General degree requirements
An overview of degree requirements for a Bachelor of Science
in atmospheric sciences or meteorology is provided here (courtesy
of the American Meteorological Society).
Specific degree requirements
Requirements of specific degree-granting
institutions are listed to provide a sample of the similarities
and differences in the Bachelor of Science in atmospheric sciences
or meteorology. This list is not intended to be complete and
the inclusion (or exclusion) of a given institution should not
be considered as an endorsement by the Oklahoma Climatological
Survey. |
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| University
of California - Los Angeles |
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Requirements for the Bachelor of
Science in Atmospheric Sciences
College of Letters and Sciences |
| Effective Spring
1998 |
Minimum Units
Total Units...................................................180
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In Preparation
for the Major |
| Required: |
Atmospheric Sciences 2A
or 6A, 3A
Chemistry and Biochemistry 11A
Mathematics 31A or 31AQ, 31B, 32A, 32B,
33A, 33B
Physics 8A/8AL, 8B/8BL, 8C/8CL, 8D/8DL
Program in Computing 3.
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The Major |
| Required:
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Atmospheric Sciences 94,
104A, 104B, 104C, C105, 161
Two courses from Atmospheric Sciences
CM140, C141, 143, 144, 146, 151, C152, C154,
C162
Two courses from Chemistry and Biochemistry
11B, 11C, 103, 110A, 110B, 113A, C113B, Mathematics
115A, 115B, 132, 135A, 135B, 136, 145, 146, M150A,
150B, Physics 110A, 110B, M122, 123, 131, 132, Statistics
154A, 154B.
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| Recommended: |
Four units of Atmospheric
Sciences 198 for students preparing for a career
in the operational meteorology field.
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COURSES IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES
Atmospheric Sciences 1. Introduction to Weather Maps
and Weather Forecasting.
Introduction to weather maps and satellite imagery
and their use in making a weather forecast. Discussions
also include structure of the National Weather Service
and services it provides to the general public. Course
allows students to make weather forecasts for Los Angeles
and one city east of the Rocky Mountains.
Atmospheric Sciences 2. Air Pollution.
Causes and effects of high concentrations of
pollution in the atmosphere. Topics include nature and
sources of gaseous and particulate pollutants, their transport,
dispersion, modification, and removal, with emphasis on
atmospheric processes on scales ranging from individual
sources to global effects; interaction with biosphere and
oceans; stratospheric pollution.
Atmospheric Sciences 2A. Air Pollution.
Course for majors parallel to course 2; discussion
section includes use of calculus. Discussion topics include
composition of the atmosphere, air pollution, depletion
of stratospheric ozone layer, global geochemical cycles,
global greenhouse warming, polar ozone hole, nuclear winter.
Atmospheric Sciences 2E. Air Pollution.
Course for students with interests in environmental
studies parallel to course 2; discussion section focuses
on intersection of science and policy for issues in local,
regional, and global air pollution; use of case-study approach
and participation of experts from social, health, and life
sciences in class discussions.
Atmospheric Sciences 3. Introduction to the Atmospheric
Environment.
Nature and causes of weather phenomena, including
winds, clouds, rain, lightning, tornadoes and hurricanes,
solar and terrestrial radiation; phenomena of the higher
atmosphere; ionosphere and auroras; causes of air pollution;
proposed methods and status of weather modification.
Atmospheric Sciences 3A. Introduction to the Atmospheric
Environment.
Course for majors parallel to course 3; discussion
section includes use of calculus. Discussion topics include
atmospheric thermodynamics, extratropical synoptic-scale
disturbances, atmospheric aerosol and microphysical processes,
clouds and storms, radiative processes, atmospheric dynamics.
Atmospheric Sciences 3E. Introduction to the Atmospheric
Environment.
Course for students with interests in environmental
studies parallel to course 3; discussion section emphasizes
environmental aspects of atmospheric phenomena, with focus
on scientific issues of severe weather and climate change
and particular attention to those topics that are relevant
to policy issues.
Atmospheric Sciences 4. California Weather and Climate.
