Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, etc.)
  • Risk analyst (insurance industry)