Atmospheric Sciences, BS
Program Description
The Bachelor of Science program in Atmospheric Sciences addresses the needs of students interested in studying meteorology or climate science. The program provides students with an in-depth knowledge of the physical characteristics, motions and processes of air; as well as the interactions of this protective layer with the underlying oceans and continents. The undergraduate program emphasizes a systems approach, combining traditional atmospheric sciences with emerging fields. In particular, the program focuses on the fields of tropical meteorology and oceanography that are directly linked to the Gulf of Mexico and surrounding coastal regions where the university is strategically located.
Student Learning Outcomes
Students will:
- Possess a broad understanding of the field of atmospheric sciences in preparation for successful careers in related disciplines;
- Gain experience and professional competence in the use of scientific method to develop and conduct atmospheric sciences related work;
- Acquire the necessary skills to effectively communicate the meteorology and climate sciences information to a range of audiences and participate in community and/or professional service through various organizations.
General Requirements
The Bachelor of Science in Atmospheric Sciences degree requires a minimum of 120 semester credit hours: 42 are from designated University Core Curriculum Program courses, 57 are from atmospheric sciences core courses and 21 are from career track courses. The atmospheric sciences core provides students with a broad background in meteorology and climate sciences, and satisfy the requirements for federal employment as a National Weather Service meteorologist (also referred to as NOAA GS1340 positions). The students can choose a career track in either general atmospheric sciences or the broadcast meteorology. Students should select a career track as soon as possible after they complete their freshman year and well before they begin their junior year.
Requirements | Credit Hours |
---|---|
First-Year Seminars (when applicable)1 | 0-2 |
Core Curriculum Program | 42 |
Atmospheric Sciences Core Courses | 54 |
Atmospheric Sciences Career Track Courses - Electives | 18-21 |
Electives to get to 120 2 | 6 |
Total Credit Hours | 120-125 |
- 1
Full-time, first time in college students are required to take the first-year seminars.
- 2
Electives can range between 1-6 hours.
Program Requirements
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Full-time, First-year Students | ||
UNIV 1101 | University Seminar I | 1 |
UNIV 1102 | University Seminar II | 1 |
Core Curriculum Program | ||
University Core Curriculum 1 | 42 | |
ATSC majors are required to take: 2 | ||
Calculus I | ||
University Physics I | ||
University Physics II | ||
Atmospheric Sciences Core Courses | ||
ATSC 2403 | Introduction to Meteorology | 4 |
ATSC 2301 | Weather Observations | 3 |
ATSC 2302 | Introduction of Data Analysis in Atmospheric Sciences | 3 |
ATSC 3305 | Physical Meteorology | 3 |
ATSC 3306 | Atmospheric Thermodynamics | 3 |
ATSC 3401 | Synoptic Meteorology | 4 |
ATSC 3402 | Mesoscale Meteorology | 4 |
ATSC 4301 | Dynamic Meteorology I | 3 |
ATSC 4305 | Remote Sensing | 3 |
CHEM 1411 | General Chemistry I | 4 |
ATSC 4335 | Climate and Climate Variability | 3 |
MATH 2414 | Calculus II (3 hours included in University Core) | 1 |
MATH 3311 | Linear Algebra | 3 |
MATH 3315 | Differential Equations | 3 |
MATH 2415 | Calculus III | 4 |
ESCI 4360 | Physical Oceanography | 3 |
MATH 3345 | Statistical Modeling and Data Analysis | 3 |
Career Tracks in Atmospheric Sciences | ||
Select one of the following Tracks: | 18-21 | |
Electives | ||
Elective to get to 120 | 1-6 | |
Total Hours | 120-125 |
- 1
The ATSC Freshmen are encouraged to take advantage of the First-Year Writing classes (COMM 1311 Foundation of Communication (3 sch) & ENGL 1301 Writing and Rhetoric I (3 sch)) as part of the First-year Learning Communities Program to give them opportunities to work together, get to know each other, and learn together.
- 2
These three 4 semester credit hours courses will result in 3 extra semester credit hours, which may be counted as part of the Component Area Option in the University Core Curriculum.
Career Tracks in Atmospheric Sciences
The atmospheric sciences program offers the general Atmospheric Sciences Track and the Broadcast Meteorologist Track. The students from both tracks will satisfy the requirements for federal employment as a National Weather Service meteorologist (also referred to as NOAA GS1340 positions). A total of 21 semester hours of electives courses are required for both career tracks.
Atmospheric Sciences Track
The students in the general atmospheric sciences track are required to take 21 Sem. Hrs. from the following electives.
