Brockport / Catalogs / 2013-14 / Programs / Meteorology Major (BA/BS)

Meteorology Major

Meteorology Major

The major in Meteorology prepares students for careers in weather forecasting, atmospheric research, environmental consulting and air quality management. The strong physical science orientation of the program allows students to compete in related fields, such as environmental and computer science, hydrology, and alternative energy utilization. The major meets the federal guidelines for meteorologists, enabling graduates to begin careers in federal, state and private employment.

What can I do with a Meteorology major?

Admission to the Program

Anyone can declare this major

Program Requirements

Students in the meteorology major pursue a Bachelor of Science degree, and must complete its requirements.

Core Courses

  • ESC 211 Introduction to Meteorology
  • ESC 311 Synoptic Meteorology
  • ESC 312 Weather Forecasting
  • ESC 391 Writing in the Earth Sciences
  • ESC 350 Computational Methods in the Field Sciences
  • ESC 313, 314 Environmental Climatology and Lab
  • ESC 415 Physical Meteorology
  • ESC 416 Thermodynamics and the Boundary Layer
  • ESC 417 Dynamic Meteorology
  • ESC 420 Radar and Satellite Meteorology
  • ESC 490 Weather Briefing
  • ESC 494 Senior Research
  • ESC 495 Senior Seminar

Total number of credits: 44

Required Corequisite Courses

  • MTH 201, 202 Calculus I, II
  • MTH 255 Differential Equations
  • PHS 235, 240 Physics I, II
  • CHM 205 Chemistry I
  • CPS 201 Computational Tools

Total number of credits: 26

Elective Courses (choose 6 by advisement)

  • ESC 300 Physical Oceanography
  • ESC 327 Broadcast Meteorology
  • ESC 332 Air and Water Pollution
  • ESC 412 Hydrology with Laboratory
  • ESC 432 Tropical Meteorology
  • ESC 452 Mesoscale Meteorology
  • ESC 460 Meteorology Internship
  • ESC 462 Hydrometeorology
  • ESC 399/499 Independent Study
  • ESC 431 Advanced GIS
  • ESC 477 Storm Chasing

Meteorology majors must earn a minimum of 44 credits in required core courses, complete one year of college-level physics with lab, two semesters of calculus, differential equations and chemistry. Additional supporting work in the sciences and mathematics is strongly recommended.

ESC 350 and ESC 391 should be taken by the end of the sophomore year.

ESC 494 and ESC 495 should be taken in the senior year.

Additional mathematics, computer science, or science courses are recommended, depending on individual goals. In some cases, these may be applied toward the major with written departmental approval. Recommended supporting courses, outside of meteorology, include the following:

  • CHM 206 College Chemistry II
  • CSC 203 Fundamentals of Computer Science I
  • CSC 205 Fundamentals of Computer Science II
  • MTH 203 Calculus III
  • MTH 281 Discrete Mathematics I
  • MTH 346 Probability and Statistics I
  • MTH 456 Advanced Differential Equations
  • MTH 471 Numerical Analysis
  • PHS 307 Physics III
  • PHS 332 Mathematical Methods of Physics
  • PHS 353 Classical Mechanics

Course descriptions

Department of Earth Sciences

Department Chair: Scott Rochette
Location: Lennon 317
Visit Website
Email: earthsci@esc.brockport.edu
Phone: (585) 395-2636
Fax: (585) 395-2416

Related Programs

Other Undergraduate Programs


    

Faculty & Staff

Whitney J Autin Ph.D
(Louisiana State University + Agricultural + Mechan)
Professor

Dave Boehm MS
(SUNY At Buffalo)
Lecturer

Christine Crafts BS
(SUNY College At Brockport)
Lecturer

Jutta S Dudley Ph.D
(SUNY College At Buffalo)
Lecturer

Stephen Jessup Ph.D
(Cornell University)
Visiting Assistant Professor

Lauri A Kifer AAS
(Monroe Community College)
Secretary 1

Leigh J Little Ph.D
(Arizona State University At The Tempe Campus)
Associate Professor

Judy Massare Ph.D
(Johns Hopkins University)
Professor

Thomas M McDermott BS
(SUNY College At Brockport)
Systems Administrator

Mark R Noll Ph.D
(University Of Delaware)
Professor

Paul Richards Ph.D
(Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus)
On Leave

Emily E Robinson MED
(Texas A+M University)
Adjunct Lecturer

Scott M Rochette Ph.D
(Saint Louis University-Main Campus)
Associate Professor

Robert S Weinbeck Ph.D
(Iowa State University)
Assoc Prof

Carol G Zollweg MS
(Syracuse University)
Adjunct Lecturer

James A Zollweg Ph.D
(Cornell University)
Associate Professor and Chair