Applied Meteorology at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott
Program Design & Assessment
Overview
The Applied Meteorology (AMET) is a technical science program that complements our core competencies in Aviation, Aerospace and Space Sciences.
The AMET program provides a practical understanding of the physics and dynamics of the atmosphere and climate variability, and prepares the graduate for a range of meteorologist and weather forecasting positions in government or the private sector. The Applied Meteorology Program requirements exceed the requirements for a meteorology degree recommended by the American Meteorological Society. A minor in Aviation Weather is also offered.
Impetus
Aerospace industry needs and students' demand.
Program Goals
The Applied Meteorology program combines the strengths of Embry-Riddle's respected position in the aviation and aerospace industry with the need to learn about aviation weather, and associated weather hazards, remote sensing, forecasting, numerical weather prediction models, and the high resolution climate models.
Alumni Careers
Students can choose from four areas of concentration: Research, Meteorology with Flying, Air Force Military Meteorologist, and Meteorology for Aviation Operations.
Other careers our graduates have pursued: pilots, astronauts.
Program Assessment
Assessment activities:
- In several of our courses students complete research projects of varying lengths that require students to access, read and survey important current science problems. Students make written and oral presentations, and the senior meteorology students participate every year in the 'Weather Challenge' - a national forecasting competition.
- End of Course evaluations, Graduating student surveys, Alumni Satisfaction Survey.
- Monitoring the curriculum to meet requirements recommended by the American Meteorological Society (AMS) and the Federal agencies. Program faculty examine how well students in their program attain the general education competencies that provides a coherent base for students to pursue their academic specializations.
Courses and Sequencing
Entry into the program
Calculus I, II, Physics I with Lab, Chemistry with Lab, Introduction to meteorology, and Computer programming.Core courses
- Atmospheric Physics (Prerequisites: Calculus III, Diff. Eq., Physics II)
- Thermodynamics of the Atmosphere (Prerequisites: Physics II)
- Advanced Atmospheric Thermodynamics and Cloud Physics (Prerequisites: Thermodynamics of the Atmosphere, Calculus III, Diff. Eq., Physics II)
- Dynamics of the Atmosphere (Prerequisites: Calculus III, Physics II)
- Advanced Dynamic Meteorology I and II (Prerequisites: Dynamics of the Atmosphere, IDL, Calculus III, Diff. Eq., Physics II)
- Weather Analysis (Prerequisites: Dynamics of the Atmosphere,Calculus III)
- Applied Climatology
- Weather Information Systems
- Satellite & Weather Radar Interpretation
- Forecasting Techniques (Prerequisite: IDL)
- Weather Operations Seminar Forecasting Techniques
- Data Analysis and Visualization
- Statistics
Electives
Students are required to take 12 credits (4 courses) of electives, chosen from the following list:
- Thunderstorms
- Space Weather
- Air Pollution
- Environment and Global Security
- Principles of Aeronautical Science
- Computer Science
- Differential Equations and Matrix Methods
- Lower-Level Economics or Social Sciences
- Upper-Level Humanities or Social Sciences
- Speech
- Technical Report Writing
- Business Communication
Capstone
Senior Research Project.
Other requirements or key features
More meteorology students from our Applied Meteorology program are getting involved in undergraduate research, funded by the ERAU NASA Space grant, the McNair program, or an NSF Scholars STEM grant.
Research activities within the Department include studies of mid-latitude cyclones, orographic precipitation, weather radar, the southwest monsoon and cirrus cloud parameterizations for the Global Climate Models (GCMs).