Sequel to course 3 dealing in greater detail
with atmospheric phenomena relevant to the weather of California,
and nature of weather and climate of various regions of
the state. Topics include extratropical cyclones and fronts,
thunderstorms, severe weather, sea and land breezes, Santa
Ana winds, low-level temperature inversions, air pollution,
climate change, and discussion of present weather.
Atmospheric Sciences 5. Climates of Other Worlds.
Introduction to atmospheres of planets and their
satellites in the solar system using information obtained
during the recent planetary exploration program. Elementary
description of origin and evolution of atmospheres on the
planets. Climates on the planets, conditions necessary
for evolution of life, and its resulting effect on planetary
environment.
Atmospheric Sciences 6. Climate and Climatic Change.
Introduction to physical causes of climate,
classification of climate, and global distribution of climate
types. Description of climate changes over time scales
ranging from lifetime of Earth to el niño events.
Discussion of causes of climatic change (e.g., long-term
steady increase in solar luminosity, short-term fluctuations
in solar luminosity, changes in Earth's orbit, changes
in atmospheric composition, volcanoes, anthropogenic changes
such as increased COx and nuclear war). State of the art
in modeling and predicting climate.
Atmospheric Sciences 6A. Climate and Climatic Change.
Course for majors parallel to course 6; discussion
section includes use of calculus. Discussion topics include
atmospheric circulation, oceanic circulation, greenhouse
effect, ice ages, ocean/atmosphere interactions, ozone
hole, past climates, climate prediction.
Atmospheric Sciences 6E. Climate and Climatic Change.
Course for students with interests in environmental
studies parallel to course 6; discussion section places
scientific and technological aspects of climate and climate
change in context of societal impacts of climate variations.
Discussion of modern methods used to predict climate change
and their impact.
Atmospheric Sciences 8. Clouds, Rain, and Storms.
The raindrop and the ice crystal. Relation of
meteorological conditions to cloud types. Precipitation
mechanisms from clouds. Different scales of atmospheric
cloud organization. Description and dynamics of spectacular
weather systems, ranging from tornadoes to hurricanes.
Severe weather forecasting.
Atmospheric Sciences 10. Introduction to the Earth
System.
Overview of Earth as a system of distinct, yet
connected, physical and biological elements. Origins and
characteristics of atmosphere, oceans, and land masses.
Effects of biological processes in shaping the physical
environment. Mechanisms that drive climate of Earth and
that have produced a protective ozone shield around the
planet. Exploration of possibility of technological solutions
to global pollution problems.
Atmospheric Sciences 88. Lower Division Seminar.
Variable topics.
Atmospheric Sciences 94. Survey of Atmospheric Sciences.
General introductory seminar on current research
topics in atmospheric sciences. Students are directed in
a library research project and prepare a brief class presentation/term
paper under supervision of participating faculty member.
Atmospheric Sciences 104A. Atmospheric Thermodynamics.
Basic thermodynamics, including first, second,
and third laws. Atmospheric statics. Dry adiabatic processes.
Phase changes of water and moist adiabatic processes. Introduction
to cloud microphysics. Gravitational stability.
Atmospheric Sciences 104B. Introduction to Dynamic
Meteorology.
Kinematic properties of velocity field: streamlines
and trajectories, vorticity and divergence. Equations governing
atmospheric motions: equation of motion, equation of mass
continuity, thermodynamic energy equation. Static equilibrium,
pressure as vertical coordinate. Geostrophic flow. Circulation
and vorticity. Quasi-geostrophic motion. Dynamics of extratropical
cyclones, baroclinic instability, fronts.
Atmospheric Sciences 104C. Introduction to Synoptic
Meteorology.
Weather map analysis. Thermodynamic diagrams.
Satellite interpretation. Severe weather forecasting. Isentropic
analysis.
Atmospheric Sciences C105. Advanced Synoptic Meteorology.
Structure and analysis of the wave cyclone.
Characteristics of frontal zones. Frontogenesis. Diagnosis
of vertical velocity; quasi-geostrophic omega equation:
derivation, applications, and alternative formulations.
Sawyer/Eliassen equation. Diabatic effects on cyclogenesis.
Modeling studies. Discussion of current research topics.
Atmospheric Sciences CM140. Introduction to Fluid Dynamics.
Equations of fluid motion. Circulation theorems.
