Year 2
Fall
GR 4633 Statistical Climatology
(Prerequisites: GR 1604 or GG 1113 or equivalent and MA 1313 or MA 1713) Two hours lecture. Two hours laboratory. A survey of the types of statistical weather data available. Manipulation of the data on various temporal and spatial scales.
GR 4713 Synoptic Meteorology I
(Prerequisites: GR 1604 or equivalent) Two hours lecture. Two hours laboratory. Fundamental principles behind weather forecasting. Physical processes in the atmosphere, atmospheric circulation systems, air mass analysis, frontogenesis and frontolysis.
Spring
GG 3613 Water Resources
(Prerequisite: GG 1113 or equivalent or consent of instructor) Three hours lecture. Introduction to the location, use, recovery and environmental problems of surface and subsurface waters.
GR 4753 Satellite & Radar Meteorology
(Prerequisites: GR 1604) Three hours lecture. Study of the history, the operations, and the applications of satellites and radar in weather analysis. Theory of meteorological measurements in determinations of atmospheric structure.
Summer
GR 4473 Numerical Weather Prediction
(Prerequisite: Consent of Instructor) This course provides students with an overview of the theory, processes, developments and applications of existing numerical weather prediction platforms.
GR 4613 Applied Climatology
(Prerequisites: GR 1604 or equivalent) Two hours lecture. Two hours laboratory. Problem solving in today's world in topics such as bioclimatology, agricultural climatology and land use climatology.
Year 3
Fall
GR 4623 Physical Meteorology
(Prerequisite: GR 1604) An investigation of cloud physics/precipitation processes and solar/terrestrial radiation, including atmospheric dynamics, atmospheric electricity, optics, and instrumentation.
GR 4913 Thermodynamic Meteorology
(Prerequisite: GR 4723/6723 or equivalent) Three hours lecture. Examination of the meteorological stability within the earth's atmosphere. Focus on analysis of the various stability indices related to predicting severe weather.
Spring
GR 4443 Weather Prediction I
(Prerequisite: GR 1604 or consent of instructor) Three hours video and online. Examination of the complexity of weather forecasting. Emphasis on numerical weather prediction, computer models, and mesoscale analysis.
GR 4923 Severe Weather
(Prerequisites: GR 4913/6913 or equivalent) Three hours lecture. Descriptive study of severe and unusual weather across the earth. Explanation of variations in severe weather in both spatial and temporal scales.
Summer
GG 3603 Intro to Oceanography
(Prerequisite: GG 1113) Three hours lecture. A survey of the basic principles and applications of science to the study of the marine environment.
GR 4453 Weather Prediction II
(Prerequisite: GR 4443 or consent of instructor) Three hours video and online. Continuation of GR 4443. Case studies of weather forecasts. Emphasis on special weather events and places.
Students seeking AMS, NWS, and/or WMO requirements should make the following adjustments to their program of study to include calculus-based courses:
- Take GR 4733 Synoptic Meteorology instead of GR 4713 Synoptic Meteorology I
- Take GR 4823 Dynamic Meteorology instead of GR 4913 Thermodynamic Meteorology
- Take GR 4963 Mesoscale Meteorology instead of GR 4923 Severe Weather
Additional courses are required to meet AMS, NWS, and/or WMO requirements: Dynamic Meteorology II, Calculus I-III, Differential Equations, 2-Calculus based Physics w/labs, and a Chemistry appropriate for science majors. Of these additional courses, MSU only offers Dynamics II online. Contact the advisor with any questions you may have.