Program Overview

Meteorology Program

The Meteorology program at Mississippi State University offers two concentrations: Professional Meteorology and Broadcast Meteorology.

Professional Meteorology Concentration

This program focuses on the study of atmospheric processes and climatic variability. Upon completion of the program, students will have met the coursework requirements for the National Weather Service, the private meteorology sector, or continue their education in graduate school. The Professional Meteorology Program (PMP) track prepares students for graduate school and/or a career as an operational forecaster. Outside of the core meteorology curriculum, PMP students are encouraged to take courses in advanced mathematics, statistics, computer programming, Remote Sensing, GIS, and other courses depending upon individual students' interests.

• Recent graduates from the PMP have attended meteorology and climatology graduate programs at various universities.
• The USDA, the EPA, the Weather Channel, and the National Weather Service also employ PMP graduates as forecasters.

Broadcast Meteorology Concentration

This program focuses on preparing students for a career in radio/television weathercasting. The coursework does not meet the requirements for the American Meteorological Society's Certified Broadcast Meteorologist Seal of Approval because it lacks some of the math and physics requirements. Individuals can, however, be qualified to earn the National Weather Association Seal of Approval after working in the industry for two years full-time or three years part-time.

• The Mississippi State University Climate Lab Studio serves as the hub of the Broadcast Meteorology Program.
• The studio is comprised of a large studio featuring one chroma-key wall, a BAM set, two cameras, and IFB capability.
• Students are advised to take a series of communications courses, earning a minor in communication.

Computer Requirements

The Meteorology faculty have adopted a policy related to student computer expectations. All Broadcast and Professional Meteorology Undergraduate Majors and all Graduate students with concentrations in Meteorology are required to purchase and maintain a laptop with a Windows Operating System for use in the classroom or lab. The laptop should have at least an Intel Core i5 processor with 4 GB of RAM and a minimum of a 500 GB hard disk, and run the latest version of Windows.

Program Offerings

The Department of Geosciences offers the following programs:

• B.S. Broadcast Meteorology
• B.S. Professional Meteorology

Location

The Department of Geosciences is located in Hilbun Hall, Mississippi State, MS 39762.