Prescott Campus - College of Aviation

Meteorology Department

Degree Requirements

Prescott weather - monsoon activity The Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Meteorology provides a practical understanding of the physics and dynamics of the atmosphere and prepares the graduate for a range of meteorologist positions in government or industry. Students use a state-of-the-art Weather Center and computer-equipped classrooms to understand and forecast complex atmospheric phenomena ranging from severe thunderstorms and tornadoes, to cyclones, fronts and jet streams, to global climate and how it is changing. Emphasis is placed on applying theory to operational weather forecasting and decision making for weather-sensitive industries, including possible hands-on experience as a meteorology intern. The program prepares graduating students for careers as meteorologists with the government, military, television or the private sector, or for graduate studies toward a career in research. All areas of concentration meet all the requirements for undergraduate study in meteorology recommended by the American Meteorological Society, the National Weather Service and the US Air Force. All graduates also meet U.S. Office of Personnel Management Qualification Standards for the position of Meteorologist.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Meteorology requires successful completion of a minimum of 120 credit hours and can be attained in eight semesters, as outlined below. Students must complete both general education courses and Applied Meteorology courses in order to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Meteorology. All students entering the Applied Meteorology Program should have completed four years of high school science and mathematics. Proficiency in trigonometry and pre-calculus is essential to enter this program. Students should be prepared to enter Calculus I in their first semester.

Students should be aware that several courses in each academic year may have pre- or co-requisites. Check the course descriptions at the back of this catalog before registering for classes to ensure that these requirements are met. In particular, many courses have math prerequisites or co-requisites. Students should plan to begin the required math-calculus sequence as soon as they are eligible. Notice that students completing the Research AOC will be eligible to declare a Minor in Mathematics.

In addition, the meteorology (WX) courses in the Junior and Senior years are only offered once a year. Students must adhere to the separate Fall and Spring plan given for these years. Failure to do this will result in graduation being delayed by one year.

There are three areas of concentration. The Research area of concentration is for non-flying, non-military students. The Meteorology with Flying area of concentration is for non-military students who wish to complete 15 credit hours of flying and ground schools while earning the Applied Meteorology degree. The Military Meteorologist area of concentration is for the ROTC student. The area of concentration must be declared at the time of enrollment or during the first semester.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
The Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Meteorology requires successful completion of a minimum of 120 credit hours and can be attained in eight semesters, as outlined below. Students must complete both general education courses and Applied Meteorology courses in order to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Meteorology. All students entering the Applied Meteorology Program should have completed four years of high school science and mathematics. Skill in trigonometry and precalculus is necessary prior to entering this program. Students should plan to begin the required math-calculus sequence as soon as they are eligible. The courses necessary to earn the degree are listed below. Graduates also earn a Minor in Mathematics.

Research Area of Concentration:

FRESHMAN YEAR
Course Title Credits
AS 120 Principles of Aeronautical Science 3
COM 122 English Composition and Literature 3
HU 14x Lower-Level Humanities 3
MA 222 Business Statistics 3
MA 241 Calculus and Analytical Geometry I 4
MA 242 Calculus and Analytical Geometry II 4
PS 150 Physics I for Engineers 3
PS 216 Physics I Laboratory 1
UNIV 101 College Success Seminar* (1)
WX 252 Introduction to Meteorology 3
WX 261 Applied Climatology 3
Total Credits 31

*Meets open elective or credit in excess of degree requirement

SOPHOMORE YEAR
Course Title Credits
COM 219 Speech 3
CS 125 Computer Science I 3
PS 105 General Chemistry I 4
PS105L General Chemistry I Laboratory 0
MA 243 Calculus and Analytical Geometry III 4
PS 160 Physics II for Engineers 3
WX 220 Data Analysis and Visualization* 3
WX 353 Thermodynamics of the Atmosphere* 3
WX 363 Thunderstorms 3
WX 365 Satellite and Radar Weather Interpretation 3
Total Credits 30

*Courses offered only in the Spring semester

JUNIOR YEAR
Course Title Credits
FALL
EC/SS 1xx/2xx SS Lower-Level Economics -or- Social Sciences 3
MA 345 Differential Equations and Matrix Methods 4
WX 320 Atmospheric Thermodynamics 3
WX 354 Dynamics of the Atmosphere 3
WX 420 Advanced Atmospheric Thermodynamics 3
Open elective (if no Co-op) (3)
SPRING
MA 441 Advanced Engineering Mathematics 3
WX 355 Weather Analysis 5
WX 390 Atmospheric Physics 3
Open elective (if no Co-op) (3)
SUMMER
CE AAS Co-op/Internship -or- Fall/Spring Open electives 6
Total Credits 30

SENIOR YEAR
Course Title Credits
FALL
COM 222 Business Communication 3
EC/SS 1xx/2xx Lower-Level Economics -or- Social Sciences 3
WX 270 Weather Information Systems 3
WX 427 Forecasting Techniques 3
WX 490 Dynamic Meteorology I 3
SPRING
HU/SS 3xx/4xx Upper-Level Humanities -or- Social Sciences 3
WX 457 Weather Operations Seminar 3
WX 491 Advanced Dynamic Meteorology II 3
Open electives 5
Total Credits 29

