Marine Sciences (BS): Meteorology Concentration
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
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core Courses/Marine Science 1 | |||
| MEA 100 | Earth System Science: Exploring the Connections | 4 | |
| MEA 200 | Introduction to Oceanography | 3 | |
| MEA 210 | Oceanography Lab | 1 | |
| MEA 250 | Introduction to Coastal Environments | 3 | |
| MEA 251 | Introduction to Coastal Environments Laboratory | 1 | |
| MEA 459 | Field Investigation of Coastal Processes | 5 | |
| MEA 460 | Principles of Physical Oceanography | 3 | |
| MEA 462 | Observational Methods and Data Analysis in Marine Physics | 3 | |
| MEA 495 | Junior Seminar in the Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences | 1 | |
| Meteorology Concentration 1 | |||
| MEA 215 | Introduction to Atmospheric Sciences | 4 | |
| MEA 321 | Fundamentals of Air Quality and Climate Change | 3 | |
| MEA 312 | Atmospheric Thermodynamics | 4 | |
| MEA 421 | Atmospheric Dynamics I | 3 | |
| MEA 463 | Fluid Physics | 3 | |
| MEA 464 | Ocean Circulation Systems | 3 | |
| MEA 467 | Marine Meteorology | 3 | |
| Meteorology Concentration Electives 2 | 10 | ||
| Basic Math & Sciences 1 | |||
| CH 101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science 1 | 3 | |
| CH 102 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 | |
| CH 201 | Chemistry - A Quantitative Science 1 | 3 | |
| CH 202 | Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory | 1 | |
| 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 141 | Calculus I 1 | 4 | |
| MA 241 | Calculus II 1 | 4 | |
| MA 242 | Calculus III 1 | 4 | |
| MA 341 | Applied Differential Equations I | 3 | |
| ST 370 | Probability and Statistics for Engineers | 3 | |
| 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 100 | Science of Change 3 | 2 | |
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research 1 | 4 | |
| 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 Humanities | 6 | ||
| GEP Social Sciences | 6 | ||
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 2 | ||
| GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | 3 | ||
| GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement) | |||
| World Language Proficiency (verify requirement) | |||
| Total Hours | 120 | ||
- 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.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| 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 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| 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 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| 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 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| 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 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| 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 or ST 311 | Probability and Statistics for Engineers 1 or Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| 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 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Summer | ||
| MEA 459 | Field Investigation of Coastal Processes 2 | 5 |
| Hours | 5 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| Approved Elective 1, 2 | 4 | |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| MEA 463 | Fluid Physics 2 | 3 |
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | |
| Hours | 13 | |
| 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 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- 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 after completion of an undergraduate degree in Marine Science.
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.
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.
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