The Science and Letters Curriculum in Atmospheric Science prepares students for careers in a wide range of disciplines within the atmospheric sciences including meteorology, environmental science, climate, remote sensing, science education, atmospheric chemistry, computational science and other areas. The curriculum is tailored to achieve the student’s long term educational goals, their career aspirations in atmospheric science, and their general interests in the field. All students receive a firm foundation in mathematics, physics and chemistry, and develop data analysis and computational skills that can be used in a wide range of applications within and beyond the atmospheric sciences. Students can emphasize specific areas of interest in their elective choices.
With a B.S. degree in Atmospheric Science, students have opportunities for employment as meteorologists and atmospheric scientists within agencies of government (e.g. the National Weather Service, NOAA, NASA, EPA, DOD, DOE), many private firms, and in colleges and universities for those who continue with graduate education. Most students take part in independent study, internship or research projects as a capstone experience in their senior year. Students interested in a research career in atmospheric science are encouraged to undertake research projects in the capstone experience.
The undergraduate curriculum in atmospheric science, which can be found here, is modeled on the recently published recommendations of the American Meteorological Society. The American Meteorological Society is the professional society for atmospheric scientists and meteorologists in the United States. Their "recommended attributes" for undergraduate degree programs in the atmospheric sciences and meteorology are guidelines for graduates to be successful in finding employment or in seeking admission to graduate programs.
The Department of Atmospheric Science is consistently ranked in the top #10 atmospheric science and meteorology programs nationwide by collegefactual.com, which examined major program quality and student outcomes.