Broadcast Meteorology

Meteorology is the study of the physics, chemistry, and dynamics of the earth's atmosphere and its interaction with the land surface and oceans. It is the underlying science of weather, climate, weather forecasting, climate projection, and their applications to decision-making activities. Fundamental topics include the composition, structure, and forces that govern the motion of the atmosphere. 

About this Program

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.
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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

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 | Broadcast Meteorology

This specialization prepares students to use meteorological tools involved in forecasting and to communicate that forecast in a broadcast setting. It combines the fundamental meteorology courses with a number of courses from the College of Journalism and Mass Communication.

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

GEO 3250Climatology3
MET 1010Introduction to Weather and Climate3
MET 3503Weather and Forecasting3
MET 4230Thermodynamics of the Atmosphere3
MET 4410Radar and Satellite Meteorology3
MET 4500CSynoptic Meteorology4
MET 4524Weather Briefing1
MET 4950Capstone in Meteorology1
Total Credits21

 Electives

The BS | Meteorology, Broadcast Meteorology specialization requires 52-54 credits of coursework in the major plus 27 credits of related coursework.

In addition to the 21 credit hours of required Core Meteorology courses:

Complete all Meteorology Theory Courses:10
Atmospheric Dynamics 1
Atmospheric Physics
Mesoscale Meteorology
Complete all Broadcast Meteorology Courses:15
Broadcast Writing Bootcamp
News Center Practicum (Broadcast Meteorology Anchor)
News Center Practicum (Intro to Broadcast Meteorology)
Audio News and Reporting
TV News Reporting
Advanced TV News Reporting
Select one Societal Applications course:3-4
Natural Hazards Geography
Sea Level Science
Principles of Geographic Hydrology
Managing for a Changing Climate
Extreme Floods
Extreme Droughts
Weather, Climate, and Society
Climate Change and Health
Communicating Science in the Geosciences
Water, Risk, and Extreme Events
Oceans and Global Climate Change
Select one Programming course: 3-4
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 Credits31-33

Total Credits 

Meteorology Core Courses21
Electives31-33
Total Credits52-54

Related Coursework

CHM 2045
2045L
General Chemistry 1
and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory
4
MAC 2311Analytic Geometry and Calculus 14
MAC 2312Analytic Geometry and Calculus 24
MAC 2313Analytic Geometry and Calculus 34
PHY 2048
2048L
Physics with Calculus 1
and Laboratory for Physics with Calculus 1
4
PHY 2049
2049L
Physics with Calculus 2
and Laboratory for Physics with Calculus 2
4
STA 2023Introduction to Statistics 13
Total Credits27

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

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.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
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
 Credits14
Semester Two
Quest 1 (Gen Ed Humanities) 3
GEO 3250 Climatology (Gen Ed Humanities) 3
JOU 2100 Broadcast Writing Bootcamp 1
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
 Credits15
Semester Three
MAC 2313 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 3 4
MET 3503 Weather and Forecasting 3
PHY 2049
2049L
Physics with Calculus 2
and Laboratory for Physics with Calculus 2
4
Gen Ed Biological Science 2 3
Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences 2 3
 Credits17
Semester Four
MET 4301 Atmospheric Dynamics 1 4
RTV 3303 Audio News and Reporting 3
STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1 (Gen Ed Mathematics) 3
Societal Applications or Programming course 3
State Core Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences 3
 Credits16
Semester Five
MET 4410 Radar and Satellite Meteorology 3
MET 4500C Synoptic Meteorology 4
RTV 4301 TV News Reporting 3
Foreign language 5
 Credits15
Semester Six
MET 4531 Mesoscale Meteorology 3
RTV 4681 Advanced TV News Reporting 3
Internship or MET4911 (Recommended) 1
Gen Ed Composition: Writing requirement 3
Foreign Language 5
 Credits15
Semester Seven
JOU 4201 News Center Practicum 2
MET 4230 Thermodynamics of the Atmosphere 3
MET 4524 Weather Briefing 1
Gen Ed Humanities 3
Gen Ed Biological Sciences 3
Societal Applications or Programming course 3
 Credits15
Semester Eight
JOU 4201 News Center Practicum (Broadcast Meteorology Anchor) 3
MET 4450 Atmospheric Physics 3
MET 4950 Capstone in Meteorology (Critical Tracking) 1
State Core Gen Ed Humanities 3
Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences 3
 Credits13
 Total Credits120
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.