Department of The Earth Sciences
MS Word copy of the Meteorology Student Handbook
This information defines the course of study leading to a B.S. in Meteorology at SUNY College at Brockport and should be used in conjunction with the SUNY Brockport Undergraduate Studies catalog, Your Right To Know, and the Academic Policies Handbook. This information applies to students matriculating Spring 2002 or later. (If you matriculated earlier, contact the Department of the Earth Sciences for the earlier handbook.)
INTRODUCTION
The Meteorology major is structured as a professional preparation track to employment with the National Weather Service, governmental agencies, the military services, private meteorological and engineering firms, and as prerequisite to graduate study in the atmospheric and related sciences. The strong physical science orientation of the program prepares students to enter numerous related fields, including environmental and computer science, hydrology, and wind and solar energy utilization. Designed to provide a sound basis for the student with strong aptitude and interest in mathematics, physics, and chemistry in application to the atmospheric environment, this plan of study may be oriented toward a special interest area by the judicious choice of electives.
Recent graduates have gone on to attend nationally renowned graduate schools, to operate their own weather and environmental forecasting and consulting companies; and to work for state and county agencies, public utilities, U.S. Government laboratories, commercial airlines, the military services, and private industry.
ADVISEMENT
Advisors assist students in the solution of procedural problems, provide general information, and answer specific questions relating to a student's program. Dr. Scott Rochette advises freshmen who plan to major in meteorology. Phone (585) 395-2603 or email rochette@esc.brockport.edu to discuss a course of study that meets your interests and needs. To be kept informed of advisement dates and changes that may affect your program, declare your meteorology major as early as possible.
ADVISEMENT FOR THE TRANSFER STUDENT
If you plan to transfer into the meteorology major at SUNY College at Brockport, consider the curriculum in this handbook for guidance. If the college you presently attend doesn't offer equivalent meteorology courses, complete similar mathematics, physics, chemistry, and non-science core courses at the level of the curriculum listed here before you transfer into meteorology at Brockport. Dr. Jose Maliekal advises students transferring into the meteorology major. You may contact him at (585) 395-2582 or jmalieka@esc.brockport.edu.
INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Internship programs are established at the local ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX affiliates, and at the Rochester-based cable news channel R-NEWS. On campus, meteorology students gain on-air broadcast experience through weekly weather casts on the campus run cable television channel and radio station WBSU. SUNY Brockport is within a one hour drive of the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Buffalo. Departmental faculty collaborate closely with personnel at both the Buffalo and Binghamton Weather Service Forecast Offices, and meteorology students have recently conducted internships in both locations.
MAJOR IN METEOROLOGY
Meteorology majors must earn a minimum of 41 credits in meteorology and complete one year of college level physics with laboratory; two semesters of calculus; differential equations; and chemistry. Additional supporting work in the sciences and mathematics is strongly recommended. The computer literacy requirement should be met with a programming course.
To make normal progress toward the degree, students should take ESC 391 and ESC 350 in the sophomore year (or junior year at the latest), and ESC 493 in the senior year. In planning your program of study, please note that a number of required courses are offered every other year.
