THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT ASHEVILLE

 

                                                                                    FACULTY SENATE

 

 Senate Document Number    0109F

 

 Date of Senate Approval      04/30/09

 

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Statement of Faculty Senate Action:

 

APC Document 84:                               Establish new course, ATMS 230, FORTRAN for

Meteorologists to replace CSCI 142.

 

Effective Date: Fall 2009

 

1.   Add:           On page 84, new course, ATMS 230:

 

                        230       FORTRAN for Meteorologists (3)

Basic FORTRAN 90 computer programming tailored for meteorological applications.  Topics include algorithm development, program writing and execution, and data manipulation. Prerequisite: MATH 167 or equivalent. Spring.

 

Impact:

This course will replace CSCI 142 as an option for students majoring in Atmospheric Sciences. There is no change to the number of hours required for graduation in either the Climatology or Weather Forecasting concentration. This additional course offering will require the resources of one ATMS professor each Spring. Dr. Christopher Godfrey has extensive FORTRAN programming experience and will offer this class every Spring.  Dr. Douglas Miller has similar experience and can teach the course as well.  It will also allow the Computer Science department to focus its energies on courses of their choosing and interest.

 

Rationale:

While interest in FORTRAN has waned among engineers in favor of other programming languages, its pervasive use in meteorology makes it an essential tool for obtaining employment in the field.  Atmospheric Science students are currently required to complete either CSCI 142 (FORTRAN) or CSCI 201 (Java).  Given the profession’s demands, however, students profit more from the FORTRAN option and the department thinks its majors will better served by a FORTRAN course designed specifically for Atmospheric Sciences students.  ATMS 230 will give students the option of learning FORTRAN with an emphasis on meteorological applications. Because FORTRAN is not as essential for students planning a career in broadcast meteorology, CSCI 201 will remain an option.

 

 

 

2.   Delete:        On page 83, under “Concentration in Climatology” parts I and II:

 

Add:          

I.  Required courses in the major – 36 hours including ATMS 103, 205, 230, 241, 251, 261, 305, 310, 320, 350, 410, 411, 455.  CSCI 201 may be substituted for ATMS 230.

 

II.  Required courses outside the major—31 hours distributed as follows: CHEM 111, 132; MATH 191, 192, 291, 394; PHYS 221, 222, MATH 394 is strongly recommended.  Additional courses in Statistics, Hydrology, and Oceanography are recommended. 

 

 

 

3.   Delete:        On page 83, under “Concentration in Climatology” in part III:

 

Computer competency is demonstrated through completion of either CSCI 142 or 201.

 

Add:           On page 83, in place of deleted entry:

 

Computer competency is demonstrated through completion of either ATMS 230 or CSCI 201.

 

 

4.   Delete:        On page 83, under “Concentration in Weather Forecasting” parts I and II:

 

Add:

I.  Required courses in the major – 33 hours including ATMS 103, 205, 230, 241, 251, 261, 305, 310, 320, 350, 410, 411, 455.  CSCI 201 may be substituted for ATMS 230.

 

II.  Required courses outside the major—24 hours distributed as follows: CHEM 111, 132; MATH 191, 192, 291; PHYS 221,222.  Math 394 is strongly recommended.  Additional courses in Statistics, Hydrology, and Oceanography are recommended. 

 

 

 

5. Delete:          On page 83, under “Concentration in Weather Forecasting” in part III:

 

Computer competency is demonstrated through completion of either CSCI 142 or 201.

 

Add:           On page 83, in place of deleted entry:

 

Computer competency is demonstrated through completion of either ATMS 230 or CSCI 201.

 

 

 

Impact Statement:  None