Program Overview

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Geography (Meteorology-Climatology) Program

The Geography (Meteorology-Climatology) program is designed to enable students to meet the requirements for certification as a meteorologist by the National Weather Service. It covers dynamic as well as synoptic meteorology.

Program Description

The program provides students with a focused understanding of weather, climate, and the various related methods of measurement and instrumentation. Required courses include atmospheric physics, operational weather forecasting, three semesters of calculus, and two semesters of calculus-based physics.

At a Glance

• College/school: The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Location: Tempe
• Second language requirement: No
• STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
• First required math course: MAT 270 - Calc w/Analytic Geometry I
• Math intensity: Substantial

Curriculum

The curriculum for the program includes a range of courses that provide students with a comprehensive understanding of meteorology and climatology. Students can view the 2025 - 2026 curriculum and curriculum archives for more information.

Concurrent Program Options

Students pursuing concurrent degrees earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. Working with their academic advisors, students can create their own concurrent degree combination. Some combinations are not possible due to high levels of overlap in curriculum.

Accelerated Program Options

This program allows students to obtain both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years. Accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree programs are designed for high-achieving students who want the opportunity to share undergraduate coursework with graduate coursework to accelerate completion of their master's degree.

Admission Requirements

• General university admission requirements: All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
• Transfer admission requirements: Transfer students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 from a transfer institution.

Tuition Information

When it comes to paying for higher education, everyone’s situation is different. Students can learn about ASU tuition and financial aid options to find out which will work best for them.

Change of Major Requirements

A current ASU student has no additional requirements for changing majors. Students should visit the Change of Major form for information about how to change a major to this program.

Transfer Options

ASU is committed to helping students thrive by offering tools that allow personalization of the transfer path to ASU. Students may use MyPath2ASU to outline a list of recommended courses to take prior to transfer.

Program Learning Outcomes

Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program’s learning outcomes include:

• Construct a scholarly literature review on a contemporary geographical research problem in their capstone course.
• Solve specific radiative energy balance problems in the final exam for GPH 412 (Physical Meteorology).
• Apply knowledge of climate change theories to specific theoretical world constructs.

Global Opportunities

Students deepen their understanding of cultural traditions in the human experience of place when studying abroad. With access to more than 300 Global Education programs available around the world, students are able to tailor their experience to their specific interests and skill sets and gain hands-on experience in diverse cultures and traditions.

Career Opportunities

Program graduates have found employment with:

• Airlines
• Energy power companies
• Government agencies
• Military (meteorology and pilot training)
• National Weather Service This program also provides suitable preparation for graduate study in either meteorology or climatology.

Example Job Titles and Salaries

• Air Traffic Controller: $144,580
• Climate Change Analyst: $80,060
• Environmental Analyst: $67,950
• Environmental Compliance Inspector: $78,420
• Environmental Restoration Planner: $80,060
• Geographic Information Systems Technician (GIS Technician): $108,970
• Hydrologist: $92,060
• Meteorologist: $97,450
• News Reporter: $60,280
• Wind Energy Operations Manager: $136,550