Program Overview

Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, BS

The School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS) offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences. The primary focus of the SoMAS faculty is on fundamental research designed to increase understanding of the processes that characterize the coastal ocean and the atmosphere.

Degree Requirements

The major in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences leads to the Bachelor of Science degree. Two tracks of study are available in the major: one is intended for students wishing to learn about the physical behavior of the atmosphere and its application to weather forecasting, and the other track is for students who wish to learn about issues and processes related to climate. Completion of the major requires approximately 65 credits. Of these, no more than one course (4 credits) with a grade lower than C can be credited to the major.

Required Courses in Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, and Computer Science

• AMS 102 - Elements of Statistics (3 credits)
• OR
• AMS 210 - Applied Linear Algebra (3 credits)
• MAT 131 - Calculus I (4 credits)
• MAT 132 - Calculus II (4 credits)
• If students do not place into MAT 125 or MAT 131 on the basis of the math placement examination, MAT 123 (or MAT 119/MAT 123) is a required course for the major.
• MAT 203 - Calculus III with Applications (4 credits)
• OR
• AMS 261 - Applied Calculus III (4 credits)
• CHE 131 - General Chemistry IB (4 credits)
• PHY 125 - Classical Physics A (3 credits)
• PHY 126 - Classical Physics B (3 credits)
• PHY 133 - Classical Physics Laboratory I (1 credit)
• PHY 127 - Classical Physics C (3 credits)
• PHY 134 - Classical Physics Laboratory II (1 credit)
• OR
• PHY 131 - Classical Physics I (3 credits)
• PHY 133 - Classical Physics Laboratory I (1 credit)
• PHY 132 - Classical Physics II (3 credits)
• PHY 134 - Classical Physics Laboratory II (1 credit)
• OR
• PHY 141 - Classical Physics I: Honors (3 credits)
• PHY 133 - Classical Physics Laboratory I (1 credit)
• PHY 142 - Classical Physics II: Honors (3 credits)
• PHY 134 - Classical Physics Laboratory II (1 credit)
• ESG 111 - Programming for Engineers (3 credits)
• OR
• PHY 277 - Computation for Physics and Astronomy (3 credits)
• OR
• CSE 130 - Introduction to Programming in C (3 credits)

Required Departmental Courses

• ATM 205 - Introduction to Atmospheric Sciences (3 credits)
• ATM 247 - Atmospheric Structure and Analysis (3 credits)
• ATM 345 - Atmospheric Thermodynamics and Dynamics (3 credits)
• ATM 348 - Atmospheric Physics (3 credits)
• ATM 397 - Air Pollution and Global Warming (3 credits)
• MAR 334 - Remote Sensing of the Environment (3 credits)
• MAR 350 - Introduction to Ocean Physics (3 credits)

Additional Requirements for the Meteorology Track

• MAT 303 - Calculus IV with Applications (4 credits)
• OR
• AMS 361 - Applied Calculus IV: Differential Equations (4 credits)
• ATM 346 - Advanced Atmospheric Dynamics (3 credits)
• ATM 347 - Advanced Synoptic Meteorology and Weather Forecasting (3 credits)
• PHY 251 - Modern Physics (3 credits)
• OR
• ATM 320 - Problem Solving with Python (3 credits)
• ATM 365 - Tropical Meteorology (3 credits)
• OR
• ATM 383 - Doppler Weather Radar (3 credits)

Additional Requirements for the Climate Track

• ATM 201 - Introduction to Climate and Climate Change (3 credits)
• ATM 305 - Global Atmospheric Change (3 credits)
• ATM 320 - Problem Solving with Python (3 credits)
• GEO 313 - Understanding Water Resources for the 21st Century (3 credits)
• MAR 340 - Environmental Problems and Solutions (3 credits)
• OR
• ENS 301 - Contemporary Environmental Issues and Policies (3 credits)

Experiential Learning Courses (optional, 1-3 credits)

• ATM 387 - Weather and Climate Data Analysis (3 credits)
• ATM 447 - Senior Tutorial in Atmospheric Sciences (1-3 credits)
• ATM 487 - Senior Research in Atmospheric Sciences (0-6 credits)
• OR
• ATM 488 - Internship (0-6 credits)

Upper-Division Writing Requirement

The advanced writing component of the major in ATM requires registration in, and satisfactory completion of the 0-credit MAR 459 or SUS 459 (S/U grading) along with enrollment in an approved advanced course that entails writing of either a term paper or a laboratory report. Completion of MAR 459 with a grade of S will also result in fulfillment of the WRTD requirement. A list of preapproved courses can be found at http://

Atmospheric Sciences Honors Program

Graduation with departmental honors in Atmospheric Sciences requires the following:

1. Students are eligible to participate in the Honors Program if they have a 3.50 GPA in all courses for the major by the end of the junior year. Students should apply to the SoMAS undergraduate director for permission to participate.
2. Students must prepare an honors thesis based on a research project written in the form of a paper for a scientific journal. A student interested in becoming a candidate for honors should submit an outline of the proposed thesis research project to the SoMAS undergraduate director as early as possible, but no later than the second week of classes in the last semester. The student will be given an oral examination in May on his or her research by his or her research supervisor and the undergraduate research committee. The awarding of honors requires the recommendation of this committee and recognizes superior performance in research and scholarly endeavors. The written thesis must be submitted before the end of the semester in which the student is graduating.
3. If the student maintains a GPA of 3.5 in all courses in their major through senior year and receives a recommendation by the undergraduate research committee, he or she will receive departmental honors.

BS/MS Degree in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences

Students interested in this program, intended to prepare students for professional employment or graduate school in the field of atmospheric and oceanic sciences, may apply for admission at the end of the junior year. Students in this combined B.S./M.S. program may complete both degrees in 10 semesters plus two summers (although the exact timing will depend on the student’s progress on the research thesis). Entry in the combined B.S./M.S. program is contingent upon a student identifying a thesis advisor, so students should seek out research experience in the laboratories of prospective advisor prior to the end of their junior year. During the fourth year, students take a mixture of undergraduate and graduate courses (6-12 credits). After the 8th semester (during the summer), students begin M.S. level research. During the fifth year, students complete the remaining graduate requirements for the M.S., likely needing the following summer to complete the research project. The two to four 500-level MAR courses taken during the senior year may be counted toward required or elective requirements of the undergraduate Marine Science major. Please visit the SoMAS website for further information on the Marine Sciences programs.

SBC Courses

This table illustrates major courses that can also be used to fulfill SBC requirements.

Sample Course Sequence for the Major in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (Meteorology Track)

Sample Course Sequence for the Major in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (Oceanography Track)