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Select 21 hours of the following electives: | 21 | |
10 hours of electives must be Upper Division hours | ||
Weathercasting | ||
Atmospheric Modeling | ||
Environmental Science I: Intro to Environmental Science | ||
Paleoclimatology | ||
Oceanography | ||
Geospatial Systems I | ||
Directed Independent Study | ||
Selected Topics | ||
Introduction to Astronomy: Solar System | ||
General Chemistry II | ||
Organic Chemistry I | ||
Hydrogeology | ||
Partial Differential Equations | ||
Physical Geology | ||
Discrete Mathematics I | ||
Internship in Atmospheric Science | ||
Dynamic Meteorology II | ||
Physical Geography | ||
Numerical Methods | ||
Mathematical Methods for Physicists | ||
Air Pollution and the Clean Air Act | ||
Total Hours | 21 |
Broadcast Meteorology Track
Those students interested in becoming broadcast meteorologists should follow the Broadcast Meteorology Track. Students in this track take COMM 1311 Foundation of Communication (3 sch), ATSC 2101 Weathercasting (1 sch) and an additional 9 hours from the other electives listed below plus another 8 hours from the Atmospheric Sciences Track electives.
Students interested in English-only broadcasting need to take all 9 hours from the communication (COMM or MEDA) courses. Students interested in bilingual English-Spanish broadcasting must choose 3 hours from the communication (COMM or MEDA) courses, and 6 hours from the Spanish (SPAN) courses. An internship experience through ATSC 4498 Internship in Atmospheric Science (1-4 sch) is highly recommended for all broadcast meteorology students, preferably during their junior or senior years.
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
COMM 1311 | Foundation of Communication 1 | 3 |
ATSC 2101 | Weathercasting | 1 |
10 hours of electives must be Upper Division hours | ||
Select 9 hours of electives of the following: | 9 | |
Voice and Diction | ||
Introduction to Media Production | ||
Media Writing | ||
Media Performance | ||
Media Industries | ||
Multimedia Journalism | ||
Continuing Spanish | ||
News Reporting | ||
Spanish for Heritage Speakers | ||
Spanish Composition | ||
Spanish Conversation | ||
Internship in Atmospheric Science | ||
Select 8 hours of additional electives of the general Atmospheric Sciences Track 2 | 8 | |
Total Hours | 18-21 |
- 1
If COMM 1311 Foundation of Communication (3 sch) is taken as part of the university core, only 18 hours are required for this section.
- 2
Additional 8 semester hours of the electives from the general Atmospheric Sciences Track will be needed to satisfy the 18 semester hours of electives requirement. Other MEDA/COMM courses may be substituted with faculty mentor approval.
Course Sequencing
General Atmospheric Sciences
First Year | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Hours | |
UNIV 1101 | University Seminar I | 1 |
MATH 2413 | Calculus I | 4 |
ATSC 2403 | Introduction to Meteorology | 4 |
ENGL 1301 | Writing and Rhetoric I | 3 |
ATSC 2302 | Introduction of Data Analysis in Atmospheric Sciences | 3 |
Hours | 15 | |
Spring | ||
UNIV 1102 | University Seminar II | 1 |
PHYS 2425 | University Physics I | 4 |
COMM 1311 | Foundation of Communication | 3 |
POLS 2306 | State and Local Government | 3 |
MATH 2414 | Calculus II | 4 |
Hours | 15 | |
Second Year | ||
Fall | ||
MATH 2415 | Calculus III | 4 |
ATSC 3306 | Atmospheric Thermodynamics | 3 |
HIST 1302 | U.S. History Since 1865 | 3 |
PHYS 2426 | University Physics II | 4 |
Hours | 14 | |
Spring | ||
ATSC 4301 | Dynamic Meteorology I | 3 |
ATSC 2301 | Weather Observations | 3 |
CHEM 1411 | General Chemistry I | 4 |
HIST 1302 | U.S. History Since 1865 | 3 |
ATSC Elective | 4 | |
Hours | 17 | |
Third Year | ||
Fall | ||
MATH 3311 | Linear Algebra | 3 |
ATSC 3305 | Physical Meteorology | 3 |
ATSC 3401 | Synoptic Meteorology | 4 |
POLS 2305 | U.S. Government and Politics | 3 |
Social and Behavioral Sciences Core Requirement | 3 | |
Hours | 16 | |
Spring | ||
MATH 3315 | Differential Equations | 3 |
ATSC 3402 | Mesoscale Meteorology | 4 |
ESCI 4360 | Physical Oceanography | 3 |
ATSC Elective | 4 | |
ATSC Elective | 3 | |
Hours | 17 | |
Fourth Year | ||
Fall | ||
MATH 3345 | Statistical Modeling and Data Analysis | 3 |
