Overview
The Bachelor of Science degree program prepares students for further graduate studies as well as for non-academic professional applications. The program follows standards established by the American Meteorological Society (AMS), emphasizing a math and physics background for understanding the physical processes governing the motion and composition of the atmosphere.
Undergraduate students are encouraged to work with the faculty and are able to earn course credit and senior theses by conducting research under the supervision of leading scientists in their field. Research encompasses atmospheric dynamics, climate science, boundary-layer processes, cloud processes, and remote sensing. Focus areas include hurricanes (modeling, data assimilation and field observations), tropical meteorology, atmosphere-ocean coupling, climate, and climate change. Many faculty are active in fieldwork.
The Bachelor of Science in Meteorology prepares students for admission to graduate programs and for careers in teaching and research as well as for those who will pursue a technical career in this area in government or private industry.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Atmospheric Science | ||
| ATM 103 | Survey of Modern Meteorology | 3 |
| ATM 243 | Weather Forecasting | 3 |
| ATM 265 | Atmospheric Chemistry | 3 |
| ATM 303 | Meteorological Instrumentation and Observation | 3 |
| ATM 305 | Atmospheric Thermodynamics | 3 |
| ATM 307 | Introduction to the Physics of Climate | 3 |
| ATM 405 | Atmospheric Dynamics I | 3 |
| ATM 406 | Atmospheric Dynamics II | 3 |
| ATM 407 | Weather Analysis | 4 |
| ATM 409 | Cloud Physics, Radiation, and Remote Sensing | 3 |
| Other Required Courses | ||
| CSC 120 | Computer Programming I | 4 |
| or MSC 203 | Foundations of Computational Marine Science | |
| MSC 111 | Introduction to Marine Science | 3 |
| MSC 112 | Introduction to Marine Science Lab | 1 |
| MTH 161 | Calculus I 1 | 4 |
| or MTH 171 | Calculus I | |
| MTH 162 | Calculus II (fulfills the Rosenstiel BSMAS quantitative skills requirement) 1 | 4 |
| or MTH 172 | Calculus II | |
| MTH 210 | Introduction to Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MTH 211 | Calculus III | 3 |
| or MTH 310 | Multivariable Calculus | |
| MTH 224 | Introduction to Probability and Statistics | 3 |
| or MSC 204 | Environmental Statistics | |
| MTH 311 | Introduction to Ordinary Differential Equations | 3 |
| PHY 201 | University Physics I for the Sciences | 4 |
| PHY 106 | College Physics Laboratory I | 1 |
| PHY 202 | University Physics II for the Sciences | 4 |
| PHY 108 | College Physics Laboratory II | 1 |
| Electives | ||
| Atmospheric Science, Mathematics, or Science Course | 3 | |
| Additional Electives | 24 | |
Recommended courses include: | ||
| Tropical Weather and Forecasting | ||
| Advanced Principles in Broadcasting Meteorology | ||
| Introduction to Physical Oceanography | ||
| General Education Requirements | ||
| Written Communication Skills: | ||
| WRS 105 | First-Year Writing I | 3 |
| WRS 107 | First-Year Writing II: STEM | 3 |
| or WRS 106 | First-Year Writing II | |
| or ENG 106 | Writing About Literature and Culture | |
| Quantitative Skills: | ||
| Calculus I (fulfilled through the major) | ||
or MTH 171 | Calculus I | |
| Areas of Knowledge: | ||
| Arts and Humanities Cognate | 9 | |
| People and Society Cognate | 9 | |
| STEM Cognate (9 credits) (fulfilled through the major) | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
- 1
Calculus I and II must be passed with a grade of “C” or higher.
- *
500-level courses are open to undergraduates but typically offered on the Rosenstiel School campus. For Broadcast Meteorology double-majors and minors, the electives may be taken from the School of Communications.