Total Degree Credits 120

Applied meteorology with flying Area of Concentration:

FRESHMAN YEAR
Course Title Credits
AS 121 Private Pilot Operations 5
FA 121 Private Single Flight
COM 122 English Composition and Literature
3
MA 241 Calculus and Analytical Geometry I 4
MA 242 Calculus and Analytical Geometry II 4
PS 150 Physics I for Engineers 3
PS 216 Physics I Laboratory 1
UNIV 101 College Success Seminar (1)*
WX 252 Introduction to Meteorology 3
WX 261 Applied Climatology 3
Total Credits 29

*Meets open elective or credit in excess of degree requirement

SOPHOMORE YEAR
Course Title Credits
AS 221 Instrument Pilot Operations 3
CS 125 Introduction to Computing for Engineers 3
FA 221 Instrument Single Flight 1
PS 105 General Chemistry I 3
PS 105L General Chemistry I Laboratory 3
MA 243 Calculus and Analytical Geometry III 4
PS 160 Physics II for Engineers 3
WX 220 Data Analysis and Visualization* 3
WX 353 Thermodynamics of the Atmosphere* 3
WX 363 Thunderstorms 3
WX 365 Satellite & Radar Weather Interpretation 3
Total Credits 31

*Courses offered only in the Spring semester

JUNIOR YEAR
Course Title Credits
FALL
AS 321 Commercial Pilot Operations 3
FA 324 Commercial-Multi Flight 1
MA 345 Differential Equations and Matrix Methods 4
EC/SS Lower-Level Economics -or- Social Sciences Elective 3
WX 420 Advanced Atmospheric Thermodynamics 3
WX 354 Dynamics of the Atmosphere 3
SPRING
COM 219 Speech 3
MA 222 Business Statistics 3
WX 355 Weather Analysis 5
WX 390 Atmospheric Physics 3
Total Credits 31

SENIOR YEAR
Course Title Credits
FALL
EC/SS 1xx/2xx Lower-Level Economics -or- Social Sciences 3
HU14x Lower-level Humanities 3
WX 270 Weather Information Systems 3
WX 427 Forecasting Techniques 3
WX 490 Advanced Dynamic Meteorology I 3
SPRING
COM 222 Business Communication 3
HU/SS 3xx/4xx Upper-Level Humanities -or- Social Sciences 3
WX 457 Weather Operations Seminar 3
WX 491 Advanced Dynamic Meteorology II 3
Open electives 3
Total Credits 30

Total Degree Credits 121

Military Meteorologist Area of Concentration:

FRESHMAN YEAR
Course Title Credits
AS 120 Principles of Aeronautical Science 3
COM 122 English Composition and Literature 3
HU 14x Lower-level Humanities 3
MA 241 Calculus and Analytical Geometry I 4
MA 242 Calculus and Analytical Geometry II 4
PS 150 Physics I for Engineers 3
PS 216 Physics I Laboratory 1
UNIV 101 College Success Seminar (1)*
WX 252 Introduction to Meteorology 3
WX 261 Applied Climatology 3
ROTC 2
Total Credits 30

*Meets open elective or credit in excess of degree requirement

SOPHOMORE YEAR
Course Title Credits
CS125 Computer Science I 4
EC/SS Lower-Level Economics or Social Sciences Elective 3
MA 243 Calculus and Analytical Geometry III 4
PS 105 General Chemistry I 4
PS 105L General Chemistry Laboratory 0
PS 160 Physics II for Engineers 3
WX 220 Data Analysis and Visualization* 3
WX 353 Thermodynamics of the Atmosphere* 3
WX 363 Thunderstorms 3
WX 365 Satellite and Radar Weather Interpretation 3
ROTC 2
Total Credits 32

*Courses offered only in the Spring semester

JUNIOR YEAR
Course Title Credits
FALL
MA 345 Differential Equations and Matrix Methods 4
EC/SS 1xx/2xx Lower-Level Economics -or- Social Sciences 3
WX 420 Advanced Atmospheric Thermodynamics 3
WX 354 Dynamics of the Atmosphere 3
ROTC 3
SPRING
MA 222 Business Statistics 3
WX 355 Weather Analysis 5
WX 390 Atmospheric Physics 3
ROTC 3
Total Credits 30

SENIOR YEAR
Course Title Credits
FALL
EC/SS 1xx/2xx Lower-Level Economics -or- Social Sciences 3
WX 270 Weather Information Systems 3
WX 427 Forecasting Techniques 3
WX 490 Advanced Dynamic Meteorology I 3
ROTC 3
SPRING
COM 222 English Composition and Literature 3
WX 457 Weather Operations Seminar 3
WX 491 Dynamic Meteorology II 3
HU/SS 3xx/4xx Upper-Level Humanities -or- Social Sciences 3
ROTC 3
Total Credits 30

Total Degree Credits 122