Meteorology (BS)
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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 our or contact:
Maggie Puryear
Associate Director of Undergraduate Programs
919.513.1093
mwpollar@ncsu.edu
Plan Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orientation | |||
| COS听100 | Science of Change 1 | 2 | |
| English / Communication | |||
| ENG听101 | Academic Writing and Research 2 | 4 | |
| Select one of the following Advanced Writing courses: | 3 | ||
| Communication for Engineering and Technology | |||
| Communication for Business and Management | |||
| Communication for Science and Research | |||
| Math / Statistics | |||
| MEA听217 | Introduction to Computing in the Geosciences 2 | 3 | |
| or听MA听116 | Introduction to Scientific Programming (Math) | ||
| or听PY听251 | Introduction to Scientific Computing | ||
| or听CSC听113 | Introduction to Computing - MATLAB | ||
| MA听141 | Calculus I 2 | 4 | |
| MA听241 | Calculus II 2 | 4 | |
| MA听242 | Calculus III | 4 | |
| MA听341 | Applied Differential Equations I | 3 | |
| ST听311 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 | |
| or听ST听370 | Probability and Statistics for Engineers | ||
| or听ST听371 | Introduction to Probability and Distribution Theory | ||
| Chemistry / Physics | |||
| CH听101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science 2 | 3 | |
| CH听102 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 | |
| Chemistry Option | 4 | ||
| PY听205 &听PY听206 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory 2 | 4 | |
| Meteorology Core | |||
| MEA听100 | Earth System Science: Exploring the Connections | 4 | |
| MEA听215 | Introduction to Atmospheric Sciences | 4 | |
| MEA听312 | Atmospheric Thermodynamics 2 | 4 | |
| MEA听315 | Mathematics Methods in Atmospheric Sciences 2 | 4 | |
| MEA听321 | Fundamentals of Air Quality and Climate Change 2 | 3 | |
| MEA听412 | Atmospheric Physics 2 | 3 | |
| MEA听421 | Atmospheric Dynamics I 2 | 3 | |
| MEA听422 | Atmospheric Dynamics II 2 | 3 | |
| MEA听443 | Synoptic Weather Analysis and Forecasting | 4 | |
| MEA听495 | Junior Seminar in the Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences | 1 | |
| Major Electives | |||
| Geophysical Science Option | 3 | ||
| MEA Restricted Electives | 9 | ||
| Approved Electives 3 | 16 | ||
Approved Electives constitute a minor field of emphasis consisting of at least 12 credit hours in a single discipline or related disciplines. These include, but are not limited to: biometeorology, chemistry, computer science, environmental quality, geology-geophysics, hydrology, mathematics, physics, physical oceanography, statistics, several areas of engineering, agriculture, forestry, science education, weather communication. | |||
| GEP Courses | |||
| GEP Humanities | 6 | ||
| GEP Social Sciences | 6 | ||
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 2 | ||
| GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | 3 | ||
| GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement) | |||
| Foreign Language Proficiency (verify requirement) | |||
| Total Hours | 120 | ||
- 1
COS 100 is for new freshmen only.听 Transfer students will need to select a course from the GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives course list
- 2
A grade of C- or higher is required.
- 3
Approved Electives should be selected in consultation with advisor. In order to qualify for federal civil servant meteorologist positions (i.e. National Weather Service), you must satisfy the GS 1340 requirements. As a result the following courses are strongly recommended: PY208/209, MEA 443, MEA 444, and MEA 511.
- 4
Advanced transfer students are permitted to substitute mathematics, science, or engineering credits for CH 201/202.
