About this Program
- College: Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Degree: Bachelor of Science
- Specializations: Applied Meteorology, Hazards, and Global Change | Broadcast Meteorology | General Atmospheric Science
- Credits for Degree: 120
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college, and major requirements.
Department Information
The Geography Department offers a range of topics in contemporary geography and geospatial science, rich and lively cultural and learning environments, BA and BS undergraduate degrees, MA, M.S., and PhD degrees, as well as the largest Medical Geography program in the United States.
Website
CONTACT
Email | 352.392.0494 (tel) | 352.392.8855 (fax)
P.O. Box 117315
330 Newell Drive
3141 TURLINGTON HALL
GAINESVILLE FL 32611-7315
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Curriculum
- Combination Degrees
- Geographic Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Certificate
- Geography
- Geography Minor
- Geography Minor UF Online
- Geography UF Online
- Geospatial Information Analysis Certificate
- Medical Geography Certificate
- Medical Geography in Global Health Minor
- Meteorology and Climatology Certificate
A major in Meteorology enables students to know the composition, structure, and motion of the Earth’s atmosphere as governed by laws of physics, energy, and chemistry, and to understand its relationship with Earth and human systems. Students will learn how observations, data collection, and prediction are applied in the subfields of meteorology. Computer-based lab assignments teach students how to analyze meteorological information using diagnostic, prognostic, and technological tools and to apply data to solve problems. They will be able to interpret and effectively communicate information using maps, graphs, and/or statistics.
The specializations prepare students for a range of careers. Meteorologists continue to engage in creating weather forecasts and climate projections, communicating those forecasts and projections, and conducting research. Increasingly, a number of private sector industries are looking to meteorologists to improve or create new products and services.
BS Meteorology | Applied Meteorology, Hazards, and Global Change
This specialization prepares students to pursue careers in the private or nonprofit sectors, applying meteorological knowledge to a range of fields including agriculture, business, climate change consulting, commodities, economics, energy, engineering, entrepreneurship, forensic meteorology, insurance, policy, shipping, etc. Given the wide range of sectors, this specialization is very flexible to provide room for students to take a number of classes in their field of interest in preparation for their career.
COURSEWORK FOR THE MAJOR
The Meteorology major has three different specializations: BS | Meteorology, Applied Meteorology, Hazards, and Global Change; BS Meteorology | General Atmospheric Sciences; and BS | Meteorology, Broadcast Meteorology.
Students in all specializations must complete the following Meteorology Core courses:
Meteorology Core Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GEO 3250 | Climatology | 3 |
| MET 1010 | Introduction to Weather and Climate | 3 |
| MET 3503 | Weather and Forecasting | 3 |
| MET 4230 | Thermodynamics of the Atmosphere | 3 |
| MET 4410 | Radar and Satellite Meteorology | 3 |
| MET 4500C | Synoptic Meteorology | 4 |
| MET 4524 | Weather Briefing | 1 |
| MET 4950 | Capstone in Meteorology | 1 |
| Total Credits | 21 | |
Electives
The BS | Meteorology, Applied Meteorology, Hazards, and Global Change specialization requires 36-38 credits of coursework in the major plus 19 credits of related coursework. Students should consult the Department of Geography’s undergraduate coordinator for information and guidance on curriculum planning upper division courses outside the major.
In addition to the 21 credit hours of required Core Meteorology courses:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one Atmospheric Science Elective course: | 3 | |
| Hurricanes | ||
| Atmospheric Teleconnections | ||
| Spatial Analysis of Atmospheric Data using GIS | ||
| Select two Societal Applications courses: | 6-7 | |
| Economics of Resource Use | ||
| Global Sustainable Energy: Past, Present and Future | ||
| Economics of Sustainability | ||
| Natural Hazards Geography | ||
| Sea Level Science | ||
| Principles of Geographic Hydrology | ||
| Managing for a Changing Climate | ||
| Extreme Floods | ||
| Extreme Droughts | ||
| Weather, Climate, and Society | ||
| Communicating Science in the Geosciences | ||
| Water, Risk, and Extreme Events | ||
| Climate Change and Health | ||
| Oceans and Global Climate Change | ||
| Science Journalism | ||
| Earth System Analysis | ||
| Select two Programming courses: | 6-7 | |
| Introduction to Python for Physical Sciences | ||
| Computer Programming Using C | ||
| Foundations of Geographic Information Systems | ||
| GIS Programming | ||
| Geocomputation using R Programming | ||
| GIS Analysis of Hazard Vulnerability | ||
| Pragmatic Python for Weather | ||
| Programming With Data in R | ||
| Total Credits | 15-17 | |
Total Credits
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Meteorology Core Courses | 21 | |
| Electives | 15-17 | |
| Total Credits | 36-38 | |
Related Coursework
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CHM 2045 & 2045L | General Chemistry 1 and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory | 4 |
| MAC 2311 | Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1 | 4 |
| MAC 2312 | Analytic Geometry and Calculus 2 | 4 |
| PHY 2048 & 2048L | Physics with Calculus 1 and Laboratory for Physics with Calculus 1 | 4 |
| STA 2023 | Introduction to Statistics 1 | 3 |
| Total Credits | 19 | |
Critical Tracking records each student’s progress in courses that are required for entry to each major. Please note the critical-tracking requirements below on a per-semester basis.