Irrotational flow. Vortex motion. Rotating frame. Hydrostatic
and geostrophic balance. Sound and shock waves. Viscous
flow.
Atmospheric Sciences C141. Introduction to Geophysical
Fluid Dynamics.
Equations of motion in a rotating frame, with
special emphasis on shallow-water model. Potential vorticity.
Geostrophic motion. Gravity and Rossby waves. Geostrophic
adjustment. Quasi-geostrophic motion. Laplace tidal equation.
Kelvin and mixed Rossby gravity waves. Baroclinic instability.
Concurrently scheduled with course C201A.
Atmospheric Sciences C142. Introduction to Atmospheric
Science.
Introductory course for physical sciences, life
sciences, or engineering majors interested in environmental
issues. Introduction to atmospheric environment, with emphasis
on structure, thermodynamics, and dynamics of extratropical
atmosphere.
Atmospheric Sciences 143. Physical Oceanography.
Introductory course for physical sciences, life
sciences, or engineering majors interested in environmental
issues. Observations of temperature, salinity, density,
and currents. Methods. Wind-driven and geostrophic currents.
California Current and Gulf Stream. Internal waves. Surface
waves and tides. Air/sea interactions. Coastal upwelling.
Biological/physical interactions. El Niño. Role
of ocean in climate and global change. Santa Monica Bay
field trip.
Atmospheric Sciences 144. Air Pollution Meteorology.
Structure of surface layer of the atmosphere,
including its temperature, humidity, and winds; properties
of regional weather systems and implications for air pollution
transport and dispersion; turbulence and diffusion in lower
atmosphere; advective transport and deposition processes
for air pollutants; air pollutant source/receptor relationships
in urban and regional air-sheds.
Atmospheric Sciences 145. Physics and Chemistry of
Atmospheric Environment.
Introductory course for physical sciences, life
sciences, or engineering majors interested in environmental
issues. Structure and composition of the atmosphere; atmospheric
evolution; chemical and photochemical processes; aerosol
and cloud microphysical processes; radiation transfer in
clear, cloudy, and polluted air; human influences on atmospheric
composition and chemistry; effects on global climate.
Atmospheric Sciences 146. Remote Sensing of the Environment.
Introductory course for physical sciences, life
sciences, or engineering majors interested in environmental
issues. Introduction to properties of radiation in the
atmosphere and principles of active and passive remote
sensing of atmospheres and surfaces as it applies to monitoring
of Earth's environment and global change.
Atmospheric Sciences 151. Environmental Chemistry Laboratory.
Laboratory experience for students who may wish
to pursue a career in environmental science. Essential
laboratory procedures to be performed in context of timely
environmental issues involving smog formation, acid rain,
and ozone depletion. Hands-on experience using scientific
instruments and analytical techniques appropriate for environmental
assessment.
Atmospheric Sciences C152. Physics of Clouds and Precipitation.
Thermodynamics of moist air, phase changes of
water substance, latent heats, moist adiabatic processes;
elementary cloud dynamics; cloud microstructure; microphysics
of cloud droplets, nucleation phenomena, droplet hydrodynamics,
coalescence and precipitation; ice physics; charge separation
mechanisms; macrostructure of clouds and storms.
Atmospheric Sciences C154. Introduction to Solar System
Plasmas.
Introduction to basic plasma physical processes
occurring in the sun, solar wind, magnetospheres, and ionospheres
of planets, using simple fluid (magnetohydrodynamic) models
as well as individual particle (radiation belt dynamics)
approach. Solar-planetary coupling processes, geomagnetic
phenomena, aurora.
Atmospheric Sciences 161. Numerical Methods in Atmospheric
Sciences.
Numerical solutions of problems selected from
atmospheric sciences. Matrix inversion. Solution of oscillation,
decay, advection, and vorticity equations.
Atmospheric Sciences C162. Statistics in Atmospheric
Sciences.
Survey of methods used for data analysis in
atmospheric sciences, with emphasis on practical applications.
Methods include linear regression, factor analysis, and
cluster analysis.
Atmospheric Sciences 195. Senior Paper.
Supervised through individual consultation with
an appropriate faculty member, students write a research
paper on a topic of their own choosing within their area
of concentration in the major. May be used for writing
honors thesis.
