Meteorology (BS)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement) | ||
| GEP Foundations of American Democracy (verify requirement) | ||
| World 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||
| 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 Elective | 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 after completion of an undergraduate degree in Meteorology.
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.
Career Titles
- Air Traffic Controller
- Airfield Operations Specialist
- Astronomer
- Atmospheric and Space Scientist
- Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers
- Environmental Science and Protection Technician
- Geophysicist
- Meteorologist
- Oceanographer
- Outdoor Education Teacher
- Park Naturalist
- Pilot
- Postsecondary Teacher
- Technical & Scientific Publications Editor
- Weather Forecaster
Learn More About Careers
Explore North Carolina鈥檚 central online resource for students, parents, educators, job seekers and career counselors looking for high quality job and career information.
Browse the Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to view state and area employment and wage statistics. You can also identify and compare similar occupations based on your interests.
View videos that provide career details and information on wages, employment trends, skills needed, and more for any occupation. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
(NC State student email address required)
This career, major and education planning system is available to current NC State students to learn about how your values, interests, competencies, and personality fit into the NC State majors and your future career. An NC State email address is required to create an account. Make an appointment with your to discuss the results.
(Available to prospective students)
A career assessment tool designed to support prospective students in exploring and choosing the right major and career path based on your unique personality, interests, skills and values. Get started with Focus 2 Apply and see how it can guide your journey at NC State.