Meteorology | Central Michigan University

Meteorology

Program Description

Are you wired for weather? Do you wonder why weather changes when it does and what it is that keeps Michigan’s weather so unpredictable? Discover the answers in CMU’s meteorology program — the only such undergraduate degree in Michigan. You’ll strengthen your education by conducting field research or working on campus at CMU’s state-of-the-art weather station that’s equipped with a weather balloon and advanced technology. CMU’s program meets the requirements of the National Weather Service and produces graduates who work as lead meteorologists around the world.

Points of Pride

CMU offers the only meteorology major in Michigan. The program meets or exceeds American Meteorological Society and National Weather Service guidelines.
In 2014, meteorology faculty installed a state-of-the-art, electronic weather map wall that shows current and future weather forecasts by meteorologists and computer models across the country. Faculty members use it as a teaching tool in the classroom.
A surface weather station installed in 2013 allows students to use the same instruments as professional meteorologists to collect data about temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and direction, atmospheric pressure, solar energy, and precipitation. Meteorology faculty members also launch weather balloons that provide weather data.

Put Your Degree to Work

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics sample data

Job	Median Pay	Job Growth through 2022
Atmospheric scientist/meteorologist	$89,260 per year	10% (1,100 more jobs)

Program Overview

The course listings below are a representation of what this academic program requires. For a full review of this program in detail please see our official online academic bulletin AND consult with an academic advisor. This listing does not include the General Education courses required for all majors and may not include some program specific information, such as admissions, retention, and termination standards.

(Click on the course name or number for a complete course description.)

Meteorology Major

Total: 71 semester hours Note: Students are strongly encouraged to meet with college and program academic advisors every semester, and to complete one or more of the following: MET 491 Internship, MET 497 Independent Study, a minor that complements the meteorology major.

Required Courses

(35 hours)

Note: One credit of MET 355.

MET 260

Introduction to Atmospheric Science

MET 265

Professional Development in the Atmospheric Sciences

MET 310

Atmospheric Thermodynamics and the Boundary Layer

MET 312

Meteorological Instruments and Observations

MET 320

Physical Meteorology

MET 330

Dynamic Meteorology I

MET 335

Dynamic Meteorology II

MET 340

Synoptic Meteorology I

MET 345

Synoptic Meteorology II

MET 355

Weather Forecasting Practicum

1-4

MET 450

Mesoscale Meteorology

MET 460

Global Climate Dynamics

MET 480

Atmospheric Modeling

Additional Requirements

(36 hours)

CHM 120

Survey of Chemistry

CHM 127

Introductory Chemistry Laboratory

CPS 180

Principles of Computer Programming

MTH 132

Calculus I

MTH 133

Calculus II

MTH 232

Linear Algebra and Differential Equations

MTH 233

Calculus III

PHY 145QR

University Physics I

PHY 146

University Physics II

PHY 175

University Physics Laboratory I

PHY 176

University Physics Laboratory II

STA 382QR

Elementary Statistical Analysis

Undergraduate A-Z List

Grads on Fire

Catherine Bodak, ’10, is a broadcast meteorologist for WNEM TV5 in Saginaw, Michigan.

Katie Dupree, ’10, is a meteorologist at WRIC in Richmond, Virginia.

Michael Estime, ’09, is the morning and noon meteorologist for WTVQ-TV36 in Lexington, Kentucky.

Cort Scholten, ’10, is a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

View More Grads on Fire

Brandon Hoving, ’08, is an observing program leader for the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Laura Velasquez, ’08, is a broadcast meteorologist for WOOD TV8 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Derek Van Dam, ’06, is a meteorologist for CNN International in Atlanta, Georgia.

Scott Carpenter, ’95, is a decision support services program manager for the National Weather Service in Salt Lake City, Utah.

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