Bachelor of Science in Atmospheric Sciences

Overview

Atmospheric Sciences seeks to understand the behavior and predictability of the Earth's atmosphere and requires a good foundation in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and computer science. The undergraduate Atmospheric Sciences major combines required courses in these areas with advanced courses in meteorology, climate, and related disciplines to develop an academic background that is appropriate for a variety of employment opportunities.

Majors develop a solid foundation in mathematics, physics, and chemistry during the first two years and then study dynamic, physical, and synoptic meteorology, as well as climate processes, during the junior and senior years. A unique aspect of our program is its emphasis on mountain weather and climate, which is a natural extension of the geographic setting of the University of Utah. The Atmospheric Sciences Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree satisfies the requirements for employment as a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, and many of our graduates have moved on to atmospheric science or environmental science careers in the government and private sectors.

The Department of Atmospheric Sciences offers a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree and a minor for undergraduate students. Students with interest in severe weather, climate change, forecasting, broadcast meteorology, atmospheric chemistry, remote sensing, and many other areas find a home in the Atmospheric Sciences department.

L.W. / Unsplash

Graduation Requirements

• Maintain an overall G.P.A. of 2.0 or higher
• Receive a letter grade of C- or higher in all courses required for the major
• Receive a letter grade of C or better in all MATH courses
• Complete a capstone experience.

Career Options with a Degree in Atmospheric Sciences

The department is dedicated to ensuring that students have all of the tools necessary to be successful in the workforce. Our career counselors work with students to customize their departmental electives to achieve their career goals. The median income for meteorologists in 2010 was $87,780 per year. Our alumni have gained employment in a variety of settings including:

• Federal Agencies (e.g. NWS, NASA, NOAA, and BLM)
• State Agencies (e.g. Transportation and Air Quality)
• Air Force Weather Service
• Private Employers (e.g. consulting firms, aviation, insurance, and agriculture industries)
• Broadcast Meteorology

Tackling the world's grand challenges.

Today we face major global challenges, climate change, natural resource use, environmental degradation and remediation, energy development and sustainability. Earth scientists and engineers are at the forefront of addressing these complex problems as they work to understand the origin, transformation, and responsible use of our own planet, including its geology, atmosphere, and bodies of water—and the relationships between them.

This unique college bridges the interface between the earth sciences and fields of engineering offering a wide variety of exciting research and educational experiences with twenty-three accredited undergraduate and graduate degrees in earth sciences, geology, geophysics, geological engineering, mining engineering, metallurgical engineering, materials science and engineering, earth resource management, and atmospheric sciences.

About Our College

The College of Mines and Earth Sciences’ location in a mineral- and energy-rich geographical area provides a study and research environment that extends far beyond campus boundaries. Because of Utah’s mineral resources, the college is pivotal in developing a region increasingly vital to the nation’s mining and energy future.

The college consists of four academic departments that offer six majors and four baccalaureate and graduate degrees. All faculty have doctorates, at least one-third have significant industrial experience, and many retain ties to industry. In addition to teaching, faculty engage in a wide variety of research activities. Graduate students and some undergraduates also participate in research.

The College of Mines and Earth Sciences occupies the Frederick A. Sutton Building, the William C. Browning Building, Mineral Processing Lab (Building 58), Hedco Building (Building 57), Grinding Laboratory, and Mining Systems Research Laboratory (Building 59), and the Intermountain Network Scientific Computation Center.

Mission Statement

• To educate and prepare professional earth scientists, geological engineers and earth science educators, meteorologists, and atmospheric scientists, physical and extractive metallurgists, mineral separation experts, and mining engineers.
• To engage in scholarly research activities in geology, geophysics, geological engineering, meteorology, physical and extractive metallurgy, mineral separation, and mining engineering.
• To disseminate newly acquired knowledge through timely publication of original research by faculty and students in all of the above fields.
• To educate the University community and the public about the composition and structure of Earth, processes that shape it, and its history and future.
• To provide professional service by providing knowledge about natural resources, methods of natural resource extraction, safety in industrial activities, metals extraction and modification, geologic hazards, the environment, and a sustainable Earth.

Value Statement

We value:

• excellence in teaching, student engagement, and citizenship, and
• impactful scholarly research that informs policy and advances our understanding of the earth and its resources in order to improve our environmental and economic security.

The College strives to be a campus leader in safety, continuous assessment, diversity and inclusivity, collaboration and collegiality.

Stakeholder's Commitment

• The College educates and prepares professional earth scientists, atmospheric scientists, geologists, geological engineers, mining engineers, metallurgical engineers, mineral separation experts, physical and extractive metallurgists, and earth science educators. We engage in scholarly research activities in geology, geophysics, geological engineering, hydrology, atmospheric sciences, oceanic processes, physical and extractive metallurgy, mineral separation, mining engineering, geo-resource management, and safety.
• We disseminate newly acquired knowledge through the timely publication of original research by faculty and students in all of the above fields. We seek to educate the University community and the public about the composition and structure of Earth, processes that shape it, and its history and future.
• We deliver professional service by providing knowledge about natural resources, methods of natural resource extraction, safety in industrial activities, metals extraction and modification, geologic hazards, and the environment processes.