Atmospheric Sciences Minor

Curious about the role of weather and climate on our world? The Atmospheric Sciences minor encompasses all aspects of weather, including studying severe storms as well as day-to-day weather that impacts business systems, environmental health, and how humans engage with their surroundings. You'll get a chance to see how atmospheric scientists work on scales that vary from forecasting local weather to researching the global impact of climate around the world. The scale on which you learn is up to you and your interests.

Requirements

The Atmospheric Sciences minor consists of at least 14 total credits. Please note courses in this minor have prerequisites of math and physics. Please refer to the advising sheet below. Coursework includes:

Curriculum

 

As an Atmospheric Sciences student, you are pursuing an education that integrates insights from across the sciences.  You'll be prepared to enter directly into the workforce and apply for positions as both operational and broadcast meteorologists and research scientists in the private and public sectors.

Possible major combinations include:

  • Astrophysics 
  • Aviation
  • Earth Sciences
  • Environment, Ecology, Development, and Sustainability
  • Environmental Policy and Decision Making
  • Environmental Science 
  • Forestry, Fisheries, and Wildlife
  • Natural Resource Management

Possible career opportunities include:

  • Operational Meteorologist at the National Weather Service or other NOAA offices
  • Science Operations Office for the National Weather Service
  • Certified Broadcast Meteorologist for local and national television stations
  • Meteorologist for private firms in the aviation, agriculture, and utility industries
  • Risk analyst for the insurance industry
  • Professional storm chaser/Weather guide
  • Meteorologist in the Military (Air Force and Navy)
  • State Climatologist
  • Service Hydrologist
  • Researcher for the U.S. Geological Survey or the National Center for Atmospheric Research
  • Environmental Analyst
  • Business Consultant