Meteorology & Atmospheric Physics Program

About Us

The College of Charleston's Program in Meteorology and Atmospheric Physics is unique in the state of South Carolina. We offer a BA degree in meteorology with two concentrations in operational meteorology and in atmospheric physics.

Our Meteorology BA degree is unique in that we serve an audience that is not well served across the nation. Our BA degree (along with the minor) is designed to serve non-traditional meteorology careers in environmental science, business, education, law, teaching, and other fields. Hence, the BA degree is well-suited for double majors, teachers/educators, and other individuals who would like to apply their meteorological education to non-traditional fields.

Our concentration in operational meteorology not only meets but exceeds all recommended American Meteorological Society (AMS) and National Weather Service (NWS) guidelines for undergraduate students. In the operational meteorology concentration, students learn the science of weather analysis and forecasting and how to communicate meteorological information to the public. This concentration is ideal for those who would like to pursue a career in operational weather forecasting as well as in broadcast meteorology.

Furthermore, we are one of the only undergraduate institutions in the United States with a program in Atmospheric Physics. With the interdisciplinary nature of modern atmospheric science research and the growing demand to understand the science of climate change and severe convective weather, there is growing demand for programs which integrate atmospheric science and traditional physics. Our program in Atmospheric Physics has been designed to help meet this challenge by preparing undergraduates for graduate study in atmospheric physics. This program is ideal for those who would like to pursue a research career in atmospheric science or who would desire to pursue a career in atmospheric science industry (such as remote sensing technology and atmospheric instrumentation).

Our program offers both a demanding curriculum (grounded in physics, mathematics, and atmospheric science) and a wide variety of opportunities for students to broaden their interests based on the research interests of our faculty. Furthermore, because of our low student-to-faculty ratio, students benefit from working closely with a very dedicated and professional faculty. To learn more about our programs in meteorology and atmospheric physics, we encourage you to explore our website. If you have any additional questions, please contact Dr. Lee Lindner at lindnerb@cofc.edu.