Meteorology Emphasis – BS Geography

Get your Meteorology degree/training here! Meteorology is a science that investigates atmospheric phenomena especially the weather. The Geography Department offers a BS in Geography with an Area of emphasis in 1) Meteorology, or 2) Weather Broadcasting; and a minor/certificate in Meteorology at the undergraduate level.  A BS in Geography with an emphasis in meteorology/weather broadcasting prepares you for jobs in the private sector (TV/radio, energy, insurance, supply chain management companies, transportation, etc.) and the public sector (such as federal, state, and local governments).  Graduates of our program have gotten meteorology jobs in TV/radio broadcasting, the National Weather Service, state government, and private firms. Learn more from the National Weather Service about careers in meteorology and the American Meteorological Society’s career website.

Certificate or Minor in Meteorology (undergraduate)

The meteorology certificates and minor are designed for students who do not necessarily want to broadcast or forecast, but rather learn meteorological skills to complement other skillsets such as GIS, aviation, and environmental science. Undergraduate students may choose either a certificate or minor (not both) in Meteorology. Your certificate/minor prepares you for jobs and careers in a wide variety of business, industry, education, and government fields such as aviation, agriculture, the energy sector, geology, retail/supply chain, constructions, oceanography, geophysics, geography, flood risk management, and hydrology.

Required core: 12 credits (available on campus and online)

• GEO 230 Introduction to Meteorology (4 credits)
• GEO 450 Extreme Weather (4 credits)
• GEO 460 Weather Analysis (4 credits)

Electives: choose at least 7 credits (available on campus and online)

• GEO 101 Physical Geography (4 credits)
• GEO 355 Aviation Weather (3 credits)
• GEO 425 Climatology (4 credits)
• GEO 426 Principles of GIS (4 credits)
• GEO 431 Remote Sensing (4 credits)
• GEO 480-483 Special Topics (1-4 credits)
• GLY 150 Oceanography (3 credits)
• GLY 150L Oceanography Lab (1 credit)

NOTE: STUDENTS CANNOT EARN BOTH A CERTIFICATE AND MINOR IN METEOROLOGY.

Weather Broadcasting Area of Emphasis (undergraduate)

Complete the BS Geography core.

Required weather core courses: (available on campus and online)

• GEO 230: Introduction to Meteorology (CT) (4 credits)
• GEO 450: Extreme Weather (4 credits)
• GEO 460: Weather Analysis (4 credits)
• GEO 425: Climatology (4 credits)
• GEO 490: Internship (3 hours)

Required support courses (6 credits):

• JJMC 340 Basic Broadcast News (3 credits); not available online at Marshall; prerequisite JMC 102
• JMC 331: Radio-TV Announcing and Newscasting (3 credits); not available online at Marshall; prerequisite JMC 101

Additional support course(s); Choose at least 3 credit hours:

• GEO 490: Internship (3 credits) * Internship must be broadcast related
• JMC 272: Practice in Radio (1 credit)
• JMC 273: Practice in Radio (1 credit)
• JMC 372: Practice in Radio or TV (1-2 credits)
• JMC 373: Practice in Radio or TV (1-2 credits)

Meteorology Area of Emphasis (undergraduate)

The undergraduate meteorology area of emphasis is designed for students who wish to pursue a career in forecasting and work with companies and agencies such as the National Weather Service. The curriculum reflects standards set forth by the National Weather Service. See the Office of Personnel Management series 1340 webpage for the inspiration for our curriculum.  Complete the BS Geography core.

Required Meteorology core: 23 credit hours (available on campus and online)

• GEO 230: Introduction to Meteorology (4 credits)
• GEO 355: Aviation Weather (3 credits)
• GEO 425: Climatology (4 credits)
• GEO 431: Remote Sensing (4 credits) or BSC 410: Remote Sensing/GIS Applications (4 credits)
• GEO 450: Extreme Weather (4 credits)
• GEO 460: Weather Analysis (4 credits)

Required support courses: 25 credit hours (available on campus; some available online)

• MTH 229: Calculus with Analytic Geometry I (5 credits)
• MTH 230: Calculus with Analytic Geometry II (4 credits)
• MTH 231: Calculus with Analytic Geometry III (4 credits)
• MTH 335: Ordinary Diff Equations (3 credits)
• PHY 211: University Physics I (4 credits)
• PHY 202: General Physics Lab (1 credit)
• PHY 213: University Physics II (4 credits)

Related Electives: select two = 6 credits (available on campus; not available online)

• PHY 308: Thermal Physics (3 credits); prerequisites PHY 213; MTH 231
• ENGR 219: Engineering Thermodynamics (3 credits); prerequisites MTH 230
• PHY 330: Mechanics (3 credits); prerequisites PHY 213; MTH 231
• ENGR 214: Dynamics (3 credits); perquisites ENGR 213 and MTH 230

Related support courses: select 9 credit hours (available on campus; some available online)

• GLY 150: Oceanography (3 credits)
• GLY 150: Oceanography lab (1 credit)
• STA 150: Foundations of Statistics (3 credits)
• STA 225: Introductory Statistics (3 credits)
• GEO 440: Spatial Statistics and GIS (4 credits)
• CS 110: Computer Science I (3 credits)
• CS 205: Scientific Computing (3 credits)
• CHM 111: Foundations of Chemistry (3 credits)
• CHM 211: Principles of Chemistry (3 credits)

Meteorology student satisfaction

“I cannot thank you enough for all of your help over my three years at Marshall! I thoroughly enjoyed every course I took, especially the Geography courses, and I could not have accomplished my goals without all of your help! I have had a wonderful experience at Marshall University, something that will stick with me forever!” ~ Chris P. 2021 Meteorology Degree recipient.