List of Meteorology Schools in the US
Do you see yourself working in the field of meteorology at some point in the future? It’s possible that attending a meteorology school might be the most beneficial educational path for you to take. As a result of the high level of specialization required, we do not frequently hear of well-known universities and schools offering this (except perhaps at Harvard where they offer Backyard Meteorology as a free online course).
We will go through in sufficient depth the details and educational institutions to which you should give thought about applying. This includes the National Weather Service, which is the government entity responsible for supervising all activities relating to meteorology.
What is NWS?
What is National Weather Service and how does it help meteorology schools in the US? For the purpose of preventing loss of life and property and boosting the country’s overall economy, the National Weather Service issues weather, hydrologic, and climate predictions and alerts for the United States of America, its territories, and the waterways and ocean areas near those areas.
This objective is performed through issuing warnings and forecasts regarding potentially dangerous weather, such as thunderstorms, flooding, hurricanes, tornadoes, winter weather, tsunamis, and climatic events. [Case in point: monitoring of Tropical Cyclone Karl in the Atlantic]
The National Weather Service is the only governmental agency in the United States that is authorized to issue weather warnings when conditions pose a risk to human life. As a result, they are in the position necessary to monitor institutions and determine whether or not they satisfy the requirements imposed by their respective agencies.
How was NWS formed?
How did the NWS come to be? The beginning of the National Weather Service we know today started on February 9th, 1870, when President Ulysses S. Grant signed a joint resolution of Congress authorizing the Secretary of War to establish a national weather service.
The Weather Bureau remained under the Department of Agriculture until 1940 when it was transferred to the Department of Commerce.
The Weather Bureau was renamed the National Weather Service and, in 1970, was placed under the newly created National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) which remains under the Department of Commerce.
What are some meteorology schools in the US?
Where can one obtain an education in meteorology in the United States? Finding those colleges can require a significant amount of research, but we’ve already done the legwork for you so you don’t have to worry about it.
By making use of this information, you will be prepared to carry out the significant job that is involved in meteorology. These schools will provide you with the resources you require, whether you want to be on television forecasting the weather or you want to study the effects of pollution on air quality in a laboratory.
The following are some of the most reputable meteorology schools in the US; all of them meet the degree standards that have been established by the National Weather Service:
Cornell University
It should come as no surprise that the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University is at the top of this list. Not only is it the only Ivy League university included on this list, but it is also the only Ivy League institution that offers a major in atmospheric sciences. Our previous article ‘Why Choose Cornell University Among Ivy League Schools? might be a good read for you.
The university provides all of the amenities that one would anticipate from an institution of its standing, such as access to a variety of resources, one of which is the Northeast Regional Climate Center. The center is supported financially by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and it collaborates with the National Climatic Data Center, the National Weather Service, and other organizations in order to collect data on and keep track of changes in the atmosphere in the northeast.
The majors offered by the College at Cornell are characterized by their intimate classroom settings, which provide students with exceptional opportunities to collaborate directly with teachers. Students develop close relationships with their lecturers, which gives them access to a wealth of knowledge as well as opportunities to participate in research initiatives. But don’t let its outstanding quality deceive you. The Department of Atmospheric Sciences at Cornell University works in collaboration with the State University of New York system.
Because of this, the tuition for the program is significantly lower than that of an Ivy League school and much more comparable to that of a SUNY institution.
Ohio State University
Second, on our list of meteorology schools in the US to consider is Ohio State University. The study of meteorology at this university presents students with challenges that go beyond those presented in the classroom.
The actions that the students carry out within their Meteorology Club provide tangible evidence of the passion that they hold for the subject. The club recently hosted its 25th Annual Severe Weather Symposium, where they invited specialists from all over the world, including former students and faculty members of the institution. Members collaborated to move their studies ahead by sharing their findings and research projects and working together to do so.
The club is an essential component in ensuring that the program remains on the cutting edge. Over the course of many years, the advocacy efforts of the club have made it possible for the department to acquire new resources, such as a system of solar-powered instruments and data logger technology.
Students will be able to study variations in the weather now that they have access to this material.
University of California, Davis
The program in Atmospheric Science at the University of California, Davis, features small class sizes and increased opportunities for interaction with faculty members. This program is housed in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Science and is a part of the Department of Land, Air, and Water Resources.
Students conduct observations, make use of specialized instruments, develop advanced theoretical frameworks, and construct models while being closely supervised by teachers and mentors.
Students in the program collaborate closely with scientists from a variety of disciplines to identify new lines of investigation, which fosters students who are both thoughtful and innovative.
The efforts put in by these students have been acknowledged by professional organizations such as the American Meteorological Society (AMS). Because of the work that they did investigate the impact that climate change and climate variability have on ozone pollution, undergraduate researchers participating in the program were awarded two of the six scholarships that were made available by the American Meteorological Society (AMS).
In addition, students at Davis have the opportunity to participate in initiatives such as the Extreme Weather group. The members of the group do research on a variety of severe weather phenomena, including extratropical and tropical cyclones, atmospheric blocks, and other phenomena. They investigate the possibility of socioeconomic damage being caused by the events in question.
