Facilities at Western Kentucky University
WKU is home to the Kentucky Mesonet, a high- density, meso-scale network of research-grade automated environmental monitoring stations cur- rently being developed across the commonwealth. The continuously updated, locally accurate climato- Bachelor of logical data is available to the agricultural industry as well as decision makers who must respond to Science in extreme weather events such as tornadoes, floods, or ice storms. Careers in Meteorology Meteorology
Students who complete the B.S. in Meteorology degree at Western Kentucky University will be able to pursue careers that include the following:
WKU has been home to the Kentucky Climate Weather forecasting Center since 1978. The Kentucky Climate Center is Aviation forecasting the State Climate Office for Kentucky and home to Broadcast meteorology the State Climatologist, Dr. Stuart Foster. The mis- Pollution forecasting sion of the Kentucky Climate Center is to conduct Commodity/Energy forecasting research and disseminate information of climatic variability and change, influences of the natural Students who enter graduate school and pursue a environment upon human activity, and impacts of M.S. or Ph.D. in the Atmospheric Sciences will be human activity upon the natural environment. able to pursue careers that include the following:
University professor Climate change research For more information contact:
Atmospheric modeling Dr. Gregory Goodrich, PhD Paleoclimatology Department of Geography & Geology Consulting 1906 College Heights Blvd #31066 Western Kentucky University Bowling Green, KY 42101-1066 (270) 745-5986 [email protected] http://meteorology.blog.wku.edu B.S. in Meteorology at Why study Meteorology at Western Kentucky University Western Kentucky University?
The B.S. Meteorology program requires a mini- The B.S. in Meteorology degree offered by WKU mum of 48 semester hours of meteorology, geog- was the first meteorology program in Kentucky or raphy, and computer science courses. A minor is Tennessee to meet all Federal Civil Service require- not required. Other required courses in physics ments (GS-1340) for employment by the National and mathematics total an additional 25 semester Weather Service and enables TV broadcast meteor- hours. Students majoring in meteorology will ologists to immediately pursue the “Certified learn the concepts and skills necessary to qualify Broadcast Meteorologist” program of the American as a meteorologist for the National Weather Ser- Meteorological Society upon graduation. vice, and to meet the professional standards of the American Meteorological Society. Since 1928, when the College Heights Weather B.S. Meteorology curriculum Station was founded on campus, WKU has been a In addition to preparing students for immediate Effective Fall 2014 focus for the study of weather and climate in the employment as meteorologists, the combination of Required courses (36 credit hours) region. This Station together with the Kentucky advanced theoretical and applied coursework as METR 121 Introduction to Meteorology Climate Center, have established a long tradition of well as experience with meteorological instrumen- METR 122 Aviation Meteorology outreach and assistance in the Mid-South region. tation and computer programming will provide a CS 170 Problem Solving/Programming in Python foundation for students who wish to pursue gradu- GEOG 300 Writing in the Geosciences ate school in the atmospheric sciences. Students GEOG 316 Fundamentals of GIS will become more directly involved in faculty- METR 324 Weather Analysis and Forecasting sponsored research, increased co-authorship of GEOG 391 Spatial Data and Analysis peer-reviewed research articles, and increased METR 431 Dynamic Meteorology I presentation of research results at professional METR 432 Synoptic Meteorology meetings and conferences. METR 433 Dynamic Meteorology II METR 437 Mesoscale Meteorology A unique component to the program includes the GEOG 499 Professional Preparation course, Field Methods in Weather Analysis and Forecasting, which won the 2010 “Creativity and Elective courses (12 credit hours) Innovation Award” from the North American As- Select from any METR 2xx-4xx courses, with sociation for Summer Programs. The field course your advisor, (examples include 322, 325, 335, provides practical capstone learning experience 422, 438, 439, 440) to meet the 48 unduplicated that enhances student learning and retention of hours requirement. weather and climate beyond a traditional class- room setting by predicting, analyzing, and docu- Other requirements (25 credit hours) menting severe convective and hazardous storms MA 136 Calculus and Analytical Geometry I across the central United States. As a result each MA 137 Calculus and Analytical Geometry II student considerably improves critical skill sets in MA 237 Multivariable Calculus order to become a successful meteorologist. MA 331 Differential Equations PHYS 255/256 University Physics I PHYS 265/266 University Physics II