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
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orientation | |||
| COS 100 | Science of Change 1 | 2 | |
| English / Communication | |||
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research 2 | 4 | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | ||
| Communication for Engineering and Technology | |||
| Communication for Business and Management | |||
| Communication for Science and Research | |||
| Math / Statistics | |||
| MEA 217 | Introduction to Computing in the Geosciences 2 | 3 | |
| or MA 116 | Introduction to Scientific Programming (Math) | ||
| or PY 251 | Introduction to Scientific Computing | ||
| or CSC 113 | Introduction to Computing - MATLAB | ||
| MA 141 | Calculus I 2 | 4 | |
| MA 241 | Calculus II 2 | 4 | |
| MA 242 | Calculus III | 4 | |
| MA 341 | Applied Differential Equations I | 3 | |
| Statistics Option | 3 | ||
| Chemistry / Physics | |||
| CH 101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science 2 | 3 | |
| CH 102 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 | |
| PY 205 & PY 206 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory 2 | 4 | |
| Chemistry Option | 4 | ||
| Meteorology Core | |||
| MEA 100 | Earth System Science: Exploring the Connections | 4 | |
| MEA 215 | Introduction to Atmospheric Sciences | 4 | |
| MEA 312 | Atmospheric Thermodynamics 2 | 4 | |
| MEA 315 | Mathematics Methods in Atmospheric Sciences 2 | 4 | |
| MEA 321 | Fundamentals of Air Quality and Climate Change 2 | 3 | |
| MEA 412 | Atmospheric Physics 2 | 3 | |
| MEA 421 | Atmospheric Dynamics I 2 | 3 | |
| MEA 422 | Atmospheric Dynamics II 2 | 3 | |
| MEA 443 | Synoptic Weather Analysis and Forecasting | 4 | |
| MEA 495 | Junior Seminar in the Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences | 1 | |
| Marine Science Concentration | |||
| MEA 200 | Introduction to Oceanography | 3 | |
| MEA 210 | Oceanography Lab | 1 | |
| MEA 455 | Micrometeorology | 3 | |
| MEA 460 | Principles of Physical Oceanography | 3 | |
| MEA 462 | Observational Methods and Data Analysis in Marine Physics | 3 | |
| MEA 467 | Marine Meteorology | 3 | |
| Major Electives | |||
| Geophysical Science Option | 3 | ||
| Approved Electives 3 | 9 | ||
| 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
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
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| CH 201 | Chemistry - A Quantitative Science | 4 | |
| 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
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEA 101 | Geology I: Physical | 3 | |
| PY 123 | Stellar and Galactic Astronomy | 3 | |
| PY 124 | Solar System Astronomy | 3 | |
| SSC 200 | Soil Science | 3 |
Statistics Option
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| ST 311 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 | |
| ST 370 | Probability and Statistics for Engineers | 3 | |
| ST 371 | Introduction to Probability and Distribution Theory | 3 |
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.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| 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 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| 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 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| 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 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| 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 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| 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 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| 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 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| 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 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| 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 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- 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
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