Required major courses (41 hours)
ESC 211 Introduction to Meteorology (4)
ESC 311 Synoptic Meteorology (4)
ESC 312 Weather Forecasting (4)
ESC 350 Computational Methods in the Field Sciences (3)
ESC 351 Lab Experiences in Scientific Programming (1)
ESC 391 Writing in the Earth Sciences (1)
ESC 313-314 Environmental Climatology and Laboratory
or ESC 412 Hydrology (4)
ESC 415 Physical Meteorology (3)
ESC 416 Thermodynamics and the Boundary Layer (3)
ESC 417 Dynamic Meteorology (3)
ESC 420 Atmospheric Sensing Methods (3)
ESC 493 Seminar (2)
Meteorology electives by advisement (6)
Required corequisite courses (21 hours)
MTH 201-202 Calculus I, II (6)
MTH 455 Differential Equations (3)
PHS 201-202 Physics I, II (8)
CHM 205 Chemistry I (4)
Designated electives
ESC 200 Introduction to Oceanography (3)
ESC 313 Environmental Climatology (3)
ESC 314 Climatology Laboratory (1)
ESC 412 Hydrology (4)
ESC 421 Air Pollution Meteorology (3)
ESC 432 Tropical Meteorology (3)
ESC 452 Mesoscale Meteorology (3)
ESC 460 Meteorological Internship (1-3)
ESC 399/499 Independent Study (1-3)
Recommended supporting courses include
CHM 206 College Chemistry II (4)
CSC 203 Fundamentals of Computer Science I (3)
CSC 205 Fundamentals of Computer Science II (4)
CPS 201 Computational Science Tools I (3)
CPS 202 Computational Science Tools II (3)
PHS 300 Classical Physics (3)
PHS 301 Mathematical Methods of Physics (3)
MTH 203 Calculus III (3)
MTH 471 Numerical Analysis (3)
SUGGESTED CURRICULUM PATTERN
Typical course sequence for an entering student with sound background in secondary school mathematics:
FRESHMAN YEAR
ESC 211 4
ESC 314* 1
ESC 313* 3
MTH 201 3
MTH 202 3
ENL 112 3
GEP 100 1
CHM 205 4
General education electives
SOPHOMORE YEAR
MTH 203*** 3
ESC 350 3
ESC 311 4
ESC 312 4
ESC 391 1
PHS 201 4
PHS 202 4
General education electives
JUNIOR YEAR
ESC 412* 4
ESC 421** 3
MTH 455 3
ESC 351 1
ESC 415 3
ESC 420 3
Electives
SENIOR YEAR
ESC 416 3
ESC 432** 3
ESC 417 3
ESC 493 2
ESC 490** 1
Electives
*One of these sequences is required.
**These are electives you may substitute from the list of designated electives.
***This is a recommended supporting course.
MINOR IN METEOROLOGY
A minor in meteorology must total 18 credit hours of ESC courses from among those applicable to the meteorology major. ESC 211 Introduction to Meteorology (or its equivalent) and ESC 311 Synoptic Meteorology must be included.
POLICY ON MAJORS AND MINORS
Majors within the Department of The Earth Sciences are strongly encouraged to have a second major or minor in chemistry, physics, biology, mathematics or computer sciences rather than within the department. Courses applied towards fulfilling the major CANNOT also be applied to a minor within the department. Where the same courses are required for both the major and minor, the minor work must be 18 credits beyond those commonly required credits.
STUDENT CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN METEOROLOGY SOCIETY
The College at Brockport has a chartered student chapter of the American Meteorological Society, which sponsors programs and speakers of meteorological interest as well as scheduling field trips and other experiences selected by the members.
PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
A "de facto" standard for the Meteorology degree is set by the requirements established for employment with the federal government, e.g. National Weather Service (GS 1340). After 1992, candidates for NWS eligibility must have taken:
24 credits of meteorology courses including:
6 credits of weather analysis and forecasting
6 credits of dynamics and thermodynamics (calculus based)
3 credits of physical meteorology
2 credits of remote sensing or instrumentation
6 credits of calculus based physics with laboratory
3 credits of differential equations
3 credits of computer science (for physical science majors)
3 credits of hydrology or chemistry (for physical science majors)
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
1. Completion of a minimum of 120 semester hours in an approved program with a minimum grade point average of 2.0 earned at Brockport, and a maximum of 54 semester hours in any one discipline.
2. Completion of the general education requirement of the College (by course work, transfer credit, or appropriate waiver).
3. Completion of a minimum of 48 semester hours in upper division courses (numbered 300 or 400 level).
4. Completion of 60 semester hours of liberal arts courses.
5. Completion of an academic major program with a minimum cumulative index of 2.0 in all courses required for the major.
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