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Atmospheric Sciences

See Multidisciplinary Programs.

E-mail: dept@uiatma.atmos.uiuc.edu

Although a formal undergraduate degree program is not offered by the Department of Atmospheric Sciences, a major may be created through the Individual Plans of Study Program and Atmospheric Sciences faculty members.

Atmospheric Sciences involves the application of physics, chemistry and mathematics to the study of problems ranging from the very small scale (formation of small aerosols and cloud particles, reactions between atmospheric gases) to regional scales (variations in local to regional weather, local air pollution) to global scales (changes in climate, changes in global chemistry and physics affecting the ozone layer). The broad spectrum of activities in the atmospheric sciences, including environmentally related studies, are represented by the education and research opportunities within the department.

Undergraduate course offerings include topics such as severe and unusual weather, climate and global change, atmospheric physics and chemistry, satellite and radar meteorology, weather analysis and forecasting, and several multidisciplinary courses intended for non-specialists including one which examines the role of interacting physical, biological, and human processes of the global Earth System in shaping the past, present, and future environments in Illinois.

Minor in Atmospheric Sciences

The minor in Atmospheric Sciences is designed for students who desire a significant background in Atmospheric Sciences to support work in their major field. This minor will especially benefit students who choose to pursue careers in environmental areas in which multidisciplinary background is essential. The Atmospheric Science minor can complement majors in engineering and agriculture, scientific pursuits such as chemistry, physics, biology, and scientific writing, or curricula preparatory to teaching in secondary schools. The requirements are:

Hours Requirements
6-9 Choose from the following1:
  ATMS 100 Introduction to Meteorology
  ATMS 120 Severe and Hazardous Weather
  ATMS 130 The Changing Earth System
  ATMS 140 Climate and Global Change
9-12 Choose from the following:
  ATMS 300 Weather Processes
  ATMS 401 Atmospheric Physics
  ATMS 402 Atmospheric Dynamics
  ATMS 403 Weather Analysis &Forecasting
  ATMS 410 Radar Meteorology
  ATMS 411 Satellite Remote Sensing
  ATMS 420 Atmospheric Chemistry
  ATMS 421 Earth Systems Modeling
  ATMS 430 Tropical Meteorology
  ATMS 491 Topics in Atmospheric Sciences
18 Total hours

1. Students may substitute 300- or 400-level ATMS courses for these credits (e.g., 3 hours of 100-level and 15 of 300/400 level courses).