¸£Àû±ÆÕ¾

Meteorology (BS): Marine Sciences Concentration

This is an archived copy of the 2022-2023 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit .

To see more about what you will learn in this program, visit the !

The degree of Bachelor of Science in Meteorology is offered in the Department of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. A concentration in Marine Science may also be chosen.

Meteorologists study a diverse array of topics, including climate, air pollution, environmental impacts, weather analysis and forecasting, remote sensing, atmospheric physics and interactions between the atmosphere and other components of the earth system. Our undergraduate students pursue careers in air quality, weather forecasting, meteorological research, broadcast meteorology and positions with the armed forces. The proximity of the Environmental Protection Agency center in nearby Research Triangle Park, the NC Department of Air Quality, a strong working relation with the local media, and the presence of the State Climate Office and a NWS forecast office on the NC State campus all provide our students with a broad range of internship and employment possibilities.

Contact

For more information about our meteorology programs, visit ourÌýÌýor contact:

Maggie Puryear
Associate Director of Undergraduate Programs

919.513.1093
mwpollar@ncsu.edu​

Plan Requirements

Orientation
°ä°¿³§Ìý100Science of Change 12
English / Communication
·¡±·³ÒÌý101Academic Writing and Research 24
Select one of the following:3
Communication for Engineering and Technology
Communication for Business and Management
Communication for Science and Research
Math / Statistics
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý217Introduction to Computing in the Geosciences 23
´Ç°ùÌý²Ñ´¡Ìý116 Introduction to Scientific Programming (Math)
´Ç°ùÌý±Ê³ÛÌý251 Introduction to Scientific Computing
´Ç°ùÌý°ä³§°äÌý113 Introduction to Computing - MATLAB
²Ñ´¡Ìý141Calculus I 24
²Ñ´¡Ìý241Calculus II 24
²Ñ´¡Ìý242Calculus III4
²Ñ´¡Ìý341Applied Differential Equations I3
Statistics Option3
Chemistry / Physics
°ä±áÌý101Chemistry - A Molecular Science 23
°ä±áÌý102General Chemistry Laboratory1
±Ê³ÛÌý205
&²¹³¾±è;Ìý±Ê³ÛÌý206
Physics for Engineers and Scientists I
and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory 2
4
Chemistry Option4
Meteorology Core
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý100Earth System Science: Exploring the Connections4
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý215Introduction to Atmospheric Sciences4
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý312Atmospheric Thermodynamics 24
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý315Mathematics Methods in Atmospheric Sciences 24
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý321Fundamentals of Air Quality and Climate Change 23
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý412Atmospheric Physics 23
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý421Atmospheric Dynamics I 23
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý422Atmospheric Dynamics II 23
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý443Synoptic Weather Analysis and Forecasting4
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý495Junior Seminar in the Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences1
Marine Science Concentration
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý200Introduction to Oceanography3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý210Oceanography Lab1
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý455Micrometeorology3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý460Principles of Physical Oceanography3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý462Observational Methods and Data Analysis in Marine Physics3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý467Marine Meteorology3
Major Electives
Geophysical Science Option3
Approved Electives 39
GEP Courses
GEP Humanities6
GEP Social Sciences6
GEP Health and Exercise Studies2
GEP Additional Breadth (Humanities/Social Sciences/Visual and Performing Arts)3
GEP U.S. Diversity (verify requirement)
GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement)
Foreign Language Proficiency (verify requirement)
Total Hours120

ÌýChemistry Option

°ä±áÌý201Chemistry - A Quantitative Science4
°ä±áÌý220
&²¹³¾±è;Ìý°ä±áÌý222
Introductory Organic Chemistry
and Organic Chemistry I Lab
4
°ä±áÌý221
&²¹³¾±è;Ìý°ä±áÌý222
Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry I Lab
4

Geophysical Science Option

²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý101Geology I: Physical3
±Ê³ÛÌý123Stellar and Galactic Astronomy3
±Ê³ÛÌý124Solar System Astronomy3
³§³§°äÌý200Soil Science3

Statistics Option

³§°ÕÌý311Introduction to Statistics3
³§°ÕÌý370Probability and Statistics for Engineers3
³§°ÕÌý371Introduction to Probability and Distribution Theory3

Semester Sequence

Critical Path Courses -Identify using the code (CP) which courses are considered critical path courses which represent specific major requirements that are predictive of student success in a given program/plan. Place the (CP) next to the credit hours for the course.

