Atmospheric Sciences

Type of degree: Certificate-Bachelors degree required

Brief overview of program: The undergraduate Certificate Program in Atmospheric Sciences is designed for students who wish to supplement their majors with an in-depth understanding of the atmosphere. This program is open to any undergraduate or post-baccalaureate student meeting the entrance requirements outlined below. (Post-baccalaureate students are college graduates taking additional undergraduate courses, but not for a UGA undergraduate degree. Contact the admissions office for post-baccalaureate admission requirements.) Common majors for atmospheric sciences students include, but are not limited to, agricultural engineering, biological engineering, computer science, crop science, environmental health, environmental soil science, forest environmental resources, geography, marine sciences, mathematics, physics, physics and astronomy, statistics, and telecommunications. The certificate requires 21 semester hours of upper-level atmospheric sciences or related courses. Students choose either an operational meteorology track or a general atmospheric sciences track. Both tracks require a core of 15 semester hours. The remaining six hours are selected from the approved list of courses with the approval of the student's atmospheric sciences advisor. The operational meteorology track meets the educational requirements for employment as a meteorologist by the National Weather Service, other civil service agencies, and many companies. The operational meteorology track also meets the recommended curriculum standards set by the American Meteorological Society and is the recommended track for students interested in operational meteorology or related fields. The general atmospheric sciences track is designed for students wishing an in-depth understanding of the atmosphere tailored to personal interests and career ambitions. Both tracks provide students with a strong foundation in the atmospheric sciences necessary for graduate study in meteorology, climatology, or related fields. The Certificate Program in Atmospheric Sciences is sponsored by the Departments of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Crop and Soil Sciences, Environmental Health Science, Geography, Marine Sciences, Physics and Astronomy, Statistics, and the School of Forest Resources.

Website: Click here for program website

For the students that enter the workforce, what are the most common occupations that they pursue with this degree or certificate? Graduates of UGA's Atmospheric Sciences Program are more broadly educated than many graduates of traditional atmospheric sciences programs, thus providing greater career choices. Students selecting either track will find many carrier opportunities. Many companies are hiring atmospheric scientists with diverse backgrounds to assist in their operations. A few examples include the aviation industry, commodity groups, commodity traders, electric and natural gas utilities, engineering firms, food processing companies, and transportation companies. Other areas of employment growth are meteorological, environmental, and agricultural consulting companies.

Program Point of Contact: Thomas L. Mote

Email: tmote@uga.edu

Institution address: School of Marine Programs
                             Athens,GA 30602-3636