Bachelor of Science in Meteorology

Accurate weather forecasting can literally save lives. From hurricane hunting to severe storm prediction, meteorologists play an important role in today’s society.

Embry-Riddle’s Bachelor of Science in Meteorology program prepares students for fascinating careers in the National Weather Service, the U.S. military, commercial operations, aviation companies, and broadcasting. Students may also move on to advanced studies in atmospheric sciences.

Embry-Riddle students have the unique ability to focus on aviation-related careers if desired. Students combine theory with valuable hands-on experience to ensure they’re career-ready.

Our students benefit from both direct access to experienced faculty as well as state-of-the-art weather forecasting and observational equipment; all brought together in a small class setting. Students can also complement their studies with certifications or operations-focused minors that cover a variety of topics such as airline dispatching and operations, computational mathematics, flight, defense studies, unmanned aircraft systems science, communication and broadcast media, geographic information systems, and emergency management.

Meteorology graduates depart with a deep understanding of weather analysis, data collection, forecasting, and much more. Each of our degree programs meets the guidelines set by the American Meteorological Society (AMS), National Weather Service, and U.S. Air Force - ensuring our graduates have the professional skills necessary for immediate productivity.

Additionally, students can join co-curricular activities to enhance their college experience, with options such as the Weather Club or student chapter of the American Meteorological Society. These activities offer valuable networking opportunities at professional gatherings, including international meteorological seminars and conventions.

About Meteorology at the Daytona Beach, FL Campus

Students who are passionate about the weather have an opportunity to study all aspects of it in the Bachelor of Science in Meteorology. As part of the program, students explore and research a variety of atmospheric challenges ranging in scale from climate change to tornadoes in our world-class meteorology lab. This lab is complete with a full broadcast studio that features the same professional graphics-generation system used at numerous local television stations throughout the country.

The Bachelor of Science in Meteorology is housed in the Department of Applied Aviation Sciences in the College of Aviation. Embry-Riddle is one of a few universities in the U.S. that offers meteorology coursework approved by the Federal Aviation Administration for use in its airline dispatcher program. Students also have the ability to pair their meteorology major with powerful operations-focused minors to give them an edge over their competition. These minors include Communications and Broadcast Media, Airline Operations, Computational Mathematics, Geographic Information Systems, Unmanned Aircraft Systems Science, and Emergency Management.

The Meteorology degree meets all American Meteorological Society guidelines for B.S. in Meteorology as well as all U.S. Office of Personnel Management (e.g., National Weather Service) Qualification Standards for a meteorologist. Graduates will be competitive for professional careers in university research, government/military weather operations, broadcasting, and private industry.

The typical first-year Meteorology student will study General Education and Physical Science courses such as English composition, Calculus, Chemistry, and Physics, along with the Survey of Meteorology.

About Applied Meteorology at the Prescott, AZ Campus

The Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Meteorology provides a practical understanding of the physics and dynamics of the atmosphere. Emphasis is placed on applying theory to operational weather forecasting and decision-making for weather-sensitive industries, including possible hands-on experience as a meteorology intern.

The Bachelor of Science in Applied Meteorology degree is housed in the Department of Applied Aviation Sciences in the College of Aviation and prepares to graduate students for careers as meteorologists in the government, military, television, or the private sector, as dispatchers, or for graduate studies toward a career in research or academia.

The program meets all the requirements for undergraduate study in meteorology recommended by the American Meteorological Society, the National Weather Service, and the U.S. Air Force. All graduates also meet the U.S. Office of Personnel Management Qualification Standards for the position of a meteorologist.

Students use a state-of-the-art Meteorology Lab and computer-equipped classrooms to understand and forecast complex atmospheric phenomena ranging from severe thunderstorms and tornadoes to cyclones, fronts, and jet streams to global climate and how it is changing.

With some additional coursework, students in the Applied Meteorology degree program may choose to pursue an Emergency Response Meteorologist Certification, Aircraft Dispatch Certification, Fixed-wing or Helicopter Flight minor (leading to Commercial Pilot Certification), or a Defense Studies minor.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has one of the largest and highest-rated Air Force ROTC programs in the country. Since Applied Meteorology is a technical degree, substantial scholarships are available to eligible students through Air Force ROTC and the Army Cadet Command.

The program also routinely provides opportunities for students to study abroad every year, bringing meteorology out of the classroom and onto the world stage. The international curriculum allows students to investigate, discover, and study unique weather conditions on a global scale and see first-hand the multitude of ways culture interacts with climate. In recent years, our students have studied mountain meteorology in the Swiss Alps and tropical meteorology in the Amazon basin.

The student-led Weather Club is a student chapter of the American Meteorological Society and features valuable networking opportunities at professional meetings, along with more social activities like kayaking and hiking, with faculty often joining in the fun.

Discover Our History

The Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University we know today is the product of a long and prestigious history.

In 1925, barnstormer John Paul Riddle met entrepreneur T. Higbee Embry, and together, they formed the Embry-Riddle Company to teach the adventurous to fly. This partnership was the beginning of a vision that has produced more than 137,000 alumni who drive innovation and keep the aerospace and related industries running safely and productively.

Get to Know Our Campuses

Embry-Riddle offers a first-rate education to recent high school graduates, working adults, active service members, veterans, classroom students, and online learners.

Our campuses in Daytona Beach, Florida , and Prescott, Arizona , feature a traditional residential experience, complete with classrooms and labs, dorms and clubs, sporting events, and performances.

Embry-Riddle Online and our Worldwide Campus feature state-of-the-art online technology that offers you the flexibility of learning whenever and wherever you want.

Learning from Leaders

At Embry-Riddle, our expert professors are leaders in the industry. They share the knowledge they’ve gained from decades of industry and higher-learning experience with our students to ensure graduates have a competitive edge in the workforce.

Diversity is Important to Us

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is committed to being a global leader in diversity and inclusion in higher education.

We continually strive to recognize, respect, and celebrate the differences and cultural identities among individuals as we recruit, support, and embrace our diverse community. We work to provide a safe environment where self-expression is welcome. We aim to create a campus free of discrimination, so that networks, partnerships, and cultural competency are fostered through leadership, integrity, care, and respect. We are Embry-Riddle.

It is All in Who You Know

Whichever campus or program you choose, you will meet lifelong friends in classes, dorms, and student organizations. Our graduates work for some of the world’s biggest companies, so the relationships you make on campus can continue throughout your career.

When you earn your degree from Embry-Riddle, you become part of a network of more than 137,000 alumni who will support you throughout your working life.

Once an Eagle, Forever an Eagle.