University Catalog 2024-2025

Meteorology (BS): Marine Sciences Concentration

The degree of Bachelor of Science in Meteorology is offered in the Department of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. A concentration in Marine Science may also be chosen.

Meteorologists study a diverse array of topics, including climate, air pollution, environmental impacts, weather analysis and forecasting, remote sensing, atmospheric physics and interactions between the atmosphere and other components of the earth system. Our undergraduate students pursue careers in air quality, weather forecasting, meteorological research, broadcast meteorology and positions with the armed forces. The proximity of the Environmental Protection Agency center in nearby Research Triangle Park, the NC Department of Air Quality, a strong working relation with the local media, and the presence of the State Climate Office and a NWS forecast office on the NC State campus all provide our students with a broad range of internship and employment possibilities.

Contact

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

Maggie Puryear
Associate Director of Undergraduate Programs

919.513.1093
mwpollar@ncsu.edu

Plan Requirements

Orientation
COS 100Science of Change 12
English / Communication
ENG 101Academic Writing and Research 24
Select one of the following:3
Communication for Engineering and Technology
Communication for Business and Management
Communication for Science and Research
Math / Statistics
MEA 217Introduction to Computing in the Geosciences 23
or MA 116 Introduction to Scientific Programming (Math)
or PY 251 Introduction to Scientific Computing
or CSC 113 Introduction to Computing - MATLAB
MA 141Calculus I 24
MA 241Calculus II 24
MA 242Calculus III4
MA 341Applied Differential Equations I3
Statistics Option3
Chemistry / Physics
CH 101Chemistry - A Molecular Science 23
CH 102General Chemistry Laboratory1
PY 205
PY 206
Physics for Engineers and Scientists I
and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory 2
4
Chemistry Option4
Meteorology Core
MEA 100Earth System Science: Exploring the Connections4
MEA 215Introduction to Atmospheric Sciences4
MEA 312Atmospheric Thermodynamics 24
MEA 315Mathematics Methods in Atmospheric Sciences 24
MEA 321Fundamentals of Air Quality and Climate Change 23
MEA 412Atmospheric Physics 23
MEA 421Atmospheric Dynamics I 23
MEA 422Atmospheric Dynamics II 23
MEA 443Synoptic Weather Analysis and Forecasting4
MEA 495Junior Seminar in the Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences1
Marine Science Concentration
MEA 200Introduction to Oceanography3
MEA 210Oceanography Lab1
MEA 455Micrometeorology3
MEA 460Principles of Physical Oceanography3
MEA 462Observational Methods and Data Analysis in Marine Physics3
MEA 467Marine Meteorology3
Major Electives
Geophysical Science Option3
Approved Electives 39
GEP Courses
GEP Humanities6
GEP Social Sciences6
GEP Health and Exercise Studies2
GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion3
GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement)
World Language Proficiency (verify requirement)
Total Hours120
1

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

2

A grade of C- or higher is required.

3

Approved Electives should be selected in consultation with advisor. In order to qualify for federal civil servant meteorologist positions (i.e. National Weather Service), you must satisfy the GS 1340 requirements. As a result the following courses are strongly recommended: PY208/209, MEA 443, MEA 444, and MEA 511.

 Chemistry Option

CH 201Chemistry - A Quantitative Science4
CH 220
CH 222
Introductory Organic Chemistry
and Organic Chemistry I Lab
4
CH 221
CH 222
Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry I Lab
4

Geophysical Science Option

MEA 101Geology I: Physical3
PY 123Stellar and Galactic Astronomy3
PY 124Solar System Astronomy3
SSC 200Soil Science3

Statistics Option

ST 311Introduction to Statistics3
ST 370Probability and Statistics for Engineers3
ST 371Introduction to Probability and Distribution Theory3

Semester Sequence

Critical Path Courses -Identify using the code (CP) which courses are considered critical path courses which represent specific major requirements that are predictive of student success in a given program/plan. Place the (CP) next to the credit hours for the course.

This is a sample.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterHours
CH 101 Chemistry - A Molecular Science (CP) 2 3
CH 102 General Chemistry Laboratory 1
MA 141 Calculus I (CP) 2 4
MEA 100 Earth System Science: Exploring the Connections (CP) 4
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
COS 100 Science of Change 1 2
 Hours15
Spring Semester
Chemistry Option 4
ENG 101 Academic Writing and Research (CP) 2 4
MA 241 Calculus II (CP) 2 4
MEA 215 Introduction to Atmospheric Sciences (CP) 4
 Hours16
Second Year
Fall Semester
MA 242 Calculus III 4
MEA 321 Fundamentals of Air Quality and Climate Change 2 3
PY 205 Physics for Engineers and Scientists I (CP) 2 3
PY 206 Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory 1
MEA 217 Introduction to Computing in the Geosciences 2 3
 Hours14
Spring Semester
MA 341 Applied Differential Equations I 3
MEA 312 Atmospheric Thermodynamics 2 4
MEA 315 Mathematics Methods in Atmospheric Sciences 2 4
Approved Electives 3 3
 Hours14
Third Year
Fall Semester
MEA 200 Introduction to Oceanography 3
MEA 210 Oceanography Lab 1
MEA 421 Atmospheric Dynamics I 2 3
Geophysical Science Option 3
GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 3
Statistics Option 3
 Hours16
Spring Semester
Advanced Writing Elective 3
Approved Elective 3 3
MEA 412 Atmospheric Physics 2 3
MEA 422 Atmospheric Dynamics II 2 3
MEA 495 Junior Seminar in the Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences 1
GEP Social Sciences 3
 Hours16
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
MEA 460 Principles of Physical Oceanography 3
MEA 455 Micrometeorology 3
GEP Humanities 3
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
MEA 443 Synoptic Weather Analysis and Forecasting 1 4
 Hours14
Spring Semester
Approved Elective 3 3
MEA 462 Observational Methods and Data Analysis in Marine Physics 2 3
MEA 467 Marine Meteorology 2 3
GEP Humanities 3
GEP Social Sciences 3
 Hours15
 Total Hours120
1

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

2

A grade of C- or higher is required.

3

Approved Electives should be selected in consultation with advisor. In order to qualify for federal civil servant meteorologist positions (i.e. National Weather Service), you must satisfy the GS 1340 requirements. As a result the following courses are strongly recommended: PY208/209, MEA 443, MEA 444, and MEA 511.

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 Meteorology.

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.

Career Titles

  • Air Traffic Controller
  • Airfield Operations Specialist
  • Astronomer
  • Atmospheric and Space Scientist
  • Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers
  • Environmental Science and Protection Technician
  • Geophysicist
  • Meteorologist
  • Oceanographer
  • Outdoor Education Teacher
  • Park Naturalist
  • Pilot
  • Postsecondary Teacher
  • Technical & Scientific Publications Editor
  • Weather Forecaster

Learn More About Careers

NCcareers.org
Explore North Carolina’s central online resource for students, parents, educators, job seekers and career counselors looking for high quality job and career information.

Occupational Outlook Handbook
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Focus 2 Career Assessment (NC State student email address required)
This career, major and education planning system is available to current NC State students to learn about how your values, interests, competencies, and personality fit into the NC State majors and your future career. An NC State email address is required to create an account. Make an appointment with your career counselor to discuss the results.

American Meteorological Society

National Weather Association