Dear Student:

Thank you very much for your interest in the Meteorology/Oceanography program. Meteorology and Oceanography are wonderful careers both scientifically rewarding and useful to society. We hope this information will answer some of your questions.

If you are considering going into a career in Meteorology then the course of action you should take depends on your career goals. The Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science at the University of Maryland is a graduate Department and offers both the Master of Science (MS) and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees. Although it does not offer a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree with a major in Meteorology, it does offer opportunities to obtain a BS degree with a concentration in Meteorology, which could lead to admission to the MS program. We also offer a minor in Meteorology and Oceanography. However, in these days of increasing competition in the sciences, a Master of Science degree is becoming increasingly necessary for atmospheric science positions.

If your goal is to end your formal education with a BS with a major (not a minor) in Meteorology then the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic cannot help you. The American Meteorological Society publishes a book that lists the curricula of all of the departments in the US and Canada that offer degrees in Atmospheric, Oceanic, Hydrologic, and related sciences, and is available in most libraries. You can also order it from the AMS web page. In the vicinity of Maryland there are four Universities that offer BS degrees in Meteorology/Atmospheric Sciences: Millersville University of Pennsylvania, Millersville, Pennsylvania; North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina; Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania; and Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey.

If your goal is to obtain an MS or PhD, then our Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science can certainly help you. Since Meteorology/Oceanography are Physical Sciences, all students must have a good grasp of Mathematics and Physics if they are to succeed in the MS program or above. Of the students that we accept each year into the MS/PhD program, almost half have had no previous courses in Meteorology, but all have a good grounding in Mathematics and Physics.

Currently, the College of Computer, Mathematical and Physical Sciences offers a BS degree in Physical Sciences, with a concentration in Meteorology. This program includes courses in Mathematics and Physics at all levels, and three senior courses in Meteorology. Information on this program can be obtained through the Department of Physics (301 405 5979). The Physics Department also offers a BS in Physics with a concentration in Meteorology. As indicated above we offer a Minor program in Meteorology and Oceanography, which can be taken with most majors.

If you need more information on the Department please visit our homepage. If you wish to ask specific questions, please contact Dr. Robert D. Hudson, the undergraduate coordinator, at (301) 405-5394.