Meteorology Major

The five courses below add up to 16 total credits.  With 120 credits for a Bachelor’s of Science Degree, at this rate, a student could graduate in four years.

Students often fulfill this requirement with ENG 1009 or ENG 1010.  Please see the First Year Writing Placement website to determine which course is correct for you!

ENG 1010 Description: ENG 1010 is a course focusing on the process of writing and revising college level texts in a variety of genres. The course employs lecture, discussion, workshop, and conference methods. Students learn how to read, summarize, and analyze texts. Students demonstrate their ability to generate, organize, and produce writing for appropriate audiences. Coursework does not include library research.

Students might start higher than College Algebra or take a different version of College Algebra based on placement.  Please see the Math Placement Testing page for details.  We need you on the path to Calculus.  This usually means College Algebra for Calculus (MTH 1110 or 1108+1109 or MTH 1111+1101), then a semester of Trigonometry, then Calculus!  Students placing in to Trigonometry can skip College Algebra and replace these credits with unrestricted electives.  Students placing directly into Calculus or beyond can use these credits as unrestricted electives.

This course will also fulfill the General Studies Quantitative Literacy requirement.

Description: The topics covered include equations and inequalities, functions and graphs, exponents and logarithms, conic sections, linear systems, and the binomial theorem. Basic algebraic skills are essential as a prerequisite to this course. All sections integrate the use of a graphing calculator into the course.

Description: This course introduces the fundamental physical processes in the atmosphere–heat and energy, temperature, pressure, wind, clouds, precipitation, and stability. These concepts provide the basis for understanding weather systems, such as thunderstorms, tornadoes, and hurricanes. These processes are also applied to climatic patterns and the impacts of human activity on weather and climate, such as air pollution and climate change. An optional 1-credit lab course, MTR 2020 Weather and Climate Lab for Scientists, is available for students interested in additional experience in the measurement and analysis of atmospheric data, and is required for some science programs.

This course will also fulfill 3 credits of the General Studies Natural and Physical Science requirement.

Any Oral Communication course from the General Studies list can fulfill this requirement.

Students can choose from a variety of Arts and Humanities courses.  Here are some we recommend for meteorology majors:

• JMP 1010 – Critical Thinking through 21st Century Media Credits: 3
• PHI 1030 – Thinking about Ethics: Morality and the Good Life Credits: 3

The courses below total 14 credits.

Students often fulfill this requirement with ENG 1020 Research and Argument Writing 

Description: This is a course in the process of writing extended essays supported by research. The course includes an introduction to research methods, practice in critical reading, thinking, and writing across the disciplines, integration of source material, and the conventions of MLA and APA styles of documentation. Students can expect to do a series of shorter writing and research assignments leading to the longer, documented paper.

Description: The topics covered include trigonometric functions, equations, and identities, solution of triangles, and complex numbers. A specific graphing calculator will be required.

Description: Students are introduced to the basic measurements, calculations and analysis made in the study of atmospheric science. Meteorological lab work in the course includes surface and upper-air charts, thermodynamic diagrams, weather codes, and weather imagery. Students analyze and display weather data in multiple formats, using both traditional hand analysis and using computer analysis and display software.

Description: A comprehensive study of the facts, concepts, and laws of chemistry. This course meets the requirements of students majoring in chemistry, medicine, medical technology, biology, physics and other fields requiring a strong background in chemistry. Students enrolling in this course should have successfully completed high school chemistry or equivalent coursework.

Meteorology students are not required to take the associated lab.

Students can complete two requirements with one course, Social & Behavioral Science requirement and the Ethnic Studies & Social Justice requirement by taking one of the following courses:

• AAS 1010 – Introduction to Africana Studies Credits: 3 (ESSJ)
• AAS/CHS/GWS 2100 – Women of Color Credits: 3 (ESSJ)
• ANT 2330 – Cross-Cultural Communication Credits: 3 (ESSJ)
• CHS 1000 – Introduction to Chicana/o Studies Credits: 3 (ESSJ)
• COMM 3000 – Diversity and Communication in the U.S. Credits: 3 (ESSJ)
• GEG 2700 – Geographies of Environmental Justice Credits: 3 (ESSJ)
• GWS 1200 – Multicultural Study of Sexualities and Genders Credits: 3 (ESSJ)
• PSC 1030 – Multicultural Politics for Non-Majors Credits: 3 (ESSJ)

Students might choose to fulfill ESSJ in History or Arts & Humanities instead!

Courses in this semester add up to 16 credits.

Description: This course provides a survey of the instruments and instrument systems used in operational and research meteorology. The theory of instrument measurement and error, operating principles, and method of operation of surface- and upper-air sensors, as well as radar and satellites, will be presented. The lab component of the course will involve the theory, use, calibration, and maintenance of instruments and the analysis and interpretation of the observations.