ATSC 4335 | Climate and Climate Variability | 3 |
UL ATSC Elective | 3 | |
Language, Philosophy, & Culture Core Requirement | 3 | |
Hours | 12 | |
Spring | ||
ATSC 4305 | Remote Sensing | 3 |
UL ATSC Elective | 3 | |
UL ATSC Elective | 4 | |
Creative Arts Core Requirement | 3 | |
Electives as needed for min 120 | 1 | |
Hours | 14 | |
Total Hours | 120 |
Broadcast Meteorology
First Year | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Hours | |
UNIV 1101 | University Seminar I | 1 |
MATH 2413 | Calculus I | 4 |
ATSC 2403 | Introduction to Meteorology | 4 |
ENGL 1301 | Writing and Rhetoric I | 3 |
ATSC 2302 | Introduction of Data Analysis in Atmospheric Sciences | 3 |
Hours | 15 | |
Spring | ||
UNIV 1102 | University Seminar II | 1 |
PHYS 2425 | University Physics I | 4 |
COMM 1311 | Foundation of Communication | 3 |
POLS 2306 | State and Local Government | 3 |
MATH 2414 | Calculus II | 4 |
Hours | 15 | |
Second Year | ||
Fall | ||
MATH 2415 | Calculus III | 4 |
ATSC 3306 | Atmospheric Thermodynamics | 3 |
HIST 1301 | U.S. History to 1865 | 3 |
PHYS 2426 | University Physics II | 4 |
Hours | 14 | |
Spring | ||
ATSC 4301 | Dynamic Meteorology I | 3 |
ATSC 2301 | Weather Observations | 3 |
CHEM 1411 | General Chemistry I | 4 |
HIST 1302 | U.S. History Since 1865 | 3 |
ATSC Elective | 3 | |
Hours | 16 | |
Third Year | ||
Fall | ||
MATH 3311 | Linear Algebra | 3 |
ATSC 3305 | Physical Meteorology | 3 |
ATSC 3401 | Synoptic Meteorology | 4 |
POLS 2305 | U.S. Government and Politics | 3 |
Social and Behavioral Sciences Core Requirement | 3 | |
Hours | 16 | |
Spring | ||
MATH 3315 | Differential Equations | 3 |
ATSC 3402 | Mesoscale Meteorology | 4 |
ESCI 4360 | Physical Oceanography | 3 |
ATSC 2101 | Weathercasting | 1 |
Elective | 3 | |
ATSC Elective | 3 | |
Hours | 17 | |
Fourth Year | ||
Fall | ||
MATH 3345 | Statistical Modeling and Data Analysis | 3 |
ATSC 4335 | Climate and Climate Variability | 3 |
UL ATSC elective | 4 | |
Language, Philosophy, & Culture Core requirement | 3 | |
Hours | 13 | |
Spring | ||
ATSC 4305 | Remote Sensing | 3 |
UL ATSC Elective | 3 | |
UL Elective or ATSC 4498 Internship in Atmospheric Science | 3-4 | |
Creative Arts Core Requirement | 3 | |
Electives as needed for min 120 | 2 | |
Hours | 14-15 | |
Total Hours | 120-121 |
Courses
This course is to practice in preparing and presenting weathercasts for radio and television. The instructors of this course will provide the students with: (1) information in the form of lectures and supplemental readings; (2) opportunities to practice weathercasting on video, and (3) advice, supervision, and guidance. In lecture, students will spend most of the course learning about geography and weathercasting rules. A large portion of the course is to practice the weathercasting and report.
Prerequisite: ATSC 2403.
This course is an introduction of the basic concept of meteorology. The focus is on the measurements of the atmosphere and weather related phenomenon. The principle of the instruments used to measure temperature, pressure, moisture, radiation, precipitation and other weather related properties of the atmosphere will be introduced. The differences among the observations from in-situ, balloon borne, airborne, and satellite borne instruments will be examined and discussed.
Prerequisite: ATSC 2403.
This course will enhance student skills for analyzing atmospheric science-related datasets under various scientific programming environments. The focus is on developing a data analysis and problem-solving skillsets using mostly Python. The course includes: basic concepts of operating systems and high-level programming languages; basics of programming in Python; general data analysis methods and tools; scientific data formats used in remote sensing data and numerical model output; publication-quality scientific graphics; and critical steps of building a large programming project. Examples with IDL and FORTRAN are also included.
This course is an introduction to meteorology and the dynamics of planetary atmospheres. Emphasis on atmospheric accretion, composition, evolution, structure, and dynamics. Lab exercises cover basic measurement techniques, weather maps, and forecasting.