MEA Restricted Electives
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEA听415 | Climate Dynamics | 3 | |
| MEA听425 | Introduction to Atmospheric Chemistry | 3 | |
| MEA听444 | Mesoscale Analysis and Forecasting | 4 | |
| MEA听455 | Micrometeorology | 3 | |
| MEA听458 | Introduction to Tropical Meteorology | 3 | |
| MEA听463 | Fluid Physics | 3 | |
| MEA听467 | Marine Meteorology | 3 | |
| MEA/CE 479 | Air Quality | 3 | |
| MEA听488 | Meteorology for Media | 3 | |
| MEA听493 | Special Topics in MEAS | 1-6 | |
| MEA听498 | Internship in MEAS | 1-6 | |
| MEA听510 | Air Pollution Meteorology | 3 | |
| MEA听511 | Introduction to Meteorological Remote Sensing | 3 | |
| MEA听514 | Advanced Physical Meteorology | 3 | |
| MEA听515 | Climate Dynamics | 3 | |
| MEA听517 | Fundamentals of Climate Change Science | 3 | |
| MEA听518 | Adaptation to Climate Change | 3 | |
| MEA听519 | Barriers to Climate Change Literacy | 3 | |
| MEA听525 | Introduction to Atmospheric Chemistry | 3 | |
| MEA/CE 579 | Principles of Air Quality Engineering | 3 | |
| MEA听580 | Air Quality Modeling and Forecasting | 4 | |
| MEA听581 | Fluid Mechanics in Natural Environments | 3 | |
| MEA/GIS 582 | Geospatial Modeling | 3 | |
| MEA听593 | Special Topics in Atmospheric Science | 1-6 |
听Chemistry Option
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| CH听201 &听CH听202 | Chemistry - A Quantitative Science and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory | 4 | |
| CH听220 &听CH听222 | Introductory Organic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry I Lab | 4 | |
| CH听221 &听CH听222 | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Lab | 4 |
听Geophysical Science Elective
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEA听101 | Geology I: Physical | 3 | |
| MEA听200 | Introduction to Oceanography | 3 | |
| PY听123 | Stellar and Galactic Astronomy | 3 | |
| PY听124 | Solar System Astronomy | 3 | |
| SSC听200 | Soil Science | 3 |
Semester Sequence
This is a sample.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| CH听101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science (CP) 2 | 3 |
| CH听102 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| MA听141 | Calculus I 2 | 4 |
| MEA听100 | Earth System Science: Exploring the Connections | 4 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| COS听100 | Science of Change 1 | 2 |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Chemistry Option | 4 | |
| ENG听101 | Academic Writing and Research 2 | 4 |
| MA听241 | Calculus II 2 | 4 |
| MEA听215 | Introduction to Atmospheric Sciences | 4 |
| 听 | Hours | 16 |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| MA听242 | Calculus III | 4 |
| MEA听217 | Introduction to Computing in the Geosciences 2 | 3 |
| MEA听321 | Fundamentals of Air Quality and Climate Change 2 | 3 |
| PY听205 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I (CP) 2 | 3 |
| PY听206 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory | 1 |
| 听 | Hours | 14 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| MA听341 | Applied Differential Equations I | 3 |
| MEA听312 | Atmospheric Thermodynamics 2 | 4 |
| MEA听315 | Mathematics Methods in Atmospheric Sciences 2 | 4 |
| Approved Electives 3 | 4 | |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| Approved Elective | 3 | |
| MEA听421 | Atmospheric Dynamics I 2 | 3 |
| Geophysical Science Option | 3 | |
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | |
| Statistics Option | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| inkurl^#planrequirementstext^Advanced Writing Elective | 3 | |
| Approved Elective 3 | 3 | |
| MEA听412 | Atmospheric Physics 2 | 3 |
| MEA听422 | Atmospheric Dynamics II 1 | 3 |
| MEA听495 | Junior Seminar in the Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences | 1 |
| GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 16 |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| Approved Elective 3 | 3 | |
| MEA Restricted Electives | 3 | |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| MEA听443 | Synoptic Weather Analysis and Forecasting | 4 |
| 听 | Hours | 14 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Approved Elective | 3 | |
| MEA Restricted Electives | 3 | |
| MEA Restricted Electives | 3 | |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| 听 | Total Hours | 120 |
- 1
COS 100 is for new freshmen only.听 Transfer students will need to select a course from the GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives course list
- 2
A grade of C- or higher is required.
- 3
Approved Electives should be selected in consultation with advisor. In order to qualify for federal civil servant meteorologist positions (i.e. National Weather Service), you must satisfy the GS 1340 requirements. As a result the following courses are strongly recommended: PY208/209, MEA 443, MEA 444, and MEA 511.
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鈥檚 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.