Atmospheric Sciences Page 1 of 2
Revised (6/2020)
GEOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT
Atmospheric Sciences Major
Requires 121 Total Credit Hours; 32 Major Credit Hours
GENERAL EDUCATION
College of Arts & Sciences Bachelor of Science general education requirements apply.
Please visit https://artsandsciences.osu.edu/academics/current-students/advising/ge
MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
NOTE: Several major courses are offered only one term per year. Careful schedule planning is required to complete course
sequences in a timely manner.
Required Prerequisite or Supplemental Courses in the Major
Prerequisites are specific to courses within the major. There are no prerequisites that must be completed before declaring the
Atmospheric Sciences major. A student may declare a major in Atmospheric Sciences by meeting with an academic advisor in
the Department of Geography.
Course
Title
Hours
Math 1151
Calculus I
5
Math 1152
Calculus II
5
Math 2153
Calculus III
4
Math 2255
Differential Equations and Their Applications
3
Physics 1250
Mechanics, Thermal Physics, Waves
5
Physics 1251 >
E&M, Optics, Modern Physics
5
Chemistry 1210 >
General Chemistry I
5
Statistics 2450 >
Introduction to Statistical Analysis I
3
> Indicates courses are supplemental to study and not required as prerequisites to courses in the major.
Required Courses (9 courses/26 hours)
Course
Title
Hours
Required Prerequisite
AtmosSc 2940
OR
GEOG 5900
Basic Meteorology (recommended course)
OR
Weather, Climate and Global Warming
3
3
Math 1151 & Physics 1250
None
GEOG 5921 *
Miroclimatology: Boundary Layer Climatology 3
AtmosSc 2940 & Physics 1250
OR
GEOG 5900 & Physics 1250
GEOG 5922 *
Microclimatology: Microclimatological
Measurements
3 GEOG 5921
AtmosSc/GEOG 5940*
Synoptic Meteorology Laboratory 2
AtmosSc 2940 & Physics 1250
OR
GEOG 5900 & Physics 1250
GEOG 5941 *
Synoptic Meteorology: Synoptic Analysis and
Forecasting
3 GEOG 5940 & Math 2153
GEOG 5942 *
Synoptic Meteorology: Severe Storm Forecasting
3
GEOG 5941
AtmosSc 5950
Atmospheric Thermodynamics
3
Math 1152
AtmosSc 5951 *
Dynamic Meteorology I 3
AtmosSc 5950 (or co-req)
& Math 2153
AtmosSc 5952 *
Dynamic Meteorology II
3
AtmosSc 5951 & Math 2255
* Part of major course sequence. Major course(s) must be completed with a “C-“ or above as prerequisite to enroll.
(Bachelor of Science)
Atmospheric Sciences Page 2 of 2
Revised (6/2020)
Elective Courses
Choose two of the following courses (6 hours).
Course
Title
Hours
Required Prerequisite
AtmosSc 5901 *
Climate System Modeling: Basics and Applications 3
AtmosSc 2940
OR GEOG 5900
GEOG 3900
OR
GEOG 3901H
Global Climate Change: Causes and Consequences
OR
Global Climate and Environmental Change
3
3
None
None
GEOG 5200
Cartography and Map Design
3
None
GEOG 5210
Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems
3
None
GEOG 5225
Geographic Applications of Remote Sensing
3
None
EARTHSCI 2206
Principles of Oceanography
3
None
CIVILEN 5130
Applied Hydrology
3
CIVILEN 3160
CIVILEN 5420
Remote Sensing of Environment
3
CIVILEN 2410
Major Requirements
The following requirements for the major apply to all Arts and Sciences degrees.
Major requirements comprise at least 30 semester hours and can be substantially higher. Major
courses must be at the 2000 level or above. At least 20 hours of the major must be in courses offered by
the department of the major. Note: Some interdisciplinary majors are excluded from the 20-hour rule.
Students must earn at least a C- in a course for the course to be applied to the major. However,
students must receive a 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) for all major course work. If a D+, D,
or an E is earned in a course needed for the major, the course cannot be counted on the major. The
major advisor will decide if the course should be repeated or if another course should be substituted.
Courses taken on a pass/non-pass basis cannot be used on the major.
The department must approve all courses in the major. Some departments require a “major program
form,” a document that must be signed by the academic advisor and submitted with the graduation
application. Some departments do not require such a form because the academic advisors use an
automated version on the degree audit report. Some departments require both. In any case, students
should meet with the academic advisor early to plan the major; during your meeting, it can be determined
whether the department requires a paper major program form. Any changes or adjustments to the major
should be made in consultation with the academic advisor.
If a student transferred from another institution, no more than half of the credit hours on the
major program may consist of transfer credit. The academic advisor, the chairperson of the
department, and the appropriate assistant dean must approve any request for a variation in this policy.
For Honors students, the GE curriculum and major must be approved by the assigned Honors
advisor. Information about the honors curriculum and requirements and how to schedule an appointment
with an honors advisor is available on the College of Arts and Sciences Honors Program website:
http://aschonors.osu.edu/advising. Students will also be assigned a faculty advisor in the department of
study to help the student choose courses and co-curricular opportunities that align with academic and
professional goals.
For more information about internship and career opportunities, visit the College of Arts and
Sciences Career Services Office. Their website is http://asccareerservices.osu.edu/
.