Senate Document Number 1503F
Date of Senate Approval 12/11/03
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Statement of Faculty Senate Action:
APC Document 6: Change course description of ATMS 103, Change title and description of ATMS 261, and Reduce credit hours of ATMS 410 and 411.
Effective Date: Fall 2004
1. Delete: On pg 65, description for ATMS 103 Introduction to Meteorology
Add: On pg 65, new description
103 Introduction to Meteorology (3)
An informative study of the fundamentals of weather and current issues related to global weather and climate. Designed for the general student, this course satisfies the three-hour interdisciplinary natural sciences General Education requirement. Atmospheric science majors may substitute ATMS 105 for ATMS 103. (Students may not receive credit for both ATMS 103 and 105.) Fall and Spring.
Impact: None.
Rationale: The revised description better reflects the content of course.
2. Delete: On pg 66, title and description of ATMS 261 UNIX Applications in Meteorology
Add: On pg 66, new title and description
261 Computer Applications in Meteorology (1)
An introductory lab course to familiarize students with computer applications and meteorological software packages, such as McIDAS and GEMPAK. Prerequisites: ATMS 103 or 105; MATH 191. Spring.
Impact: None. The department has both Windows-based and UNIX based computers, and the students can access both platforms conveniently.
Rationale: This course had been offered once every two years or so. It covers computer applications in an exclusively UNIX environment. In this proposed change, we will teach general and specific computer software and applications used in meteorology. This title change will correctly represent the content of this course. ATMS 261 Computer Applications in Meteorology (1) together with ATMS 241 Geography in Meteorology (1) and ATMS 251 Mathematics in Meteorology (1) will be essential courses in providing hands-on exercises for majors.
3. Change: On pg 67, reduce the credit hours of ATMS 410 and 411 from (4) to (3).
410 Synoptic Meteorology I (3)
411 Synoptic Meteorology II (3)
Impact: Required credit hours for majors will be reduced; students will be able to take electives of their choice to strengthen their liberal arts experience.
Rationale: ATMS 410 and 411 Synoptic Meteorology I and II have 4 credit hours each in the current catalog. Both course are supposed to include 3 hours of lecture and 2 hours of lab each week. However, it is recognized that the current teaching format is 3 hours of lab and just more than 1 hour of lecture. This proposed change will reflect credit hours for actual contact hours in classroom. This 3 credit hours format will also allow the flexibility in course offerings within the department, so these courses may be taught alternatively among the faculty members.