College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Department of the Earth, Atmosphere, and Climate
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Meteorology

Three tornadoes in the distance

The emphasis of the Bachelor of Science degree program in Meteorology is on developing a broad understanding of the fundamental physical and dynamic processes governing the motions and behavior of the atmosphere as a fluid system. Basic courses in chemistry, physics, and mathematics are prerequisites to the meteorology program and are considered the foundation courses on which the meteorology program is built.

Each student is encouraged to develop a strong minor or areas of emphasis to complement his or her major in meteorology. Disciplines commonly selected (professional goal in parentheses) are: Agronomy (agricultural meteorology), Chemical Engineering (private consulting), Computer Science (graduate school), Education (secondary teaching), Geology or Chemistry (environmental science), Mathematics (graduate school), Physics (graduate school), Speech (radio, TV), or Statistics (climatology).

The Meteorology curriculum is divided into a Pre-Meteorology program and a Professional Meteorology program. A grade of C or better (not C-) is required in the following courses to meet minimum graduation requirements for Bachelor of Science degree in meteorology: Mteor 2060 and 3010.

Meteorology as a secondary major

The Meteorology program allows students in academic programs with affinity to meteorology to complete a secondary major in meteorology through an accelerated pathway. Students earning a B.S. degree in electrical or aerospace engineering who complete the designated Meteorology coursework of at least 25 credit hours can earn a secondary major in Meteorology.

2017-2018 Catalog
Note: One 3 credit Humanities/Soc Sci choice must be taken in summer, online, transfer in from high school, or with request to have more than 18 credits in a semester. Red font indicates credits toward Meteorology degree not being counted toward Aero E degree (ISU rule requires at least 15 credits to not count toward both). Yellow highlighting indicates courses specifically needed for the Meteorology BS.

 

First Year

Cr.Semester 1Cr.Semester 2
4Chem 1670 or 17704Math 1660
REngr 10105Phys 2210
3Engl 15003AerE 1610
1LIB 16003Humanities/Soc Sci choice
4MATH 16504Mteor 3010
3Engineering Problem Solving
3Humanities/Soc Sci choice
18 Total credits19 total credits: WAIVER NEEDED

Second Year

Cr.Semester 3Cr.Semester 4
4Math 26504Math 2670
5Phys 2220 3EM 3450 (Dynamics)
3AerE 26103MatE 2730
3EM 2740 (Stat for engineers)3EM 3240
3Engl 2500 3ME 2310 (Thermodynamics)
18 Total credits16 Total Credits

Third Year

Cr.Semester 5Cr.Semester 6
3AerE 32103AerE 4210
2AerE 32203AerE 3610 (Numerical Methods) (also
fulfills Meteo Elective)
3Engl 31403AerE 3620
3AerE 3100 (Aerodynamics) 3AerE 3440 (Aerodynamics lab)
3AerE 3510 (Astrodynamics) 3AerE 3110 (Gas dynamics
3AerE 3550 (Aircraft Flight dynamics) 3AerE 3310
RAerE 3010
18 Total credits18 Total Credits

Fourth Year

Cr.Semester 7Cr.Semester 8
3Mteor 4110 (Tech Elective)3Mteor 4320 (Tech Elective)
3Tech Elective3Mteor 4170
3AerE 46103Tech Elective
3AerE 41103AerE 4620
3Mteor 34103Mteor 3420
3Mteor 4540 3Humanities/Soc Sci choice
18 Total credits18 Total Credits

NOTES FOR METEOROLOGY: The degree differs from a full meteorology degree in that students do nottake Mteor 1110, 1120, 2010, 2060, 2270, 3110, and 4990. Further, students substitute EM 3450 for Mteor 4403, take AerE 3610 (numerical methods) as one of the 3 elective courses, and count two of the required other AerE 3000+ classes as the other 2 required Mteor elective courses (there are 5 such classes related to dynamics).

2017-2018 Catalog
NOTE: Five 3-credit Humanities/Soc Sci courses must be taken in summer, online, transfer in from high school, or be done with waiver form to exceed 18 credits. Red font indicates credits toward Meteorology degree not being counted toward EE degree (ISU rule requires at least 15 credits to not count toward both). Yellow highlighting indicates specific courses needed for Meteorology degree.

 

First Year

Cr.Semester 1Cr.Semester 2
4Chem 16704Math 1660
REngr 10105Phys 2210
3Engl 15004EE 2850
1LIB 16004Mteor 3010
4MATH 1650REE 1660
3EE 1850
3Humanities/Soc Sci choice
18 Total Credits17 Total Credits

Second Year

Cr.Semester 3Cr.Semester 4
4Math 2670 4Math 2650
5Phys 2220 4Cpr E 2810
4EE 20104EE 2300
3Engl 25004EE 2240
REE 2940
16 Total Credits16 Total Credits

Third Year

Cr.Semester 5Cr.Semester 6
4Cpr E 28803-4EE 3200 or EE 3320
3Mteor 34103-4EE 3210 or EE 2240
3EE 3030 3EE 3220
4EE 31103Mteor 4430
3Math 2070Engl 3140 or Engl 3090
REE 3940
17 Total Credits15-17 Total Credits

Fourth Year

Cr.Semester 7Cr.Semester 8
3EE 49102EE 4920
REE 49403Mteor 4170
3IE 3050 9Tech Electives
3Mteor 41103Mteor 3420 (EE Tech Elective)
3Mteor 4540
3Tech Elective
3Mteor 4890 (EE Tech Elective)
18 Total Credits17 Total Credits

NOTES FOR METEOROLOGY: The degree differs from a full meteorology degree in that students do not take Mteor 1110, 1120, 2010, 2060, 2270, 3110, and 4990. Further, students substitute EM 3450 for Mteor 4430, take AerE 3610 (numerical methods) as one of the 3 elective courses, and count two of the required other AerE 3000+ classes as the other 2 required Mteor elective courses (there are 5 such classes related to dynamics).