Climate and Atmospheric Sciences B.S.

Catalog Department Overview ►

Minimum Requirements for Climate and Atmospheric Sciences B.S.: 120 credits

Concentrations: Climate, Forecasting

Students must earn a C- grade or better in each course.

Credits
General University Requirements
Complete the general university requirements.
General Education Requirements
Complete the general education requirements.36-40
As part of the general education requirements complete:
General Chemistry I
General Chemistry II
Calculus I
B.S. Degree Requirements
Complete the B.S. degree requirements.16
As part of the B.S. degree requirements complete:
Calculus II
General Physics I
General Physics II
Atmospheric and Climate Sciences Program Requirements
Complete the following:
ATM F101XWeather and Climate of Alaska4
ATM F311Instruments in Meteorology3
ATM F401Introduction to Atmospheric Sciences3
ATM F407Atmospheric Thermodynamics3
ATM F413Atmospheric Radiation3
ATM F415Cloud Physics3
ATM F433Atmospheric Remote Sensing3
ATM F445Atmospheric Dynamics3
ATM F456Climate and Climate Change3
MATH F253XCalculus III4
PHYS F220Introduction to Computational Physics4
PHYS F301Introduction to Mathematical Physics4
Concentration
Complete one of the following:17-20
Climate
Forecasting
Electives
General Electives4-11
Total Credits120

Concentrations

Climate

Credits
Climate Concentration Requirements
Complete six of the following:18-20
Weather Analysis and Forecasting
Atmospheric Dynamics II: Climate Dynamics
Micrometeorology with Focus on Subarctic and Arctic Ecosystems
Analysis Methods in Meteorology and Climate
Air-sea Interactions
Biogeography
Water Resources Engineering
Physical Chemistry I
Atmospheric Chemistry
Ocean Circulation
The Ocean and Global Change
Statistics
Regression and Analysis of Variance
Total Credits18-20

Forecasting

Credits
Forecasting Concentration Requirements
Complete the following:
ATM F443Atmospheric Structure and Analysis4
ATM F444Weather Analysis and Forecasting3
ATM F444LWeather Analysis and Forecasting Laboratory1
Complete three of the following:9-10
Analysis Methods in Meteorology and Climate
Water Resources Engineering
Atmospheric Chemistry
Ocean Circulation
Statistics
Regression and Analysis of Variance
Total Credits17-18

Catalog Department Overview ►

Roadmaps

Roadmaps provide suggested semester-by-semester study plans for programs and are based on full-time enrollment, unless otherwise specified.

  • This roadmap should be used in conjunction with regular academic advising sessions. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor or mentor each semester.
  • Certain courses and milestones must be completed in the specified semester to ensure on-time graduation.
  • Transfer credits may affect the roadmap.
  • Requirements, course availability, and sequencing may change.
  • Courses marked with (*) are recommended.

Climate Concentration

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
CHEM F105X74ATM F101X204
MATH F251X64CHEM F106X74
WRTG F111X13LS F101X151
General Education Requirement - Arts3MATH F252X164
General Education Requirement - Humanities3Complete one of the following:13
 
 
 
 17 16
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
MATH F253X16,204ATM F220 (*)231
PHYS F211X174MATH F302 (*)233
Degree Requirement - Alaska Native-themed53PHYS F212X174
Degree Requirement - Ethics3PHYS F220204
Complete one of the following:13General Education Requirement - Social Sciences3
 
 
 
 
 17 15
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ATM F40120,253ATM F41520,253
ATM F40720,253PHYS F30120,254
ATM F43320,253General Education Requirement - Social Sciences3
ATM F44520,253Concentration Course253
Concentration Course253 
 15 13
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ATM F31120,253Concentration Course3
ATM F41320,253Concentration Course3
ATM F45620,253General Elective3
Concentration Course253General Elective3
Concentration Course253 
 15 12
Total Credits 120

Footnote Definitions

General Education Requirements Degree Requirements Program & Other Requirements
1--Communication 8--Alaska Native-themed 20--Program Requirement
2--Arts 9--Communication 21--Capstone Requirement
3--Humanities 10--Computation 22--Concentration Course
4--Social Sciences 11--Ethics 23--General Elective
5--Additional Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences 12--Humanities 24--Minor Course
6--Mathematics 13--Human Relations 25--Upper Division
7--Natural Sciences 14--Humanities or Social Sciences 26--Program Elective
15--Library & Information Research
16--Mathematics
17--Natural Sciences
18--Other
19--Social Sciences

Forecasting Concentration

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
CHEM F105X74ATM F101X204
MATH F251X64CHEM F106X74
WRTG F111X13LS F101X151
General Education Requirement - Arts3MATH F252X164
General Education Requirement - Humanities3Complete one of the following:13
 
 
 
 17 16
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
MATH F253X16,204ATM F220 (*)231
PHYS F211X174MATH F302 (*)233
Degree Requirement - Alaska Native-themed53PHYS F212X174
Degree Requirement - Ethics3PHYS F220204
Complete one of the following:13General Education Requirement - Social Sciences3
 
 
 
 
 17 15
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ATM F40120,253ATM F41520,253
ATM F40720,253ATM F610, CE F344, CHEM F406, OCN F419, STAT F300, or STAT F40122,253
ATM F41320,253PHYS F30120,254
ATM F43320,253General Elective2
General Education Requirement - Social Sciences3 
 15 12
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ATM F31120,253ATM F44422,253
ATM F44322,254ATM F444L22,251
ATM F44520,253ATM F610, CE F344, CHEM F406, OCN F419, STAT F300, or STAT F401223
ATM F45620,253General Elective3
ATM F610, CE F344, CHEM F406, OCN F419, STAT F300, or STAT F401223General Elective2
 16 12
Total Credits 120

Footnote Definitions

General Education Requirements Degree Requirements Program & Other Requirements
1--Communication 8--Alaska Native-themed 20--Program Requirement
2--Arts 9--Communication 21--Capstone Requirement
3--Humanities 10--Computation 22--Concentration Course
4--Social Sciences 11--Ethics 23--General Elective
5--Additional Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences 12--Humanities 24--Minor Course
6--Mathematics 13--Human Relations 25--Upper Division
7--Natural Sciences 14--Humanities or Social Sciences 26--Program Elective
15--Library & Information Research
16--Mathematics
17--Natural Sciences
18--Other
19--Social Sciences

Catalog Department Overview ►

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes are specific, measurable statements that define the knowledge and skills students will gain by the end of the program.

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  • Demonstrate technical knowledge: Fundamental understanding of the components (dynamics, thermodynamics, radiation, cloud processes, and climate variations) of the Earth's atmosphere. Concentration-focused skills: 1) Forecasting concentration graduates will be able to develop forecasts of the atmosphere at various time and space scales and 2) Climate concentration graduates will be able to analyze climate data and information to understand climate variability and change.
  • Demonstrate ethical knowledge: Ethical guidelines are followed for all data collected and produced and for intellectual property
  • Demonstrate problem solving: Ability to engage in analytical thinking, problem solving and demonstrate subject expertise
  • Demonstrate written communication: Students should be able to compose clear text consisting of cogent arguments aimed at multiple audiences: professional and general audiences. Demonstrate oral communication: Students should be able to deliver a clear professional presentation for varied audiences (professional and general audiences) and field questions related to presentation with confidence and poise.