1981-1982 Senate Document #23 APC Document #12 Atmospheric Sciences Program Concentrations/Weather Forecasting Page 58: Program Changes Delete all of the previous material and replace with the following: Atmospheric Sciences (ATM SCI) Associate Professor Brotak (Director): Adjunct Professors Guttman, Koss The Atmospheric Sciences major allows students to obtain a basic knowledge of meteorology. There are two programs a student may choose from. The Climatology program concentration offers the student a strong preparation for graduate work with a specialization in climatology. Personnel and resources of the National Climatic Center will be available to the student. The Weather Forecasting Program concentration offers a student a less rigorous program geared to employment after graduation. Students will not only learn the basics of weather forecasting but also how to communicate the important points to the public. Television and radio experience will be available to the student. Both programs fulfill Federal Civil Service requirements for employment as a meterologist. Program A - Climatology This progam is designed to prepare a student for advanced work in atmospheric science with an emphasis on climatology. I. Required courses in the major: 105, 115, and 32 hours including 210, 211, 305, 310, 405, 410, 411, 420, and six additional hours at the 300 level or above. II. Required courses outside the major: Chemistry 141; Mathematics 191, 192, 201, 305, 421, 426; Physics 221, 222. Recommended courses: Mathematics 301. III. Foreign Language requirements: foreign language options are allowed (see all-University requirements). IV. Special departmental requirements: competency requirement met by a senior comprehensive exam. Program B - Weather Forecasting This program is designed for students seeking employment as meterologists upon receiving the B.S. degree. I. Required courses in the major: 105, 115, and 29 hours including 210, 211, 305, 310, 410, 411, and nine additional Page 2 hours at the 300 level or above. II. Required courses outside the major: Chemistry 141; Mathematics 191, 192, 201; Physics 221, 222. Additional courses in Mathematics recommended. III. Foreign Language requirements: foreign language options are allowed (see all-University requirements). IV. Special departmental requirements: competency requirement met by a senior comprehensive exam. Rationale: The original degree program in Atmospheric Sciences is best suited for students preparing for graduate school specializing in climatology. It requires a great deal of mathematics and statistics. Because of this, student enrollment, especially for the first few years, would probably be low. The new weather forecasting and broadcasting option will be better suited for students seeking employment after receiving a B.S. degree. Traditionally, weather forecasting has been the most popular field in meteorology. The broadcasting aspect has tremendous appeal for both personal and financial fulfillment. A similar track at Lyndon State College in Vermont has drawn 120 meteorology majors in a school whose total enrollment is barely 1000. Other schools with similar tracks have been very successful. The job market in meteorology is steadily improving. As the Federal government has cut back in meteorology, many private firms have developed to provide specialized forecasts to an ever increasing clientele. Many TV and radio stations are now seeking qualified meteorologists to do the weather. Lyndon State College placed all of its graduates last year with many of them receiving several job offers. Six of them are currently doing TV weather around the country. Financial rewards are outstanding with starting salaries often ranging from $15-20,000. Weathercasters in top markets make over $100,000 a year, and salaries are increasing. Finally, the new option will not mean any additional costs; it will just more fully utilize the resources acquired for the original program. Changes on Page 58 ATMS 105 Introduction to Meteorology (3) Change entire course description to read: "A non-technical treatment of the fundamentals of weather and weather forecasting, geared for the general student." Rationale: To better describe the course; to explain this is an appropriate course for non-Atmospheric Science majors. ATMS 210 General Meteorology I (3) Change entire course description to read: "Technical aspects of meteorology for Atmospheric Science majors. Topics include solar Page 3 radiation and the radiation laws, the earth's heat budget, an introduction to thermodynamics, properties of water, and the generation of the winds." Rationale: To better describe material actually covered in the course; to make clear this course is designed for Atmospheric Science majors not general students. Delete: Corequisite Math 191 Add: Prerequisite Math 191 Rationale: Some material covered in this course is based on calculus, the student should already have this background before taking this course. Add: Prerequisite ATMS 105 Rationale: To insure that the student already has the necessary background in the fundamentals of meteorology; allows this course to specialize in more technical aspects of meteorology. ATMS 220 Climatology (3) Change course number from ATMS 220 to ATMS 115. Rationale: To reflect change in course content to freshman level. Change entire course descriptoin to read: "A non-technical introduction to the climates of the earth. Topics include climatic controls, climatic classification, climatic zones of the world, climatic change, and man's interaction with climate." Rationale: To better reflect the material actually covered in the course. Change: Prerequisite ATMS 211 to ATMS 105 Rationale: To reflect the change in the material covered in this course from advanced to introductory; this reduces the prerequisite from a sophomore level course to a freshman level course. Changes on Page 59 ATMS 320 Meteorological Instruments (3) Change entire course description to read: "The history, operation, and use of instruments which monitor the atmosphere. Emphasis will be on practical applications such as sitings, readings, errors, and routine maintence." Rationale: To better reflect material actually covered in the course; information from rockets and satellites will be Page 4 covered in other courses. ATMS 330 Hydrology (3) Change Prerequisite ATMS 211 to ATMS 105 and Math 191 Rationale: allow non-Atmospheric Science majors to take this course; drop prerequisite from sophomore level meteorology course to freshman level meteorology and math courses. ATMS 405 Meteorological Statistics (3) Change prerequisite Math 426, ATMS 211, 220 to Math 426, ATMS 115, 211. Rationale: Proposed course number change from ATMS 220 to ATMS 115. ATMS 410 Weather Analysis and Forecasting I (4) Change title of course from Weather Analysis and Forecasting I to Synoptic Meteorology I. Rationale: To better describe material actually covered in the course; course will cover aspects of meteorology beyond just analysis and forecasting. Change entire course description to read: "Understanding the processes which govern the weather; practical application of the predictive equations through the use of weather maps; in depth analysis of N.M.C. facsimile charts; extensive plotting and analysis of synoptic charts stressing the three dimensionals nature of weather systems." Rationale: To better describe material actually covered in this course; course will cover material beyond just analysis and forecasting. ATMS 411 Weather Analysis and Forecasting II (4) Change title of course from Weather Analysis and Forecasting II to Synoptic Meteorology II. Rationale: To better reflect material actually covered in the course; course will cover aspects of meteorology beyond just analysis and forecasting. Change entire course description to read: "A continuation of ATMS 410 with emphasis on weather forecasting. Topics include extra-tropical cyclones, convective systems, and tropical weather." Rationale: To better describe material actually covered in the course; course will cover more than just forecasting. Page 5 ATMS 420 Applied Climatology (3) Add: 3 credits Rationale: Mistakenly omitted in previous catalog. ATMS 465 Marine Climatology (3) Change prerequisite from ATMS 110, 211, 220, to ATMS 110, 115, 211. Rationale: Proposed course number change from ATMS 220 to ATMS 115. ATMS 495 Atmospheric Sciences Research (1-6) Change in course description from "..development in climatory..." to "...development in atmospheric science..." Rationale: To better reflect the broader scope of the new program and its research potential. Information Sheet Credits in each program A. Climatology major 38, corequisite 33 B. Weather Forecasting: major 35, corequisite 24 Regarding requiring Meteorological Statistics (ATMS 405) for students choosing Program B. This course has prerequisites in the Math Dept. which would cause the corequisite total to exceed 24 for this program. Regarding Broadcasting aspect of Program B quote from Jeff Rackham, "...courses (you are interested in) will be developed this coming spring and should be available by the spring of 1983." Until then, broadcasting aspect will be handled through existing meteorology courses such as Special Topics.