Suggested Plan of Study with Math Minor
This is only a sample. There are numerous ways students can create plans of study for the Meteorology major. Students should feel empowered to use the information listed in the Academic Bulletin and the to take charge of their education, pursue their own academic interests, and create their own, unique plans of study.
| Freshman Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| ATM 103 | Survey of Modern Meteorology | 3 |
| MSC 111 | Introduction to Marine Science | 3 |
| MSC 112 | Introduction to Marine Science Lab | 1 |
| WRS 105 | First-Year Writing I | 3 |
| MTH 161 | Calculus I | 4 |
| Elective #1 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| ATM 243 | Weather Forecasting | 3 |
| ATM 265 | Atmospheric Chemistry | 3 |
| WRS 107 | First-Year Writing II: STEM | 3 |
| MTH 162 | Calculus II | 4 |
| Elective #2 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Sophomore Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MTH 210 | Introduction to Linear Algebra | 3 |
| PHY 201 | University Physics I for the Sciences | 4 |
| PHY 106 | College Physics Laboratory I | 1 |
| ATM/MTH/Science Course (ATM 244 is recommended) | 3 | |
| Elective #3 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| ATM 303 | Meteorological Instrumentation and Observation | 3 |
| CSC 120 or MSC 203 | Computer Programming I or Foundations of Computational Marine Science | 4 |
| PHY 202 | University Physics II for the Sciences | 4 |
| PHY 108 | College Physics Laboratory II | 1 |
| MSC 204 or MTH 224 | Environmental Statistics or Introduction to Probability and Statistics | 3 |
| Elective #4 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 18 | |
| Junior Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| ATM 305 | Atmospheric Thermodynamics | 3 |
| MTH 211 or 310 | Calculus III or Multivariable Calculus | 3 |
| Elective #5 | 3 | |
| Elective #6 | 3 | |
| Elective #7 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ATM 307 | Introduction to the Physics of Climate | 3 |
| ATM 405 | Atmospheric Dynamics I | 3 |
| MTH 311 | Introduction to Ordinary Differential Equations | 3 |
| Elective #8 | 3 | |
| Elective #9 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Senior Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| ATM 406 | Atmospheric Dynamics II | 3 |
| ATM 407 | Weather Analysis | 4 |
| Elective #10 | 3 | |
| Elective #11 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Spring | ||
| ATM 409 | Cloud Physics, Radiation, and Remote Sensing | 3 |
| Elective #12 | 3 | |
| Elective #13 | 3 | |
| Elective #14 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
Mission
The mission of the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science is to deepen our collective knowledge of our planet through cutting-edge scientific research on the oceans, atmosphere, geology, biota, and the human dimension, while training the next generation of scientists. We transfer the knowledge gained to our students, the national and international scientific community, and to policymakers and the public.
The educational mission of the BS degree in Meteorology at the University of Miami is to graduate students with the ability and desire to integrate knowledge of meteorology into their future careers.
Goals
Students completing this major will be able to master a broad set of fundamental scientific knowledge in Meteorology, acquire valuable technical skills and learn how to apply this knowledge to real-world problems, in a time of changing climate and increasing stress on Earth’s resources and environment. The program will provide the rigor, flexibility, depth and integration to enable students to:
- Pursue a course of study that provides both depth and breadth in Meteorology and related science courses.
- Learn from the diverse and outstanding group of professors and researchers who are experts in their fields and have active research programs.
- Undertake active research experiences, which will allow them to gain a strong understanding of the scientific process and provide them with a set of valuable experimental and computational skills.
- Prepare themselves for graduate school and for successful careers in public and private industries.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students will be able to apply and use the equations that govern physical atmospheric processes and responses to explain fundamental principles and behaviors of the atmosphere and to solve quantitative problems.
- Students will be able to utilize and interpret observations and model output to evaluate atmospheric processes and phenomena.
- Students will be able to use a computer programming language to investigate weather and climate phenomena and to analyze and visualize data.
- Students will be able to carry out supervised research in the field of atmospheric science.
- Students will demonstrate an ability to effectively communicate scientific information.
