About the Program
The University of Louisiana-Monroe's Atmospheric Sciences program offers a four-year Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree that prepares graduates for a career as a professional meteorologist and/or for entry into graduate school in the Atmospheric and Related Sciences. Some dictionaries define meteorology as the study of the Earth's atmosphere. Over the past few decades, the word "meteorology" has come to be more closely associated with the study of weather and the term "atmospheric sciences" has come to have a broader meaning, which includes not only meteorology but the study of other aspects of the Earth's atmosphere.
There are no national accreditation programs for the atmospheric sciences. However, the American Meteorological Society, in conjunction with the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), the National Weather Service, and the Department of Defense, has established guidelines for an acceptable B.S. program. Our program satisfies those requirements for employment as a professional meteorologist. ULM graduates can be found in many National Weather Service offices throughout the country, in government research agencies, radio and TV, and private weather consulting firms. Many of our graduates have completed graduate degrees at universities around the nation.
Our curriculum includes 43 semester hours of atmospheric science courses, 17 hours of mathematics, eight hours of technical physics, and courses in chemistry, computer science, geology, biology, English composition, speech, technical writing, social science, fine arts, and other free electives. A total of 125 semester hours is required for the degree.
University credit is also available for internships served under professional meteorologists in broadcast meteorology, private industry, and with governmental agencies. Our students are also eligible to participate in the Research Experience for Undergraduates sponsored by the National Science Foundation and conducted during the summer at universities throughout the country.