For degree requirements outside of the major, refer to CLAS Degree Requirements: Structure of a CLAS Degree.
Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.
Semester 1
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 2
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 3
- Complete one Meteorology Core course and one MAC course.
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 4
- 2.5 critical-tracking GPA required
- Complete one additional Meteorology Core course and CHM 2045/CHM 2045L and PHY 2048/PHY 2048L.
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 5
- Complete one additional Meteorology Core course.
- 2.5 critical-tracking GPA required
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 6
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 7
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 8
- Complete all of the remaining MET 3000/4000 courses.
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Students are expected to complete the Writing, Civic Literacy, summer enrollment, and Quest requirements while in the process of taking the courses below. Students are also expected to complete the General Education International and Diversity requirements concurrently with another General Education requirement (typically, Composition, Humanities, or Social and Behavioral Sciences) as part of the CLAS Basic Distribution requirements. One of the two General Education Mathematics courses must be a pure math course.
Up to 3 hours of approved Meteorology electives that are not MET, GEO, or GIS courses may also count towards the 3000 level or above electives outside of the major.
To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold. These courses must be completed by the terms as listed on the Critical Tracking tab.
This semester plan represents an example progression through the major. Actual courses and course order may be different depending on the student's academic record and scheduling availability of courses. Prerequisites still apply.
| Semester One | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| MET 1010 | Introduction to Weather and Climate (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Physical Sciences) | 3 |
| CHM 2045 & 2045L |
General Chemistry 1 and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory (Critical Tracking; State Core Gen Ed Physical Sciences) 1 |
4 |
| MAC 2311 | Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1 (Critical Tracking; State Core Gen Ed Mathematics) | 4 |
| State Core Gen Ed Composition; Writing Requirement | 3 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Semester Two | ||
| Quest 1 (Gen Ed Humanities) | 3 | |
| GEO 3250 | Climatology (Gen Ed Humanities) | 3 |
| MAC 2312 | Analytic Geometry and Calculus 2 (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Mathematics) | 4 |
| PHY 2048 & 2048L |
Physics with Calculus 1 and Laboratory for Physics with Calculus 1 (Critical Tracking) |
4 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Semester Three | ||
| MET 3503 | Weather and Forecasting | 3 |
| Gen Ed Biological Science 2 | 3 | |
| Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences 2 | 3 | |
| Foreign language | 5 | |
| Programming course | 3 | |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Semester Four | ||
| STA 2023 | Introduction to Statistics 1 (Gen Ed Mathematics) | 3 |
| State Core Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| Foreign language | 5 | |
| Programming course | 3 | |
| Atmospheric Science Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Semester Five | ||
| MET 4410 | Radar and Satellite Meteorology | 3 |
| MET 4500C | Synoptic Meteorology | 4 |
| Gen Ed Composition: Writing requirement | 3 | |
| Societal Applications course | 3 | |
| Elective (3000-level or above, not in major) | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Semester Six | ||
| Internship or MET4911 (Recommended) | 1 | |
| State Core Gen Ed Humanities | 3 | |
| Societal Applications course | 3 | |
| Electives (3000-level or above, not in major) | 6 | |
| Credits | 13 | |
| Semester Seven | ||
| MET 4230 | Thermodynamics of the Atmosphere | 3 |
| MET 4524 | Weather Briefing | 1 |
| Gen Ed Humanities | 3 | |
| Atmospheric Science elective | 3 | |
| Societal Applications course | 3 | |
| Elective (3000-level or above, not in major) | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Semester Eight | ||
| MET 4950 | Capstone in Meteorology (Critical Tracking) | 1 |
| Gen Ed Biological Sciences | 3 | |
| Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| Societal Applications course | 3 | |
| Elective (3000-level or above, not in major) | 3 | |
| Credits | 13 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
- 1
Natural science laboratory: A one-credit science lab with a minimum grade of C is required. Students can elect a laboratory course that is approved for the general education physical or biological sciences requirement or any psychology laboratory. (Most laboratory courses cannot be taken without prerequisite or corequisite courses.)
- 2
One General Education option taken this term must be a Quest 2 course.