Description: This course provides a physics-based study of the uses of radar and satellites and their application to various meteorological problems. Basic theories of radar and satellites will be applied to the interpretation and analysis of various radar and satellite products. The lab component focuses on the interpretation of radar and satellite imagery using computer display software.

Description: This is a first course in calculus for science and engineering. The topics covered include derivatives of polynomials, trigonometric, exponential and logarithmic functions, applications of the derivative, the definite integral, and the fundamental theorem of calculus. All sections of the course will make integrated use of the software package Mathematica and/or a graphing calculator.

Any General Studies Arts & Humanities course can be found by scrolling to that section in the catalog or by searching the schedule in the advanced search for courses with this attribute.

Meteorology students might consider taking:

• ENG 2512 – The Rhetoric of Social Media Credits: 3
• ENG 2580 – Climate Change Advocacy Writing Credits: 3

The full list of Social and Behavioral Sciences courses that can fulfill this requirement can be found by scrolling to that section in the catalog or by searching the schedule in the advanced search for courses with this attribute.

Courses we recommend for meteorology majors:

• GEG 1000 – World Regional Geography Credits: 3 (Global Diversity)
• GEG 1300 – Introduction to Human Geography Credits: 3 (Global Diversity)
• GEG 1700 – Principles of Sustainability Credits: 3
• GEG 2020 – Geography of Colorado Credits: 3
• GEG 2700 – Geographies of Environmental Justice Credits: 3 (ESSJ)
• JMP 1000 – Introduction to Journalism and Mass Media Credits: 3

Courses in this semester total 15 credits.

Description: Climatology examines the characteristics, distribution, and causes of global and regional climate. Physical and dynamic mechanisms of climate are emphasized. The course also explores the spatial and temporal distributions of the main climate elements. Climate change topics include paleoclimatology, observed shifts in climate, climate model projections, and potential impacts of global warming.

Description: This is a second course in calculus. The topics covered include techniques of integration, applications of the integral and infinite series, including Taylor’s series. All sections of the course will make integrated use of the software package Mathematica and/or a graphing calculator.

Description: This first term of a one-year, introductory, calculus-based physics course is suitable for science and engineering students.  The topics include motion, forces, rotations, gravity, and elasticity.

Description: This first semester of a one-year sequence in laboratory work emphasizes experimental techniques, procedures and formal report writing. Laboratory experiments reinforce or extend the work of the lecture portion of the course. Emphasis is on mechanics.

Calculus II and Physics I can be challenging courses.  Save yourself some time and brain space by finding a fun class to fill this space!

Courses this semester total 14 credits.

Description: Students are introduced to the computer programming language Python, the modern language used in the atmospheric sciences. The course content focuses on specific applications to meteorology, including basic universal programming concepts. Students learn to load, manipulate, and analyze meteorological data of various formats, and visualize it through graphs and maps. Students become familiar with a variety of python tools for these tasks while practicing these concepts in a lab setting.

Description: This course presents a descriptive approach to the structure and behavior of mid-latitude, synoptic-scale weather systems. Primary topics include the physics of synoptic-scale air motion, the role of synoptic weather systems in the general circulation, jet streams, airmasses, fronts, and the application of these to cyclones and anticyclones. Elementary quasi-geostrophic theory and weather forecasting are introduced.

Description: In this interactive weather discussion course, students will participate in weekly weather discussions on recent, present, and future weather. Students will become familiar with weather patterns and learn to create weather forecasts through the discussion and interpretation of radar data, satellite animations, weather observations, and forecasting models.

Description: This course in the calculus of functions of more than one variable includes the following topics: partial derivatives, definite integrals over plane and solid regions, vectors and their applications, and Green’s Theorem and its generalizations. All sections of the course will make integrated use of the software package Mathematica.

Students can fulfill two requirements with one course, the Historical Requirement and the Global Diversity Requirement.  Students might fulfill the Global Diversity requirement using a different category course.

Here are some courses that fulfill both:

• AAS 1130 – Survey of African History Credits: 3 (Global Diversity)
• ANT 1650 – Ancient Civilizations Credits: 3 (Global Diversity)
• ECO 1776 – Global Economic History: The Origins of Growth Credits: 3 (Global Diversity)
• HIS 1005 – Ancient Civilizations Credits: 3 (Global Diversity)
• HIS 1030 – World History to 1500 Credits: 3 (Global Diversity)
• HIS 1032 – Islam in History: From the Prophet to the Present Credits: 3 (Global Diversity)
• HIS 1035 – The Medieval World Credits: 3 (Global Diversity)
• HIS 1040 – World History since 1500 Credits: 3 (Global Diversity)
• HIS 1045 – Europe, Renaissance to the Present Credits: 3 (Global Diversity)
• HIS 1250 – China and East Asia Credits: 3 (Global Diversity)
• HIS 1270 – India and South Asia Credits: 3 (Global Diversity)
• HIS 1300 – Introduction to Latin American History Credits: 3 (Global Diversity)
• HIS/GWS 1600 – Women in World History Credits: 3 (Global Diversity)
• HIS 1700 – Nature and Society Credits: 3 (Global Diversity)
• HIS 1940 – Survey of African History Credits: 3 (Global Diversity)

Choose from any course at the university!