Atmospheric Sciences 198. Operational Meteorology.
Daily contact with weather data and forecasting,
satellite and radar data. Introduction to weather forecasting
for aviation, air pollution, marine weather, fire weather,
and public use. Includes daily weather map discussions
and visits to observing, radiosonde, and radar installations.
Atmospheric Sciences 199. Special
Studies in Meteorology.
Special individual studies.
COURSES IN CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY
Chemistry and Biochemistry 11A. General Chemistry.
Atomic picture of matter; periodicity of chemical properties;
types of chemical reactions; reaction stoichiometry; chemical
reaction calculations; quantum theory; atomic and molecular
structure and bonding.
Chemistry and Biochemistry 11B. General Chemistry.
Kinetic theory and thermodynamics of gas phase; thermochemistry;
molecular interactions in liquids and solids; acid-base
and solubility equilibria; free energy and reactivity.
Chemistry and Biochemistry 11C. General Chemistry.
Chemical kinetics; electrochemistry; main group and
transition metal reactivity; coordination chemistry; special
topics such as carbon chemistry, polymers, ceramics, biological
molecules.
Chemistry and Biochemistry 103. Environmental Chemistry.
Chemical aspects of air and water pollution, solid
waste disposal, energy resources, and pesticide effects.
Chemical reactions in the environment and effect of chemical
processes on the environment.
Chemistry and Biochemistry 110A. Physical Chemistry:
Chemical Thermodynamics.
Fundamentals of thermodynamics, chemical and phase
equilibria, thermodynamics of solutions, electrochemistry.
Chemistry and Biochemistry 110B. Physical Chemistry:
Introduction to Statistical Mechanics and Kinetics.
Kinetic theory of gases, principles of statistical
mechanics, statistical thermodynamics, equilibrium structure
and free energy, relaxation and transport phenomena, macroscopic
chemical kinetics, molecular-level reaction dynamics.
Chemistry and Biochemistry 113A. Physical Chemistry:
Introduction to Quantum Mechanics.
Departure from classical mechanics: Schrödinger
vs. Newton equations; model systems: particle-in-a-box,
harmonic oscillator, rigid rotor, and hydrogen atom; approximation
methods: perturbation and variational methods; many-electron
atoms, spin, and Pauli principle, chemical bonding.
Chemistry and Biochemistry C113B. Physical Chemistry:
Introduction to Molecular Spectroscopy.
Interaction of radiation with matter, microwave spectroscopy,
infrared and Raman spectroscopy, vibrations in polyatomic
molecules, electronic spectroscopy, magnetic resonance
spectroscopy.
COURSES IN MATHEMATICS
Mathematics 31A. Calculus and Analytic Geometry.
Differential calculus and applications; introduction
to integration.
Mathematics 31B. Calculus and Analytic Geometry.
Transcendental functions; methods and applications of
integration.
Mathematics 32A. Calculus of Several Variables.
Introduction to differential calculus of several variables.
Mathematics 32B. Calculus of Several Variables.
Introduction to integral calculus of several variables,
vector field theory, line and surface integrals.
Mathematics 33A. Matrices and Differential Equations.
Introduction to matrix theory, differential equations,
and systems of differential equations.
Mathematics 33B. Infinite Series.
Infinite sequences and series; applications.
Mathematics 115A. Linear Algebra.
Abstract vector spaces, linear transformations, and
matrices; determinants; inner product spaces; eigenvector
theory.
Mathematics 115B. Linear Algebra.
Linear transformations, conjugate spaces, duality;
theory of a single linear transformation, Jordan normal
form; bilinear forms, quadratic forms; Euclidean and unitary
spaces, symmetric skew and orthogonal linear transformations,
polar decomposition.
Mathematics 132. Complex Analysis for Applications.
Introduction to basic formulas and calculation procedures
of complex analysis of one variable relevant to applications.
Topics include Cauchy/Riemann equations, Cauchy integral
formula, power series expansion, contour integrals, residue
calculus.
Mathematics 135A-135B. Ordinary Differential Equations.
