Earth Science Earth Science Interdepartmental ProgramInterdepartmental Program

Undergraduate Concentration in Undergraduate Concentration in Atmospheric SciencesAtmospheric Sciences

UCAR MeetingUCAR Meeting

April 5, 2010April 5, 2010

Earth Science B.S.Earth Science B.S.

Interdepartmental program Interdepartmental program administered by the Department of administered by the Department of Geological Sciences in the College Geological Sciences in the College of Natural Sciencesof Natural Sciences Established in Fall, 1969Established in Fall, 1969 Governed by ad-hoc Earth Science Governed by ad-hoc Earth Science

committee in Geological Sciencescommittee in Geological Sciences• Dr. Kazuya Fujita (chair and program Dr. Kazuya Fujita (chair and program

director) (GLG)director) (GLG)• Dr. Danita Brandt (GLG)Dr. Danita Brandt (GLG)• Dr. Julie Winkler (GEO)Dr. Julie Winkler (GEO)• Dr. Ed Loh (AST)Dr. Ed Loh (AST)

Degree ProgramDegree Program Two concentrations Two concentrations

General Earth ScienceGeneral Earth Science• Developed and required for 9-12 pre-service Earth Science Developed and required for 9-12 pre-service Earth Science

teacher candidatesteacher candidates• Also serves as a general degree for students seeking a broad Also serves as a general degree for students seeking a broad

background in a wide range of Earth Science topicsbackground in a wide range of Earth Science topics• Includes one required meteorology course and options for up Includes one required meteorology course and options for up

to three othersto three others• one meteorology course required for integrated science pre-one meteorology course required for integrated science pre-

service K-12 teacher candidatesservice K-12 teacher candidates Atmospheric SciencesAtmospheric Sciences

• Developed as a graduate school preparatory track in Developed as a graduate school preparatory track in atmospheric sciences/meteorologyatmospheric sciences/meteorology

• Approved effective Fall, 2003Approved effective Fall, 2003• First graduate Spring, 2005First graduate Spring, 2005• Transcriptable since Spring, 2007Transcriptable since Spring, 2007• Total of 12-15 graduates 2005-2009Total of 12-15 graduates 2005-2009

Concentration CoursesConcentration Coursesbeyond University requirementsbeyond University requirements

Cognate Courses (34-35 semester Cognate Courses (34-35 semester credits)credits) Mathematics through Differential Mathematics through Differential

equations (15 credits)equations (15 credits) One year of calculus-based physics One year of calculus-based physics

(8 credits)(8 credits) One year of chemistry, including one One year of chemistry, including one

lab (8 credits)lab (8 credits) One semester of a biological science One semester of a biological science

(college requirement)(3-4 credits)(college requirement)(3-4 credits)

Earth Science CoursesEarth Science Courses

Broad background in various aspects Broad background in various aspects of the Earth Sciences (18 credits)of the Earth Sciences (18 credits) Dynamic Earth (Physical Geology, GLG Dynamic Earth (Physical Geology, GLG

201)201) Physical and Biological History of the Physical and Biological History of the

Earth (GLG 304)Earth (GLG 304) The Science of Astronomy (AST 207)The Science of Astronomy (AST 207) Oceanography (ZOL/GLG 303)Oceanography (ZOL/GLG 303) Introduction to Meteorology (GEO 203)Introduction to Meteorology (GEO 203)

Core Atmospheric Science CoursesCore Atmospheric Science Courses(10 credits)(10 credits)

Weather and Forecasting (GEO 405)Weather and Forecasting (GEO 405) Dynamic Meteorology (GEO 403)Dynamic Meteorology (GEO 403) EitherEither

Agricultural Climatology (GEO 402) orAgricultural Climatology (GEO 402) or Global Climate Change and Variability (GEO Global Climate Change and Variability (GEO

409)409)

ElectivesElectives(9-12 credits)(9-12 credits)

Three of the followingThree of the following Agricultural Climatology (GEO 402)*Agricultural Climatology (GEO 402)* Global Climate Change and Global Climate Change and

Variability (GEO 409)*Variability (GEO 409)* Remote Sensing of the Environment Remote Sensing of the Environment

(GEO 324)(GEO 324) Hydrogeology (GLG 411)Hydrogeology (GLG 411) Glacial Geology and the Record of Glacial Geology and the Record of

Climate Change (GLG 412)Climate Change (GLG 412) Environmental Geochemistry (GLG Environmental Geochemistry (GLG

421)421)

Students in the program also have Students in the program also have had internships with NWS and local had internships with NWS and local TV stations, and opportunities to TV stations, and opportunities to participate in spotter training participate in spotter training workshops and attend professional workshops and attend professional meetingsmeetings

Additional courses are under Additional courses are under developmentdevelopment Severe weather (2011)Severe weather (2011)

MSU has a long and excellent MSU has a long and excellent working relationship local and working relationship local and regional K-12 Earth Science teachersregional K-12 Earth Science teachers