2015-2016 University Catalog 
  
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2015-2016 University Catalog

Atmospheric Sciences, BS

Banner Code: SC-BS-AOES

This program of study is offered by the Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Earth Sciences  in the College of Science .

The undergraduate program in atmospheric sciences gives students a strong quantitative undergraduate education in atmospheric, climate, and related sciences to understand the basic principles behind current and emerging issues in weather, climate variability, and climate change. Students completing the atmospheric sciences degree will be prepared for a full range of career paths including forecast and analysis, operations and research support in meteorology, atmospheric sciences, and climate. The curriculum meets the American Meteorological Society’s recommendations for a bachelor’s degree in atmospheric sciences.

Students must fulfill all requirements for bachelor’s degrees , including the Mason Core . In addition, a GPA of at least 2.00 is required for all core courses with an overall GPA of at least 2.50. Through the coursework below, atmospheric sciences majors will satisfy the Mason Core  requirements for ‘Information Technology’, ‘Natural Science’, and ‘Quantitative Reasoning’. The university’s writing intensive requirement for the major will be met upon successful completion of CLIM 408 .

Degree Requirements

Atmospheric Sciences Core (24 credits)

Chemistry (4 credits)

Computer Science (4 credits)

Mathematics (11 credits)

Statistics (3 credits)

Physics (8 credits)

Each is a Mason Core: Natural Science  course:

Options (9 credits)

Students in the atmospheric sciences major will select one of the following options in addition to the required courses above. These options reflect faculty expertise and provide two areas of research emphasis. The options will help in creating educated professionals who have the requisite training to support future weather and climate research, enabling the graduate’s potential for providing substantial societal benefits.

Meteorology Option

This option is designed for students who are primarily interested in weather and weather forecasting. The required classes in this option emphasize atmospheric phenomena, especially those that have the greatest impact on society. In addition to the required courses above, students choosing this option will take the following 9 credits of meteorology courses:

Option Total: 9 credits

Computational Atmospheric Sciences Option

The Computational Atmospheric Sciences option gives students preparation in computational science, mathematics, and elements of numerical modeling in order to undertake quantitative research or operational work in a professional or graduate setting. In addition to the required courses above, students choosing this option will take the following 9 credits:

Option Total: 9 credits

Required Electives (9 credits)

The 9 credits of required electives must be chosen from this list and be independent of courses taken in the selected option (meteorology or computational atmospheric sciences):

Mason Core and Elective Credits (48 credits)

In order to meet a minimum of 120 credits, this degree requires an additional 48 credits, which may be applied towards any remaining Mason Core  requirements (outlined below), requirements for bachelor’s degrees , and elective courses. Students are strongly encouraged to consult with their advisors to ensure that they fulfill all requirements.

Mason Core

Please note that some Mason Core  requirements may already be fulfilled by the major requirements listed above.

Expand each item below for a link to specific course lists for each category:

Foundation Requirements (15-19 credits)

Core Requirements (22 credits)

Synthesis/Capstone Requirement (minimum 3 credits)

Degree Total: Minimum 120 credits