Systems of differential equations; linear systems with
constant coefficients, analytic coefficients, periodic
coefficients, and linear systems with regular singular
points; existence and uniqueness results; linear boundary
and eigenvalue problems; two-dimensional autonomous systems,
phase-plane analysis; stability and asymptotic behavior
of solutions.
Mathematics 136. Partial Differential Equations.
Linear partial differential equations, boundary and
initial value problems; wave equation, heat equation, and
Laplace equation; separation of variables, eigenfunction
expansions; selected topics, as method of characteristics
for nonlinear equations.
Mathematics 146. Methods of Applied Mathematics.
Integral equations, Green's function, and calculus
of variations. Selected applications from control theory,
optics, dynamical systems, and other engineering problems.
COURSES IN PHYSICS
Physics 8A. Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Mechanics.
Motion, Newton laws, work, energy, linear and angular
momentum, rotation, equilibrium, gravitation.
Physics 8AL. Physics Laboratory for Scientists and
Engineers: Mechanics.
Experiments performed on falling bodies, acceleration
on an air track, conservation of energy, and rotational
kinematics. State-of-the-art computer data acquisition
and analysis, with introduction to error analysis.
Physics 8B. Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Waves,
Sound, Heat.
Harmonic oscillators, standing and traveling waves,
fluid dynamics, sound, kinetic theory of gases, laws of
thermodynamics.
Physics 8BL. Physics Laboratory for Scientists and
Engineers: Waves, Sound, Heat.
Experiments performed on harmonic oscillations, standing
waves, acoustics, and thermodynamics. Development of error
and analysis, including distributions and least-squares
fitting procedures.
Physics 8C. Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Electricity
and Magnetism.
Electrostatics: electric field and potential, capacitors
and dielectrics. Currents, DC circuits, transients in RC
circuits. Magnetism: magnetic fields and forces, Ampere
law, Faraday law, magnetic properties of matter. Maxwell
equations in integral form. Inductance and transients in
RL circuits.
Physics 8CL. Physics Laboratory for Scientists and
Engineers: Electricity and Magnetism.
Experiments performed on effects of electric and magnetic
fields, resistance, capacitance, time-varying circuits.
Use of equipment such as voltmeters, oscilloscopes.
Physics 8D. Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Electromagnetic
Waves, Light, and Relativity.
AC circuits, resonance. Maxwell equations in differential
form. Electromagnetic waves. Light: reflection, refraction,
interference, diffraction, polarization. Special theory
of relativity.
Physics 8DL. Physics Laboratory for Scientists and
Engineers: Electromagnetic Waves, Light, and Relativity.
Experiments performed on reflection, refraction, polarization,
diffraction, and interference with light and microwaves.
Equipment includes laser, traveling microscope.
Physics 110A. Electricity and Magnetism.
Electrostatics and magnetostatics.
Physics 110B. Electricity and Magnetism.
Faraday law and Maxwell equations. Propagation of electromagnetic
radiation. Multipole radiation and radiation from an accelerated
charge. Special theory of relativity.
Physics M122. Introduction to Plasma Electronics.
Senior-level introductory course on electrodynamics
of ionized gases and applications to materials processing,
generation of coherent radiation and particle beams, and
renewable energy sources.
Physics 123. Atomic Structure.
Theory of atomic structure. Interaction of radiation
with matter.
Physics 131. Mathematical Methods of Physics.
Vectors and fields in space, linear transformations,
matrices, and operators; Fourier series and integrals.
Physics 132. Mathematical Methods of Physics.
Functions of a complex variable, including Riemann
surfaces, analytic functions, Cauchy theorem and formula,
Taylor and Laurent series, calculus of residues, and Laplace
transforms.
COURSES IN PROGRAM IN COMPUTING
Program in Computing 3. Introductory FORTRAN Programming.
Basic principles of programming, using FORTRAN as
example language. Terminal course intended for physical
sciences and engineering majors who need to use the extensive
library of existing FORTRAN programs.
COURSES IN STATISTICS
Statistics 154A. Statistics.
Probability, distributions, expectation, estimation,
central limit theorem, confidence intervals, testing.
Statistics 154B Statistics.
One- and two-sample problems, goodness of fit and contingency
tables, correlation and regression, analysis of variance,
nonparametrics.
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