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College of Aviation

Bachelor of Science in Applied Meteorology

  • OVERVIEW
  • ADVANTAGES
  • REQUIREMENTS
  • CAREERS

Overview

The Applied Aviation Sciences Department offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Meteorology. This program offers students with a passion for weather the opportunity to study, observe, and explore atmospheric phenomena ranging from global climate to tornadoes in our state-of-the-art Weather Center and computer-equipped classrooms. Besides mastering the essentials of meteorology, students will acquire the communication skills necessary to translate information about complex atmospheric features into the practical language of operational decision makers. The program aims to produce graduates with the necessary knowledge, analytical skills, and operational expertise to add value to any decision impacted by the weather. Graduates will be competitive for jobs ranging from the aviation and aerospace industry to radio and television to business and government/military operations of the 21st century.

Advantages

As corporations pay more attention to the climate’s impact on business, they are including weather professionals at the decision-making level. In the Meteorology program, you’ll focus on the theory and study of climatology, as well as its applications to industrial and business operations.

You’ll study with a faculty of seven meteorologists in modern facilities where you can simulate conditions ranging from tornadoes to global climate. You’ll learn how to communicate complex atmospheric phenomena in the practical language of decision makers. Students also take courses in an area of concentration from among four options:

  • Flight weather
  • Commercial weather
  • Media weather
  • Research

Requirements

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. Students pursuing the Applied Meteorology degree will select one of five areas of concentration (AOC) from Flight Weather, Media Weather, Commercial Weather, Meteorological Computer Applications, or Research, generally by the end of their fourth semester. All students must complete the general education courses, Applied Meteorology core courses, and the required courses for one AOC in order to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Meteorology. A student wishing to become eligible for employment with the U.S. government as a meteorologist must complete the Research or Meteorological Computer Applications AOC in order to meet U.S. Office of Personnel Management Qualification Standards. All students entering the Applied Meteorology program must take a math placement test or show suitable advanced placement. Because many courses have prerequisites or corequisites, students in the Research and Meteorological Computer Applications AOCs should prepare to begin the required calculus sequence as soon as they are eligible.

Bachelor of Science Degree in Applied Meteorology
CourseTitleCredits
 General Education36-37
 Applied Meteorology Core47
 Area of Concentration29-33
 Open Electives3-8
Total Degree Credits Required120
University General Education
CourseTitleCredits
 Communication Theory and Skills9
 Computer Science Elective3
 Lower-Level Humanities (HU)3
 Lower-Level Social Sciences (SS)6
 Upper-Level HU/SS Elective3
 Mathematics (see specific AOC)6-7
 Physics (see specific AOC)6
Total Credits36-37
Applied Meteorology Core
CourseTitleCredits
UNIV 101College Success1
CE AAS Co-op/Internship or 
 Approved Electives6
PS 105General Chemistry4
WX 201Survey of Meteorology3
WX 261Applied Climatology3
WX 270Weather Information Systems3
WX 353Thermodynamics of the Atmosphere3
WX 354Dynamics of the Atmosphere3
WX 356Synoptic Meteorology3
WX 365Satellite & Radar Weather Interpretation3
WX 390Atmospheric Physics3
WX 427Forecasting Techniques3
WX 422Statistical Applications for Meteorological Data Analysis3
WX 456Advanced Weather Analysis3
WX 457Weather Operations Seminar3
Total Credits47
Flight Weather Area of Concentration
CourseTitleCredits
AS 121Private Pilot Operations5
AS 221Instrument Pilot Operations3
AS 321Commercial Pilot Operations3
AS 309Aerodynamics3
AS 310Aircraft Performance3
AS 410Air Dispatch Operations3
AT 200Air Traffic Management I3
WX 301Aviation Weather3
WX 364Weather for Aircrews3
Total Credits29
Media Weather Area of Concentration
CourseTitleCredits
AS 120Principles of Aviation Science3
COM 225Science & Technology Communications3
COM 260Introduction to Media3
COM 265Introduction to News Writing3
COM 320Communications Law & Ethics -OR- 
HU 330Values and Ethics3
COM 350Environmental Communication3
COM 360Media Relations I3
WX 265Climate Change3
WX 280Introduction to TV Weathercasting3
WX 380Advanced TV Weathercasting3
Total Credits30
Commercial Weather Area of Concentration
CourseTitleCredits
AS 120Principles of Aviation Science3
BA 220Marketing3
BA 221Advanced Computer Based Systems3
BA 325Social Responsibility and Ethics Management3
EC 210Microeconomics3
EC 420Economics of Air Transportation3
WX 265Climate Change3
 Applied Meteorology Electives3
 Business Electives6
Total Credits30
Meteorological Computer Applications Area of Concentration
CourseTitleCredits
AS 120Principles of Aviation Sciences3
CS 225Computer Science II4
MA 242Calculus and Analytical Geometry II4
MA 243Calculus and Analytical Geometry III4
MA 345Differential Equations and Matrix Methods4
PS 250Physics III for Engineers3
PS 253Physics Laboratory for Engineers1
SE 300Software Engineering Practices4
CS/SE/CECUpper-Level Electives6
Total Credits33
Research Area of Concentration
CourseTitleCredits
AS 120 Principles of Aviation Science3
CS 225 Computer Science II4
MA 242Calculus and Analytic Geometry II4
MA 243Calculus and Analytic Geometry III4
MA 345Differential Equations and Matrix Methods4
PS 250Physics for Engineers III3
PS 253Physics Laboratory for Engineers1
WX 420Advanced Atmospheric Thermodynamics3
WX 490Advanced Dynamic Meteorology I3
WX 491Advanced Dynamic Meteorology II3
Total Credits32

Careers

The Embry-Riddle Connection gives you the best shot at meteorology jobs in aviation/aerospace, media, and business and government operations.