Nov 21, 2024

2024-2025 Academic Catalog

Meteorology, BS

The BS Meteorology degree program, offered by the Department of Meteorology and Climate Science , is designed to develop meteorologists who, upon graduation, are ready to begin professional practice in the private sector or in government, or are ready to enter graduate programs in atmospheric science.

Program Learning Outcomes

Summary of Degree Units

University Graduation Requirements	39
Major Preparation	27
Major Requirements	54
Total	120

Program Roadmaps

The 4-Year Roadmap is available online. Roadmaps should be used in consultation with the catalog and your advisor to identify additional requirements for completing the major (for example, course grade minimums). Associate Degrees (ADT) Pathways are also available online.

Major-Specific Graduation Requirements

All Preparation and Required in the Major courses must be completed with a “C- or better”.

University Requirements

Students must satisfy all of the major and Undergraduate University Graduation Requirements , which includes unit, GPA, and residency requirements as well as the below identified General Education , American Institutions, Graduation Writing Assessment, and Physical Education requirements. Courses that meet Undergraduate University Graduation Requirements are noted with an area designation (see Course Note Abbreviations ).

Exceptions for University Graduation Requirements apply to this major.

Core Lower Division General Education (24 units)

Of the 39 units required by the university, 15 units may be satisfied by coursework outlined below. Courses that meet GE Areas A1, A2, A3, B4, or F must be passed with a “C-” or better to meet the requirement. Consult with a major advisor for details.

Upper Division General Education (9 units)

Of the 9 units required by the university, 0 units may be satisfied by coursework outlined below. Consult with major advisor for details.

American Institutions (6 units)

Complete one 6-unit sequence of American Institutions (US123) courses, which also satisfies GE Area D. Students may also satisfy the American Institutions Requirement with other courses, but these may not satisfy other GE areas.

The American Studies sequence (AMS 10 /AMS 11 ; 6 units) satisfies the American Institutions Requirement and additional GE Areas (see course descriptions for details).

Consult with a major advisor to select the appropriate sequence.

U.S. History and Government (6 units)

Complete One US1: US History Course

AMS 10 - Stories that Make America 3 unit(s) (C2+US1)
HIST 15 - Essentials of U.S. History 3 unit(s) (D+US1)
HIST 170S - Topics in American History: American Identities and Institutions 3 unit(s) (S+US1)

Complete One US23: US Constitution and California Government Course

AMS 11 - Visions of Democracy 3 unit(s) (D+US23)
POLS 15 - Essentials of U.S. & California Government 3 unit(s) (D+US23)
POLS 16 - Power and Ideas in American Politics 3 unit(s) (C2+US23)
POLS 170V - American Politics in Global Perspective 3 unit(s) (V+US23)

Physical Education

The Physical Education Requirement is waived for this major. See the Exceptions for University Graduation Requirements .

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement

At SJSU, students must pass a Writing in the Disciplines (100W) course with a grade of C or better (C- not accepted) to meet graduation requirements. For this major, the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) is satisfied by a course in the major.

Major Preparation (27 units)

A minimum grade of “C-” must be attained in all major and preparation courses.

CHEM 1A - General Chemistry 5 unit(s) (B1+B3)
MATH 30 - Calculus I 3 unit(s) (B4)
MATH 31 - Calculus II 4 unit(s) (B4)
MATH 32 - Calculus III 3 unit(s) (B4)
PHYS 50 - General Physics I: Mechanics 4 unit(s) (B1+B3)
PHYS 51 - General Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism 4 unit(s) (B1+B3)
PHYS 52 - General Physics III: Waves, Light, Heat 4 unit(s) (B1+B3)

Major Requirements (54 units)

Core Courses (48 units)

METR 10 - Weather and Climate 3 unit(s) (B1)
METR 40 - Weather Seminar 1 unit(s)
METR 50 - Scientific Computing I 2 unit(s)
METR 51 - Scientific Computing II 2 unit(s)
METR 60 - Meteorology and Climate Science I 3 unit(s)
METR 61 - Meteorology and Climate Science II 2 unit(s)
METR 100W - Writing Workshop: Meteorological Reports 3 unit(s) (WID)
METR 121A - Dynamic Meteorology 4 unit(s)
METR 121B - Dynamic Meteorology 3 unit(s)
METR 123 - Advanced Climatology 3 unit(s)
METR 125 - Physical Meteorology 3 unit(s)
METR 136 - Applied Statistics and Analysis in Meteorology 3 unit(s)
METR 150 - Computers in Meteorology III 3 unit(s)
METR 163 - Meteorological Instrumentation 3 unit(s)
METR 170A - Weather Briefing 1 unit(s)
METR 170B - Weather Briefing 1 unit(s)
METR 171A - Synoptic Weather Analysis and Forecasting 3 unit(s)
METR 172 - Mesoscale Meteorology 3 unit(s)
METR 179 - Topics in Senior Thesis 1-2 unit(s) (2 units required)

Major Electives (6 units)

Complete two courses from:

METR 130 - Boundary Layer Meteorology 3 unit(s)
METR 131 - Air Pollution Meteorology 3 unit(s)
METR 155 - Remote Sensing 3 unit(s)
METR 161 - Introduction to Hydrometeorology 3 unit(s)
METR 164 - Introduction to Fire Weather 3 unit(s)
METR 165 - Mountain Meteorology 3 unit(s)
METR 170C - Weather Briefing III 1 unit(s)
METR 173 - Global Climate Modeling 3 unit(s)
METR 174 - Climate Change Capstone 3 unit(s)
METR 185 - Special Topics 1-3 unit(s)

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