Minor in Climate Change Fluency – for students who want access to the key concepts and implications of global climate change, without having to complete several semesters of calculus and physics. This program is intended for non-science majors, but open to students of any major who want to improve their fluency in concepts related to global climate change so that they can confidently apply it within their own discipline.

Minor in Meteorology - for students who do not have  a prior interest to pursue graduate work in this field, but who might pursue careers where background in Meteorology is important, such as environmental policy, government, and industry.

Minor in Atmospheric Science - for students who might consider graduate work in atmospheric science, or prepare them for the very favorable job market in the Washington area where a background in Atmospheric Science can be an important asset.

Minor in Atmospheric Chemistry - for students who might consider graduate work in atmospheric chemistry pursue careers where such a background is needed, such as air pollution, atmospheric chemistry and environmental issues.

Note: These minor tracks are not open to AOSC majors, students who major in physical sciences with a concentration in meteorology or who major in physics with a concentration in meteorology physics.

This minor program is intended for non-science majors, but open to all majors other than atmospheric and oceanic science. It is designed to fill a critical need for climate literacy among professionals whose careers can benefit, such as journalists, policy makers, public health practitioners, investment and insurance professionals, etc. Students will be introduced to the science behind and evidence of both natural and anthropogenic climate factors and learn how to distinguish between climate science and climate policy as it relates to their intended career field.

It will provide the students with a general background in weather and climate as offered by the lower level courses and exposure to deeper exploration in the elective areas of the student’s choosing. This will include the ocean’s role in the climate system, climate change mitigation, visualizing climate data, climate attribution of extreme events, climate dynamics, paleoclimate, air quality, and more.

A total of 15 credits is required. All courses presented for the Minor must be passed with a grade of C- or better.

The following two courses are required:

·      AOSC/GEOL123 Causes and Consequences of Global Change

·      AOSC365 Climate Change: Cutting Through the Noise

Choose 3 electives; at least 2 of which need to be at the upper level:

·      AOSC200 Weather and Climate

·      AOSC247 Scientific Programming: Python

·      AOSC360 How to Solve the Climate Change Problem

·      AOSC/GEOL375 Introduction to the Blue Ocean

·      AOSC401 Climate Dynamics

·      AOSC/CHEM433: Atmospheric Chemistry and Climate

·      AOSC/GEOL437 Global Climate Change: Past and Present

·      AOSC/GEOG440 Polar Remote Sensing

·      *one 3 credit course not listed but in a closely related subject area may be used with approval of the minor program director

Courses with minimal pre-requisites are highlighted

This Minor will provide the students with a general background in Meteorology as offered by the lower level courses, and a broader background on a wide range of sub-fields in Meteorology and on current issues in Climate Research, as provided by the two required courses. It is aimed at students who wish to be informed about this field, who do not have an a priori interest to pursue graduate work in this field, but who might pursue careers where background in Meteorology is important, such as environmental policy, government, and industry.

A total of 15 credits is required. All courses presented for the Minor must be passed with a grade of C- or better.

The students must choose two electives from:

• AOSC 123 Causes and Implication of Global Change

• AOSC 200 Weather and Climate

• Any other 400 level course offered below as an elective

Two required courses:

• AOSC 400 Physical Meteorology of the Atmosphere

• AOSC 401 Global Environment

One additional elective from:

• Any 400 level courses offered in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science on a regular basis or from a list of non-permanent electives that will be offered by Research Scientists, regular faculty from Meteorology, or members of the Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center (ESSIC)

• Courses offered by the Departments of Geology and Geographical Sciences, such as:

• GEOL 437 Global Climate Change: Past and Present

• GEOL 452 Watershed and Wetland Hydrology

• GEOG 446 Applied Climatology

• GEOG 447 Advanced Biogeography

• GEOG 472 Remote Sensing

This minor will provide a general background in meteorology as offered by the lower level courses, and a solid background in Atmospheric Physics (AOSC 431) and Atmospheric Dynamics (AOSC 432), as offered b two required courses. It is aimed at students that might consider graduate work in Meteorology, or prepare them for the very favorable job market in the Washington area, where a background in Meteorology can be an important asset. Students attempting this minor will need as strong background in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry at the level of MATH 240 or 461, PHYS 270 and PHYS 271; CHEM 131 or CHEM 135, which are prerequisites for the required courses.

A total of 15 credits is required. All courses presented for the Minor must be passed with a grade of C- or better.

The students must choose two electives from:

• AOSC 123 Causes and Implication of Global Change

• AOSC 200 Weather and Climate

• AOSC 400 Physical Meteorology of the Atmosphere

Two required courses:

• AOSC 431 Atmospheric Thermodynamics

• AOSC 432 Dynamics of the Atmosphere and Ocean

One additional elective from:

• Any 400 level courses offered in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science on a regular basis or from a list of non-permanent electives that will be offered by Research Scientists, regular faculty from AOSC, or members of the Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center (ESSIC)

• Courses offered by the Departments of Geology and Geographical Sciences, such as:

• GEOL 437 Global Climate Change: Past and Present

• GEOL 452 Watershed and Wetland Hydrology

• GEOG 446 Applied Climatology

• GEOG 447 Advanced Biogeography

• GEOG 472 Remote Sensing

This Minor will provide the students with a general background in Meteorology as offered by the lower level required courses, and a background on issues in Atmospheric Chemistry. It is intended for students who might pursue careers where background in Atmospheric Chemistry is needed, such as Air Pollution, Atmospheric Chemistry, and environmental issues. It is aimed at students that might consider graduate work in Atmospheric Chemistry, or prepare them for a very favorable job market in the Washington area, where a background in Meteorology can be an important asset. Students attempting this minor will need a strong background in mathematics, Physics and Chemistry at the level of MATH 240 or 461, PHYS 270 and PHYS 271, CHEM 481 (preferred) or CHEM 131 or CHEM 135, which are prerequisites for the required courses.

A total of 15 credits is required. All courses presented for the Minor must be passed with a grade of C- or better.

The students must choose two electives from:

• AOSC 123 Causes and Implication of Global Change

• AOSC 200 Weather and Climate

• Any other 400 level course offered below as an elective

Two of the following three required courses:

• AOSC 431 Atmospheric Thermodynamics

• AOSC 433 Atmospheric Chemistry

• AOSC 434 Air Pollution

One additional elective from:

• CHEM 474 Environmental Chemistry

• GEOL 471 Geochemical Methods of Analysis

• Any 400 level courses offered in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science on a regular basis or from a list of non-permanent electives that will be offered by Research Scientists, regular faculty from AOSC, or members of the Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center (ESSIC)

• Courses offered by the Departments of Geology and Geographical Sciences, such as:

• GEOL 437 Global Climate Change: Past and Present

• GEOL 452 Watershed and Wetland Hydrology

• GEOG 446 Applied Climatology

• GEOG 447 Advanced Biogeography

• GEOG 472 Remote Sensing

To apply for a minor track, please contact the advising team: aosc-advise@umd.edu