University Catalog 2023-2024

Marine Sciences (BS): Meteorology Concentration

To see more about what you will learn in this program, visit the Learning Outcomes website!

The degree of Bachelor of Science in Marine Science may be obtained by selecting one of five concentrations: Biological Oceanography, Chemistry, Geology, Meteorology, or Physics.

The degree of Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources is available with a concentration in Marine and Coastal Resources.

Marine scientists explore all aspects of the seas and coastal regions, seeking to understand how the oceans, their biological communities, the solid earth and the atmosphere interact. As professionals with interdisciplinary training, marine scientists are needed to advise business, industry and governments on the potential impact of human activities and the wise use of marine resources. Marine scientists work for consulting firms; regulatory agencies; the mass media; business and industry; federal, state and local governments; academic laboratories; research and education organizations; and nonprofit environmental watchdog groups.

Contact

For more information about our marine science programs, visit our website or contact:

Maggie Puryear
Associate Director of Undergraduate Programs

mwpollar@ncsu.edu
919.513.093 

Plan Requirements

Core Courses/Marine Science 1
MEA 100Earth System Science: Exploring the Connections4
MEA 200Introduction to Oceanography3
MEA 210Oceanography Lab1
MEA 250Introduction to Coastal Environments3
MEA 251Introduction to Coastal Environments Laboratory1
MEA 459Field Investigation of Coastal Processes5
MEA 460Principles of Physical Oceanography3
MEA 462Observational Methods and Data Analysis in Marine Physics3
MEA 495Junior Seminar in the Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences1
Meteorology Concentration 1
MEA 215Introduction to Atmospheric Sciences4
MEA 321Fundamentals of Air Quality and Climate Change3
MEA 312Atmospheric Thermodynamics4
MEA 421Atmospheric Dynamics I3
MEA 463Fluid Physics3
MEA 464Ocean Circulation Systems3
MEA 467Marine Meteorology3
Meteorology Concentration Electives 210
Basic Math & Sciences 1
CH 101Chemistry - A Molecular Science 13
CH 102General Chemistry Laboratory1
CH 201Chemistry - A Quantitative Science 13
CH 202Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory1
PY 205
PY 206
Physics for Engineers and Scientists I
and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory 1
4
PY 208
PY 209
Physics for Engineers and Scientists II
and Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory
4
MA 141Calculus I 14
MA 241Calculus II 14
MA 242Calculus III 14
MA 341Applied Differential Equations I3
ST 370Probability and Statistics for Engineers3
or ST 311 Introduction to Statistics
Select one of the following Computer Science electives:3
Introduction to Computing in the Geosciences
Introduction to Computing-FORTRAN
Introduction to Computing - MATLAB
Introduction to Computing - Java
College Requirements
COS 100Science of Change 32
ENG 101Academic Writing and Research 14
Select one of the following Advanced Writing courses:3
Communication for Engineering and Technology
Communication for Business and Management
Communication for Science and Research
GEP Courses
GEP Humanities6
GEP Social Sciences6
GEP Health and Exercise Studies2
GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion3
GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement)
Foreign Language Proficiency (verify requirement)
Total Hours120
1

A grade of C- or higher is required in CH 101, CH 201; ENG 101; MA 141, 241; MEA 421; and PY 205. No more than one D will be accepted in MEA or concentration courses. No more than one additional D will be accepted in other math or science courses.

2

Students should consult their academic advisors to determine which courses fill this requirement.

3

COS 100 is for new freshmen only. Transfer students will need to select a course from the GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives course list.

