Meteorology Program

Meteorology is the scientific study of the atmosphere that focuses on weather processes and forecasting. Meteorological phenomena are described and quantified by the variables of Earth's atmosphere: temperature, air pressure, water vapor, mass flow, and the variations and interactions of those variables, and how they change over time. Different spatial scales are used to describe and predict weather on local, regional, and global levels. Because of this, the field of meteorology has application in many diverse fields such as the military, energy production, transport, agriculture, and construction. For this reason, the Meteorology Program at CofC is designed with great flexibility so that students can choose their own particular career path.

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.

The most common career path for meteorology majors is operational meteorology. Operational meteorologists create weather forecasts by analyzing information about weather conditions, including temperature, air pressure, wind velocity and humidity. They then apply mathematical, scientific and physical techniques to this information to create forecasts. Meteorologists can choose from a variety of careers and work environments. The Operational Meteorology Concentration is specifically designed for students who desire careers in weather forecasting either for the National Weather Service or for private industry. This concentration meets all of the federal civil service requirements for employment in operational meteorology.

Curriculum for Meteorology BA Degree

The Meteorology BA degree consists of a minimum of 39 credit hours of meteorology, physics, and math courses. This full course curriculum is given below.

Core Physics Courses
Complete one of the following options:

Option 1:
  • PHYS 111/111L (General Physics I) (4 cr.)
  • PHYS 112/112L (General Physics II) (4 cr.)

Option 2:
  • HONS 157/157L (Honors Physics I) (4 cr.)
  • HONS 158/158L (Honors Physics II) (4 cr.)

Option 3:
  • PHYS 101/101L (Introductory Physics I) (4 cr.)
  • PHYS 102/102L (Introductory Physics II) (4 cr.)

NOTE: If Option 3 is chosen, a minimum grade of C- in PHYS 101, PHYS 101L, PHYS 102, and PHYS 102L is required. This option can not be used if the operational meteorology concentration is desired.
Core Mathematics Courses
Complete one of the following options:

Option 1:
  • MATH 120 (Introductory Calculus) (4 cr.)
  • MATH 220 (Calculus II) (4 cr.)

Option 2:
  • MATH 120 (Introductory Calculus) (4 cr.)
  • MATH 229 (Vector Calculus with Chemical Applications) (5 cr.)

NOTE: MATH 229 can not be used for the operational meteorology concentration
Base Meteorology Experience
Complete one of the following options:

Option 1:
  • PHYS 105 (Introduction to Meteorology) (3 cr.)

Option 2: Choose three out of the following four classes
  • GEOL 438 (Hydrogeology) (3 cr.)
  • PHYS 405 (Thermal Physics) (3 cr.)
  • PHYS 415 (Fluid Mechanics) (3 cr.)
  • PHYS 459 (Cloud and Precipitation Physics) (3 cr.)

NOTE: Choosing Option 2 may be desirable for students pursuing the Operational Meteorology Concentration. Also, if Option 2 is chosen, two of the courses will also count as electives.
Emphasis Experience
Select 3 credit hours from the following:
  • PHYS 210 (Introduction to Air Pollution) (3 cr.)
  • PHYS 215 (Synoptic Meteorology) (3 cr.)

NOTE: If both PHYS 210 and PHYS 215 are taken, one will count as an elective below.
Additional Required Courses
  • PHYS 225 (Climate) (3 cr.)
  • PHYS 370 (Experimental Physics) (4 cr.)
  • PHYS 419 (Research Seminar) (1 cr.)

NOTE: The topics in PHYS 419 must involve meteorology and must be approved by the meteorology program director and the department.
Capstone Experience
Complete one of the following courses involving a topic in meteorology with the approval of the meteorology program director and the department
  • PHYS 420 (Senior Research) (3 cr.)
  • PHYS 499 (Bachelor's Essay) (6 cr.)
Elective Courses
Complete 6 additional credit hours from the following:
  • ASTR 129/129L (Introduction to Astronomy) (3 cr.)
  • ASTR 306 (Planetary Astronomy) (3 cr.)
  • BIOL 204 (Man and the Environment) (3 cr.)
  • BIOL 342 (Oceanography) (3 cr.)
  • CHEM 101/101L (General Chemistry) (4 cr.)
  • CHEM 111/111L (Principles of Chemistry I) (4 cr.)
  • CHEM 112/112L (Principles of Chemistry II) (4 cr.)
  • COMM 104 (Public Speaking) (3 cr.)
  • CSCI 220/220L Computer Programming (4 cr.)
  • ENGL 334 (Technical Writing) (3 cr.)
  • ENVT 200 (Introduction to Environmental Studies) (3 cr.)
  • ENVT 352 (Special Topics)* (3 cr.)
  • ENVT 395 (Seminar)* (3 cr.)
  • GEOL 213 (Natural Hazards) (3 cr.)
  • GEOL 288 (Global Change) (3 cr.)
  • GEOL 291 (Water Resources) (3 cr.)
  • GEOL 438 (Hydrogeology))** (3 cr.)
  • GEOL 442 (Remote Sensing) (3 cr.)
  • GEOL 449 (GIS) (3 cr.)
  • MATH 250 (Statistical Methods) (3 cr.)
  • PHYS 106L (Exercises in Weather and Climate) (2 cr.)
  • PHYS 210 (Introduction to Air Pollution)**** (3 cr.)
  • PHYS 215 (Synoptic Meteorology)**** (3 cr.)
  • PHYS 230 (Modern Physics) (3 cr.)
  • PHYS 298 (Special Topics)* (3 cr.)
  • PHYS 301 (Classical Mechanics) (3 cr.)
  • PHYS 320 (Electronics) (3 cr.)
  • PHYS 340 (Photonics) (3 cr.)
  • PHYS 350 (Energy Production) (3 cr.)
  • PHYS 381 (Internship)* ***(3 cr.)
  • PHYS 390 (Research)* *** (3 cr.)
  • PHYS 394/394L (Digital Signal and Image Processing with Biomedical Applications) (4 cr.)
  • PHYS 399 (Tutorial)* *** (3 cr.)
  • PHYS 405 (Thermal Physics)** (3 cr.)
  • PHYS 409 (Electromagnetism I) (3 cr.)
  • PHYS 410 (Electromagnetism II) (3 cr.)
  • PHYS 412 (Special Topics)* (3 cr.)
  • PHYS 415 (Fluid Mechanics)** (3 cr.)
  • PHYS 425 (Mesoscale Meteorology) (3 cr.)
  • PHYS 457 (Satellite Meteorology) (3 cr.)
  • PHYS 459 (Cloud and Precipitation Physics)** (3 cr.)

NOTE: Some of the elective courses require prerequisites that will not count towards the major unless they are on the list above.

*Topics in these courses must involve meteorology and must be approved by the meteorology program director and the department.
**Students may replace PHYS105 with any three of the following four courses (PHYS405, PHYS415, PHYS459 and GEOL438). If the second option is taken, two will also count as electives below.
***Maximum of 3 hours each of PHYS 381, 390 or 399 may be applied to the major.
****If not used as a core course