Why Study Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences?
By completing our Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences curriculum, you'll graduate prepared for a wide range of meteorology-related careers. The program provides requirements for those seeking entrance into the National Weather Service (NWS), private forecasting industry, and graduate school. Our unique coastal location offers the opportunity to study coastal weather phenomena, such as hurricanes, nor-easters, and sea-breezes, as well as regional climate change in a coastal-urban environment.
Areas of study:
- Climate
- Meteorology
- Waste Management
- Environmental Studies
Sample courses:
- Weather and Climate
- Intro to Climate and Climate Change
- Atmospheric Structure and Analysis
- Tropical Meteorology
As a non-restricted major, there are no additional admission requirements for this program. Please review the general admission criteria related to how you are applying.
After Graduation
Your college decision isn't really about the next four years. We get it. It’s about what doors are opened by your degree and whether those opportunities are what you had envisioned for yourself. Nearly 95% of SBU grads go to professional or graduate school. Here's a snapshot of what life after graduation looks like for some of them.
Astronomy/Planetary Sciences
Fascinated by the stars and cosmos? Our Astronomy major is the perfect fit for you. Learn about galactic and extragalactic astronomy, nuclear astrophysics, stellar astrophysics, and cosmology. Get involved with research projects alongside our faculty and gaze into the solar system and beyond at our Mount Stony Brook Observatory (on the roof of our Earth and Space Sciences Building). Our department hosts Astronomy Open Nights including lectures and viewings.
Areas of study:
- Planetary Sciences
- Astronomy
- Galaxies
- Cosmology
Chemistry
Our Chemistry Department is the birthplace of MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) technology and is designated a National Historic Chemical Landmark for the discoveries made by Prof Paul Lauterbur, recipient of the 2003 Nobel Prize. Our faculty are leaders in their fields, and they work closely with students in and outside of the classroom and are pioneers of active-learning methods in chemistry that include peer teaching and mentoring. Our curriculum allows you to customize your degree program.
Areas of study:
- Biological Chemistry
- Chemical Physics
- Environmental Chemistry
- Marine & Atmospheric Chemistry
Earth & Space Sciences
The Earth and Space Sciences program features an interdisciplinary learning approach. You'll get a background in fields such as geology, astronomy, atmospheric and marine sciences, and then customize your degree plan to prepare for careers in biogeochemistry, astrobiology, scientific journalism, education or medical geology.
Areas of study:
- Astronomy
- Atmospheric Sciences
- Chemistry
- Geology
Marine Sciences
Get your feet wet (literally!) by studying Marine Sciences at Stony Brook. Conduct research on Long Island’s coastal waters or by embarking on a study abroad program in the Caribbean. In your classes, you'll learn basic biology, physics and chemistry of the ocean. Upper-division classes will help you gain a deeper understanding of particular groups of organisms (microorganisms, algae, marine invertebrates, fish, and marine mammals) and of habitats (salt marshes, rocky intertidal, barrier islands, dunes, estuaries, and the open ocean). You'll do hands-on research in our state-of-the-art laboratories and on our research vessels.
Areas of study:
- Biological Oceanography
- Experimental Marine Biology
- Marine Pollution
- Diseases of Aquatic Organisms
Physics
Recognized as one of the top 25 physics programs by "U.S. News & World Report," Stony Brook is an excellent place to learn about the physical composition of the world and universe. Our faculty conduct world-class experimental and theoretical research and you will have the opportunity to work closely with them on research projects outside of the classroom. The research ranges from the smallest to the largest scales and covers areas like the standard model and beyond, the quark gluon-plasma, atomic and molecular structures, quantum information and materials, to supernovae, galaxy formation, and cosmology. Much of our research is conducted in close collaboration with scientists at the nearby Brookhaven National Laboratory, one of the premier U.S. research laboratories.
Areas of study:
- Physics for Environmental Sciences
- Physics for the Life Sciences
- Physics for Scientists and Engineers