This is a sample.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterHours
°ä±áÌý101 Chemistry - A Molecular Science (CP) 2 3
°ä±áÌý102 General Chemistry Laboratory 1
²Ñ´¡Ìý141 Calculus I (CP) 2 4
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý100 Earth System Science: Exploring the Connections (CP) 4
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
°ä°¿³§Ìý100 Science of Change 1 2
ÌýHours15
Spring Semester
Chemistry Option 4
·¡±·³ÒÌý101 Academic Writing and Research (CP) 2 4
²Ñ´¡Ìý241 Calculus II (CP) 2 4
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý215 Introduction to Atmospheric Sciences (CP) 4
ÌýHours16
Second Year
Fall Semester
²Ñ´¡Ìý242 Calculus III 4
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý321 Fundamentals of Air Quality and Climate Change 2 3
±Ê³ÛÌý205 Physics for Engineers and Scientists I (CP) 2 3
±Ê³ÛÌý206 Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory 1
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý217 Introduction to Computing in the Geosciences 2 3
ÌýHours14
Spring Semester
²Ñ´¡Ìý341 Applied Differential Equations I 3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý312 Atmospheric Thermodynamics 2 4
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý315 Mathematics Methods in Atmospheric Sciences 2 4
Approved Electives 3 3
ÌýHours14
Third Year
Fall Semester
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý200 Introduction to Oceanography 3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý210 Oceanography Lab 1
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý421 Atmospheric Dynamics I 2 3
Geophysical Science Option 3
GEP Social Sciences 3
Statistics Option 3
ÌýHours16
Spring Semester
Advanced Writing Elective 3
Approved Elective 3 3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý412 Atmospheric Physics 2 3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý422 Atmospheric Dynamics II 2 3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý495 Junior Seminar in the Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences 1
GEP Social Sciences 3
ÌýHours16
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý460 Principles of Physical Oceanography 3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý455 Micrometeorology 3
GEP Humanities 3
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý443 Synoptic Weather Analysis and Forecasting 1 4
ÌýHours14
Spring Semester
Approved Elective 3 3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý462 Observational Methods and Data Analysis in Marine Physics 2 3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý467 Marine Meteorology 2 3
GEP Humanities 3
GEP Social Sciences 3
ÌýHours15
ÌýTotal Hours120

Career Opportunities

MEAS undergraduate degree programs provide talented students with the foundation of scientific knowledge required for careers in government, industry, or academia. Many students pursue graduate degrees and pursue careers in industry, at government agencies and in academia.

Marine Sciences graduates go on to become oceanographers, to manage our coastal resources, model air-sea interaction, and explore global climate change. They conduct basic and applied research, serving as environmental consultants for industry and governmental agencies, policy and management experts for governmental agencies, and environmental science educators. Graduates with a Natural Resources degree are versed in the fundamental processes and interdisciplinary nature of the coastal zone. As scientists, managers, administrators, and regulators, they make decisions regarding use and conservation of coastal and marine resources.

Geology graduates address society’s needs for dealing effectively with earth processes, such as water resources and the stability of land forms. They work for engineering firms, permit-issuing agencies, and industries that rely on geological resources. Historical geologists are familiar with the evolution of earth through time and provide a perspective on potential long-term reactions of the earth systems to change. Those who concentrate in Environmental Geology are trained to assess and monitor geological resources such as ground water. Marine geologists are experts in the complex issues facing industry, municipalities, and residents in the dynamic and ecologically vulnerable coastal zone.

Meteorology graduates enjoy careers in weather forecasting, air quality assessment, development of weather products and services, broadcast communications, and advanced research. Marine meteorologists study ocean-generated weather systems. Their research is yielding practical benefits such as refined prediction of storm surge, which has streamlined evacuation efforts during severe storms along the Carolina coast. Meteorology graduates with an air quality emphasis work for environmental firms, regulatory agencies, and in applied research. Study of air quality and how air pollution is transported and dispersed is a rapidly expanding field in the atmospheric sciences.

MEAS graduates play a key service role for the State of North Carolina, assisting in everything from forecasting severe storms and analyzing the impact of atmospheric pollutants on agriculture and our estuaries, to determining the effects of toxic waste disposal on quality of surface and ground water.