Semester Sequence

This is a sample.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterHours
CH 101
CH 102
Chemistry - A Molecular Science
and General Chemistry Laboratory (CP) 1
4
MA 141 Calculus I (CP) 1 4
MEA 100 Earth System Science: Exploring the Connections 1 4
COS 100 Science of Change 3 2
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
 Hours15
Spring Semester
CH 201
CH 202
Chemistry - A Quantitative Science
and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory 1
4
ENG 101 Academic Writing and Research 1 4
MA 241 Calculus II (CP) 1 4
MEA 215 Introduction to Atmospheric Sciences 1 4
 Hours16
Second Year
Fall Semester
Computer Science Option Elective 1 3
MA 242 Calculus III 1 4
MEA 200
MEA 210
Introduction to Oceanography
and Oceanography Lab (CP) 1
4
PY 205
PY 206
Physics for Engineers and Scientists I
and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory (CP) 1
4
 Hours15
Spring Semester
MA 341 Applied Differential Equations I 1 3
MEA 250
MEA 251
Introduction to Coastal Environments
and Introduction to Coastal Environments Laboratory 1
4
MEA 312 Atmospheric Thermodynamics 1 4
PY 208
PY 209
Physics for Engineers and Scientists II
and Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory 1
4
 Hours15
Third Year
Fall Semester
MEA 321 Fundamentals of Air Quality and Climate Change 1 3
MEA 421 Atmospheric Dynamics I 1 3
MEA 460 Principles of Physical Oceanography 1 3
ST 370
Probability and Statistics for Engineers 1
or Introduction to Statistics
3
GEP Humanities 3
 Hours15
Spring Semester
Advanced Writing Elective 3
Approved Elective 1, 2 3
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
MEA 462 Observational Methods and Data Analysis in Marine Physics 1 3
MEA 467 Marine Meteorology 1 3
MEA 495 Junior Seminar in the Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences 1
 Hours14
Summer
MEA 459 Field Investigation of Coastal Processes 2 5
 Hours5
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
Approved Elective 1, 2 4
GEP Humanities 3
MEA 463 Fluid Physics 2 3
GEP Social Sciences 3
 Hours13
Spring Semester
Approved Elective 1, 2 3
MEA 464 Ocean Circulation Systems 1 3
GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 3
GEP Social Sciences 3
 Hours12
 Total Hours120
1

A grade of C- or higher is required in CH 101, CH 201; ENG 101; MA 141, 241; MEA 421; and PY 205. No more than one D will be accepted in MEA or concentration courses. No more than one additional D will be accepted in other math or science courses.

2

Students should consult their academic advisors to determine which courses fill this requirement.

3

COS 100 is for new freshmen only. Transfer students will need to select a course from the GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives course list.

Career Opportunities

MEAS undergraduate degree programs provide talented students with the foundation of scientific knowledge required for careers in government, industry, or academia. Many students pursue graduate degrees and pursue careers in industry, at government agencies and in academia.

Marine Sciences graduates go on to become oceanographers, to manage our coastal resources, model air-sea interaction, and explore global climate change. They conduct basic and applied research, serving as environmental consultants for industry and governmental agencies, policy and management experts for governmental agencies, and environmental science educators. Graduates with a Natural Resources degree are versed in the fundamental processes and interdisciplinary nature of the coastal zone. As scientists, managers, administrators, and regulators, they make decisions regarding use and conservation of coastal and marine resources.

Geology graduates address society’s needs for dealing effectively with earth processes, such as water resources and the stability of land forms. They work for engineering firms, permit-issuing agencies, and industries that rely on geological resources. Historical geologists are familiar with the evolution of earth through time and provide a perspective on potential long-term reactions of the earth systems to change. Those who concentrate in Environmental Geology are trained to assess and monitor geological resources such as ground water. Marine geologists are experts in the complex issues facing industry, municipalities, and residents in the dynamic and ecologically vulnerable coastal zone.

Meteorology graduates enjoy careers in weather forecasting, air quality assessment, development of weather products and services, broadcast communications, and advanced research. Marine meteorologists study ocean-generated weather systems. Their research is yielding practical benefits such as refined prediction of storm surge, which has streamlined evacuation efforts during severe storms along the Carolina coast. Meteorology graduates with an air quality emphasis work for environmental firms, regulatory agencies, and in applied research. Study of air quality and how air pollution is transported and dispersed is a rapidly expanding field in the atmospheric sciences.

MEAS graduates play a key service role for the State of North Carolina, assisting in everything from forecasting severe storms and analyzing the impact of atmospheric pollutants on agriculture and our estuaries, to determining the effects of toxic waste disposal on quality of surface and ground water.