If you wish to work in weather services, you will likely need to meet qualifications similar to those required by the National Weather Service (NWS). The NOAA/NWS requirements are listed as “Meteorology Series 1340." This document is guidance on how to meet these requirements with classes available at Oregon State University.
NOAA/NWS Meteorology Series 1340 Individual (Basic) Requirements
Degree: Meteorology, Atmospheric Science or other natural science major that included at least 24 semester hours (36 quarter hours) in meteorology/atmospheric science including:
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6 semester hours (9 quarter hours) in Atmospheric Dynamics and Thermodynamics *
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6 semester hours (9 quarter hours) of analysis and prediction of weather systems (synoptic/mesoscale)
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3 semester hours (4.5 quarter hours) of physical meteorology; and
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2 semester hours (3 quarter hours) of remote sensing of the atmosphere and/or instrumentation.
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6 semester hours (9 quarter hours) of physics with at least one course that includes laboratory sessions. *
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3 semester hours (4.5 quarter hours) of ordinary differential equations.
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At least 9 semester hours (13.5 quarter hours) of course work for a physical science major in any combination of three or more of the following:
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Physical Hydrology
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Chemistry †
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Physical Climatology
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Aeronomy
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Computer Science †
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Advanced Electricity and Magnetism †
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Statistics †
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Physical Oceanography †
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Radiative Transfer
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Advanced Thermodynamics
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Light and Optics †
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* Prerequisite or corequisite of calculus for course work in atmospheric dynamics and thermodynamics, physics and differential equations. Calculus courses must be appropriate for a physical science major.
† Courses in the Climate Science degree fit these topics
If applying for a position within NOAA, be sure to provide an annotated unofficial transcript that notes which of your courses satisfy the requirements. For example, note that ATS 411 is a calculus-based science course, ST 351 is a rigorous statistics course, and that ATS 295 satisfies the Remote Sensing / Instrumentation requirement. The following table matches courses to the requirements.
How to Meet the NOAA/NWS MS1340 Basic Requirements
- Climate Science Degree or other natural science major that includes the following Meteorology/Atmospheric Science
Atmospheric Dynamics and Thermodynamics
(9 quarter hours)
- ATS 411 Thermodynamics and Cloud Microphysics (2.5 of 4)
- One-credit thermodynamics part of class used here
- Offered alternating even years
- ATS 420 Principles of Climate (4)
- ATS 415 Atmospheric Dynamics (4)
- Offered alternating even years
Analysis and Prediction of Weather Systems Synoptic/Mesoscale
(9 quarter hours)
- ATS 310 Meteorology (4)
- ATS 417 Weather System Dynamics and Forecasting (4)
- Offered alternating even years
- ATS 441 Northwest Weather and Climate (1 of 4)
Physical Meteorology
(4.5 quarter hours)
- ATS 411 Thermodynamics and Cloud Microphysics (2.5 of 4)
- Cloud physics part of class used here
- Offered alternating even years
- ATS 412 Atmospheric Radiation (2 of 3)
- Remote Sensing part of class could be used under Instrumentation
- Offered alternating even years
Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere and/or Instrumentation
(3 quarter hours)
- ATS 295 Observing Climate (3)
- ATS 412 Atmospheric Radiation (1 of 3)
- Remote sensing section used here
- Offered alternating even years
Physics
(9 quarter hours)
- PH 211 General Physics with Calculus (4)
- PH 212 General Physics with Calculus (4)
- PH 213 General Physics with Calculus (4)
Ordinary Differential Equations
(4.5 quarter hours)
- MTH 256 Applied Differential Equations (4)
- ATS 302 Mathematical Applications in the Earth Sciences (4) or MTH 452 Numerical Solution of Ordinary Differential Equations or MTH 481 Applied Ordinary Differential Equations (note MTH 452 and MTH 481 have additional MTH pre-reqs such as linear algebra)
Physical Science Course Work
(13.5 quarter hours)
- ATS 441 Northwest Weather and Climate (3)
- ATS 411 Cloud Microphysics and Thermodynamics (0.5)
- ATS 412 Radiation (1 if not used for Instrumentation requirement)
Include another 9-10 hours from the following, or other physical science course work:
- ST 351 Introduction of Statistical Methods (4)
- CH 231+261 General Chemistry (5)
- CH 232+262 General Chemistry (5)
- ATS 421 Climate Modeling (4)
- ATS 301 Climate Data Analysis (4)
- GEOG 323 Climatology (4)
Summary
A student on this path needs to make sure they take physics with calculus, math (including MTH 256), and 200/300-level ATS courses early enough to take all the ATS alt-year courses (ATS 411, 412, 415, 417) during their “junior” and “senior” years. ATS 302, while fulfilling the math requirement for the Climate Science degree will not alone meet the ordinary differential equations requirement above.
Competition for NWS positions is extremely high. A NWS internship (generally through the PATHWAYS internship program) and/or a graduate degree is essentially required these days. However, meeting the NOAA NWS curricular requirements can help with obtaining jobs in private industry and graduate programs.
Following these requirements can also work towards the
- AMS Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) Program
- AMS Certified Consulting Meteorologist (CCM) Program
The CBM requirements are very similar to NOAA/NWS requirements.
The CCM program requires at least 12 of 20 credits in the areas of:
- Atmospheric or Oceanographic Dynamics
- Atmospheric or Oceanographic Thermodynamics
- Physical Meteorology or Physical Oceanography
- Synoptic Meteorology (or Weather Systems) or Synoptic Oceanography
- Hydrology
Additional Resources
- OSU chapter of the American Meteorological Society organizes career-related activities throughout the school year.
- It is possible to take one or two online courses elsewhere. Mississippi State and Penn State offer some of these classes online. These courses are somewhat expensive to take (and not covered by federal financial aid), so please check with the Climate Science program head to verify that a particular class provides the right content and a similar OSU class is not available in a suitable time.
Since most NWS positions effectively require a Masters degree, students do not necessarily need to complete all of the coursework at the undergraduate level. Consider if graduate school or post-bacc courses can be part of a career plan.