Atmospheric Science Major

The curriculum is designed with two goals in mind. The basic curriculum meets the guidelines of the American Meteorological Society (AMS), and the requirements for employment in meteorology with the National Weather Service (NWS) and a variety of consulting and professional meteorological services. Students who are considering an advanced degree will also be well-prepared for graduate school, and typically add additional mathematics, physics and atmospheric science courses to the basic curriculum. Students who wish to broaden their studies of the environment may also choose from courses in the separate earth and atmospheric sciences major, which may be completed in conjunction with the atmospheric sciences major.

CALS seeks students who maintain a rigorous high school curriculum and demonstrate an outstanding record of academic achievement. Admissions requirements include:

• 4 Units of English

• 4 Units of Mathematics, including calculus (BC Calculus recommended)

• 3 Units of Science (biology, chemistry and physics recommended, with emphasis on physics)

• Also recommended: an additional unit of science

For a list of requirements for this major, please visit the B.S. Atmospheric Sciences program page.

EAS 1340 – Weather Analysis and Forecasting

Serves as an extension of the EAS 1330 first-year majors lab. The course provides an opportunity for formal weather briefings and explores specific atmospheric storms (synoptic and mesoscale, including the climatology of each storm type) through assigned readings, map analysis and weather discussions.

EAS 2500 – Meteorological Observations and Instruments

Demonstrates methods and principles of meteorological measurements and observations including surface, free-air and remote systems. Also presents information regarding instrument siting, mounting and protection; instrument response characteristics, calibration and standardization; and recorders and data logging systems. Laboratory exercises are in observation and data analysis.

EAS 2680 – Climate and Global Warming

Familiarizes students from a range of disciplines with such contemporary issues in climatology as global warming and El Niño. Introduces the natural greenhouse effect, past climates, and observed and projected climate changes and impacts. Also covers natural climate variations (e.g., El Niño) and their consequences and predictability.

• Function successfully in laboratory and field settings, including use of basic equipment and techniques and putting into practice the basic steps of the research process.
• Apply the scientific method using real-world data, including formulation of hypotheses, the use of varied approaches (experimental and observational) for testing hypotheses and appropriate interpretation of data encountered in class, lab, and the literature.
• Develop, apply, integrate and generate knowledge to analyze and solve problems in Atmospheric Science.
• Collect, organize, analyze and interpret quantitative information meaningfully, using mathematical and/or statistical tools and computer applications as appropriate to the discipline of Atmospheric Science. 
• Conduct literature reviews to obtain information, including accessing all forms of literature to investigate topics, critiquing sources and organizing information in a meaningful way. 
• Synthesize a cogent argument in language appropriate to the field of study, including written and oral communication skills and presentation of results using graphs and equations, when appropriate. 
• Convey atmospheric science concepts, processes, weather forecasts (short to medium range), images and numerical weather model outputs to a diverse audience.