This course will cover the fundamentals of atmospheric physics including atmospheric composition, kinetic theory of gases, stratospheric ozone chemistry, magnetosphere phenomena, fair-weather electric field, nucleation processes, cloud microphysics, precipitation processes, visibility and optics, lightning and atmospheric electrification, hydrometeors and aerosol science, air pollution concepts and transport, and scattering of electromagnetic radiation.
This course introduces a foundation in the thermodynamics of the atmosphere. After a brief review of general thermodynamics, the emphasis is given to the basic principles that are useful for the application to atmospheric problems. The course covers a number of atmospheric processes that are basically thermodynamic in nature. The specific topics include aerological diagrams, atmospheric statics, and vertical stability.
This course focuses on introducing middle-latitude synoptic weather phenomenon, including planet waves, frontal systems etc. We will apply principles of Dynamic Meteorology in regards to processes in the atmosphere, weather elements and forecasting. We will examine the structure and dynamics of these systems by integrating weather observations with the current state of dynamic theory, numerical weather prediction models, and the physical principles of atmospheric thermodynamics and cloud and precipitation physics.
This course focuses on introducing mesoscale weather systems including thunderstorms, squall lines and hurricanes, as well as the mechanisms of tornado and lighting. The methods of observing, analyzing, and predicting these severe weather systems with the interpretation of satellite and radar images will also be introduced in this class.
Prerequisite: ATSC 3306.
This course focuses on introductory-level atmospheric dynamics. Basic concepts of geophysical fluid dynamics and its application to a variety of atmospheric phenomena are introduced. Specific topics include the equations of motion on rotating earth, vorticity, potential vorticity, divergence, circulation theorem, and planetary wave.
Prerequisite: MATH 2413.
This course is a continuation of ATSC 4301 (Dynamic Meteorology I), which covers the introductory-level atmospheric dynamics. The course introduces more advance materials including equatorial waves, baroclinic and barotropic instability, two-dimensional turbulence, atmospheric teleconnection, El Nino/Southern Oscillation, Madden-Julian Oscillation, global warming, and numerical modeling of atmospheric circulations.
Prerequisite: ATSC 4301.
This course aims to introduce the fundamentals of satellite/airborne remote sensing techniques and demonstrates its application to various aspects of Earth Sciences. Topics include physical principles of remote sensing from ultraviolet to the microwave, radiometry, sensors and sensor technology, calibration, and environmental applications for land, ocean and atmosphere research.
Prerequisite: PHYS 2426.
This course intended to guide environmental science undergraduate students in developing a conceptual understanding of Earth's global climate and its variability. Review past climates, present mean state of the climate system, climate variability from seasonal to multi-decadal time scales, and climate change. Special attention will be given to climates of the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea and surrounding land regions. Plausible climate-change scenarios, as well as mitigation and adaptation strategies will also be discussed. Cross listed with ESCI 4335.
Prerequisite: ATSC 2403.
Numerical modeling solves prognostic equations using a time-stepping procedure to simulate fluid behavior. Atmospheric models input a statistically optimized set of observations and solve momentum equations, a thermodynamic equation, the ideal gas law, and a conservation of mass equation. Atmospheric models are used for weather forecasting, case study simulations, climate change studies, and diagnostic studies. This course teaches the fundamental concepts of atmospheric modeling and a variety of practical applications.
Prerequisite: MATH 2413.
Requires a formal proposal of study to be completed in advance of registration and to be approved by the supervising faculty, the Chairperson, and the Dean of the College. This class may be repeated for credit after proper approval.
ATSC 4498 (Internship in Atmospheric Science) gives ATSC undergraduates an opportunity to obtain valuable paid or unpaid work experience related to atmospheric science, to better position them for employment after graduation. Students contract to work a specified number of hours weekly over a full semester with a state or federal agency or private industry related to atmospheric science, in return for college credit as follows: 3-6 hrs./week=1 sem. hr., 6-9 hrs./week =2 sem. hrs., 9-12 hrs./week=3 sem. hrs., 12-15 hrs./week=4 sem. hrs. Students may contract for 1-2 sem. hrs. in a single summer session (5.5 weeks) but may contract for up to 4 sem. hrs. if carrying out internship over a regular long semester or two summer sessions (11 weeks). If interning for the summer, students should increase the number of hours interned weekly to account for the shortened period worked, so total hours interned will be equivalent to those in a regular long semester. A student may intern only twice with a single office or agency. The internships will not apply towards graduate credit.
This course includes special topics with variable content. May be repeated for credit. Offered on sufficient demand.