University of Georgia
In spite of the fact that the University of Georgia’s major in atmospheric sciences is a relatively recent addition to the list of meteorology schools in the US, it has already distinguished itself as being among the very best in the United States. This new major in atmospheric sciences better satisfies the requirements of potential employers in the field, building on the school’s prior success with its undergraduate certificate in atmospheric sciences.
The American Meteorological Society’s requirements have been satisfied by the major, which now places a greater emphasis on research and features a more comprehensive set of courses.
Because of this modification, the new curriculum is ideally suited for individuals who are interested in pursuing a career in the field of meteorology. This degree satisfies the qualifications set forth by the federal government for employment in the public service as a meteorologist, as well as the educational prerequisites necessary to become a Certified Broadcast Meteorologist.
Graduates of the curriculum can be found working in a variety of fields, including broadcast television, the National Weather Service, disaster management, the energy and utility industries, and more.
University of Miami
Next on our list of meteorology schools in the US to consider is University of Miami.
Students at the Rosensteil School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Miami have the opportunity to work on projects that are at the forefront of their fields of study at the Department of Atmospheric Sciences. The Rosensteil School gives its pupils the opportunity to take part in innovative research initiatives, taking advantage of the fact that it is situated in an area that is known for having particularly interesting weather.
These projects include a group called the atmospheric chemistry group, which is working to understand the impact that gases and particles play in affecting our climate and our overall air quality.
Participants in the group travel to a variety of environments, such as woods, urban areas, high-latitude oceans, and others, in order to collect readings and measurements, which they then use to study the impact that atmospheric chemistry has on both human health and the climate.
Cloud processes are being investigated by the scientists participating in the program, with a focus on the consequences of how these processes interact with one another and with radiation. As a result of their work at the Cloud-Aerosol-Rain-Observatory in the south of Florida, these scientists have developed a deeper comprehension of the ways in which pollution and smoking influence both air quality and climate.
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
“Science-driven engineering at its best!” This is how the Climate and Space Sciences Engineering department at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor promotes itself to prospective students. This is a bold claim, but one that is supported by the exceptional meteorology program that they have.
Since its inception in 1954, this program has placed an emphasis on research, instructing students in the principles of science while also fostering innovation to match more contemporary discoveries. This illustrious tradition is still upheld at the institution today.
Major studies include theoretical and modeling work, which establish techniques to track ocean waves and currents, as well as the impact of naturally occurring and man-made aerosols on climate, and a variety of other topics.
The teaching staff and the student body conduct joint investigations into the chemistry of the lower atmosphere and the overall air quality. They work together to develop novel methods of sensing climate change, including devices and chemical chains.
The job is difficult, but the school guarantees that this will be engineering at its very best, driven by scientific research.
University of South Alabama
Seventh on our list of meteorology schools in the US worth mentioning is the University of South Alabama.
The curriculum provides students with all of the essential academic training, but it also places a strong emphasis on operational and applied meteorology. Many students pursue graduate degrees.
Students receive preparation for the job market through real-time forecasts as well as real-world experience. They have the opportunity to perform an internship at the fully functional weather company that is located on the site, the Coastal Weather Research Center.
The cutting-edge broadcast studio at the institution makes use of the same professional broadcast meteorology software that is utilized by a number of television stations. Over the course of the past 15 years, students who major in broadcasting have had a success record of getting jobs that is greater than 93%.
The institution provides a wide variety of extracurricular activities, such as possibilities for research, fieldwork within our network of professional-quality weather stations, and educational outreach to the local community.
University of Wisonsin, Madison
We have come to the last portion of our list of meteorology schools in the US, and we’re giving it to University of Wisconsin, Madison.
The Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Department has achieved a level of quality that is unparalleled in its field because of the department’s faculty, which consists of 18 professors who are experts in a wide range of fields, including climate sciences, weather systems, and more.
In addition to gaining a grasp of the atmosphere and ocean in order to make accurate forecasts of the weather, students and faculty members are exposed to some of the most significant challenges facing our society today.
Participants in the program investigate the chemistry of the air, as well as the radiation from the sun and the earth, clouds, precipitation, and other environmental factors that have an impact on our standard of living.
The accomplishments of the school’s various programs and projects contributed, at least in part, to the overall success of the institution. Recent events led to the institution’s selection as a partner community for the Bridge Program run by the American Geophysical Union. With these resources, the program will be able to continue to recruit people of underrepresented populations and keep them in the program.
Final thoughts
The study of the weather is extremely complicated and subject to a lot of flux. Not only is it human nature to be curious about the upcoming day’s forecast, but meteorology also ranks among the most challenging and significant of all scientific subfields.
In meteorology school, students deal with the realities of climate change and the influence that humans have on the atmosphere, in addition to studying how to appear on broadcast television. Students also study how to forecast the weather. Because of this, the study of the atmosphere is considered to be one of the most vital aspects of the scientific community. They discuss occurrences that will carry on having an impact on our day-to-day existence.
Because it is of such vital significance, quality programs in meteorology and the atmospheric sciences require knowledgeable instructors, resources, and facilities that are up to date with the demands of the times.
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