Courses in this semester total 14 credits.

Description: This is a course in interpretation, understanding, and analysis of weather data, focusing on conventional surface and upper-air data and use of these data in current weather diagnostics. Topics include traditional hand analysis of surface and upper-air weather maps, spatial and temporal cross-sections, thermodynamic diagrams, meso-analyses, and prognostic charts. These topics form the foundation for correct and efficient use of modern computer analysis. This is an essential course for operational and applied research meteorologists.

Students can use this course to fulfill their 3 meteorology elective credits.

Description: This course considers the nature and causes of hazardous weather, the predictability of hazardous weather events, and the economic and societal impacts of these events. The strategies for the protection of life and property from hazardous weather are also considered.

Students can repeat this class for 4 total credits.

Description: In this interactive weather discussion course, students will participate in weekly weather discussions on recent, present, and future weather. Students will become familiar with weather patterns and learn to create weather forecasts through the discussion and interpretation of radar data, satellite animations, weather observations, and forecasting models.

Description: This course covers classical thermodynamics and its application to atmospheric processes. Main topics include the equation of state, first and second laws of thermodynamics, adiabatic processes of dry and moist air, stability, thermodynamic diagrams, thermodynamic variables, and convection.

Description: This course includes a study of first, second, and higher order differential equations and systems giving solutions in closed form, by numerical approximations, and through Laplace Transforms. These techniques are applied to problems in the physical sciences and engineering. All sections will integrate the use of the software package Mathematica into the course.

The courses for this semester total 14 credits.

Description: This course is an application of classical physics to common processes in the atmosphere. Main topics include cloud and precipitation physics, atmospheric radiation, radiative transfer, lightning, optical phenomena and weather modification.

Description: This course covers the fundamentals of fluid dynamics necessary for understanding large-scale atmospheric motions. The focus of the course is the development, derivation, and analysis of the laws of conservation of mass, momentum, and energy, as they apply to middle latitude, synoptic scale weather systems.

Description: In this interactive weather discussion course, students will participate in weekly weather discussions on recent, present, and future weather. Students will become familiar with weather patterns and learn to create weather forecasts through the discussion and interpretation of radar data, satellite animations, weather observations, and forecasting models.

Description: This is the second semester of a one-year sequence in laboratory work that emphasizes experimental techniques, procedures and formal report writing. Laboratory experiments reinforce or extend the work of the lecture portion of the course. Emphasis is on electrical measurements, waves, optics and modern physics.

Description: This is a course in the application and theory of the principles of probability and statistics in the sciences and engineering.  It includes descriptive statistics, linear regression, probability, random variables and their distributions, estimation, and tests of hypotheses.

The courses this semester total 14 credits for a total of 120 credits to complete the degree!  This semester is the semester to apply for graduation!

Description: This course is a calculus-based examination of the three-dimensional structure of mid-latitude, synoptic scale weather systems. Main topics include quasi-geostrophic theory, extratropical cyclone structure and evolution, diagnosis of vertical motions, jet streams, and frontogenesis. The lab component involves the hand analysis and computer-based analysis of live, forecasted, and archived weather data.

Note:  This is a lab course that meets 6 hours a week, but time flies!

Description: This is an advanced course in recognizing, understanding, and forecasting mesoscale weather events (severe thunderstorms, hailstorms, tornadoes, downslope windstorms, flash floods, snowstorms, etc.) with emphasis on theory, analysis of weather data, and forecast decision making.

Description: This is a capstone course required of all meteorology majors. Students engage in a research project that involves the application of scientific methodology to meteorological or climatological data and problem solving. Students learn to do literature searches, create a problem statement, handle data, perform statistical analysis, and present data and results. Technical writing and oral presentation skills are emphasized.

Students should consider declaring a math minor and taking 4 more credits in math to finish the minor!  Choosing one the following meteorology-relevant courses will complete the requirements:  CS 1050 Computer Science I, MTH 2520 R Programming, MTH 2540 Scientific Computing with Python, MTH 3220 Statistical Methods, MTH 3270 Data Science, MTH 3130 Applied Methods in Linear Algebra.