Graduate Program Application Information

Stony Brook Graduate School

Undergraduate Admissions

About Stony Brook Southampton

Stony Brook at a Glance
Overview   |   Degrees   |   Research Opportunities & Financial Support   |   Education Home

Bachelor of Science in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences

* For most up to date and official degree description see the undergraduate bulletin.

Overview

SoMAS is one of the nation’s leading coastal oceanographic and atmospheric institutions, and the expertise of SoMAS’ faculty places SBU in the forefront in addressing and answering questions about regional environmental problems, as well as problems relating to the global ocean and atmosphere. The primary focus of the SoMAS faculty is on fundamental research designed to increase understanding of the processes that characterize the coastal ocean and the atmosphere. SoMAS faculty are also committed to applying the results of research to solve problems arising from society’s uses and misuses of the environment. SoMAS includes mission oriented institutes in several major areas: the Institute for Terrestrial and Planetary Atmospheres, the Living Marine Resources Institute, the Institute for Ocean Conservation Science, the Long Island Groundwater Resource Institute, and the Waste Reduction and Management Institute. These institutes add a wealth of varied resources to education and research.

The SoMAS offers undergraduate majors in atmospheric and oceanic sciences, environmental studies, marine sciences, and marine vertebrate biology; and minors in environmental studies and marine sciences. See the separate entries for environmental studies (ENS), marine sciences (MAR), and marine vertebrate biology (MVB) in the alphabetical listings of Approved Majors, Minors, and Programs. The SoMAS also offers several cooperative programs with departments in the College of Arts and Sciences (Chemistry, Biology, and Geosciences) and the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences (Chemical and Molecular Engineering). See the entries for those programs in the alphabetical listings of Approved Majors, Minors, and Programs for more information. Research opportunities in marine sciences, atmospheric sciences, environmental studies, and waste management are available to undergraduates. Information on research opportunities may be found by contacting faculty directly or on the SoMAS website at http://www.somas.stonybrook.edu.

Courses

Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences

Marin Sciences

Requirements

The major in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences leads to the Bachelor of Science degree. Two tracks of study are available in the major. One is intended for students wishing to learn about the physical behavior of the atmosphere and its application to weather forecasting and the other track is for students who wish to learn about physical phenomena in the atmosphere and the oceans and their interactions.

Of the 65 credits required for the major, at least 61 credits must be passed with a letter grade of C or higher.

Completion of the major requires approximately 65 credits.

The core courses for both tracks are as follows:

  1. Required Courses in Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, and Computer Science
    1. MAT 131 and 132 Calculus I and II(see note below)
    2. MAT 203 Calculus III with Applications or MAT 205 Calculus III or AMS 261 Applied Calculus III
    3. CHE 131 General Chemistry I or CHE 141 Honors Chemistry I
    4. PHY 125, 126, 127 Classical Physics A, B, and C or PHY 131/133, 132/134 Classical Physics I and II with labs or PHY 141, 142 Classical Physics I and II: Honors
    5. PHY 277 Computation for Physics and Astronomy or ESG 111 C Programming for Engineers or CSE 130 Introduction to Programming in C
  2. Required Departmental Courses
    1. ATM 205 Introduction to Atmospheric Sciences
    2. ATM 247 Atmospheric Structure and Analysis
    3. ATM 345 Atmospheric Thermodynamics and Dynamics
    4. ATM 348 Atmospheric Physics
    5. ATM 397 Air Pollution and Its Control
    6. MAR 334 Remote Sensing
    7. MAR 350 Ocean Physics
  3. Additional Requirements for the Meteorology Track
    1. CHE 132 General Chemistry II or CHE 142 Honors Chemistry II
    2. MAT 303 or MAT 305 Calculus IV with applications or AMS 361 Applied Calculus
    3. ATM 346 Advanced Atmospheric
    4. Dynamics ATM 347 Advanced Synoptic Meteorology
    5. PHY 251 Modern Physics or ATM 320 Spatial Data Analysis Using Matlab
    6. In this track, students learn both the mathematics and physics governing atmospheric behavior and apply this knowledge to forecasting the weather using realtime data received at our weather laboratory. Opportunities are available for students to gain additional practical experience by working under cooperative agreements at two nearby NOAA weather forecasting installations as well as local TV stations. Students graduating in this track will have satisfied all of the coursework recommended by the American Meteorological Society for undergraduate training in meteorology and also the course work required by NOAA for certification as an entrylevel government meteorologist. Students graduating in this track will have taken the coursework necessary for graduate study leading to degrees that prepare them for research and teaching positions in the atmospheric sciences. Students are also prepared for positions in other technically related fields.
  4. Additional Requirements for the Atmosphere/Oceanic Track
    1. AMS 102 Elements of Statistics
    2. AMS 394 Statistical Lab or AMS 210 Linear Algebra
    3. ATM 320 Spatial Data Analysis Using Matlab
    4. MAR 333 Coastal Oceanography
    5. MAR 340 Environmental Problems and Solutions or ENS 301 Contemporary Environmental Issues
    6. This track is not intended for students who are interested in the NOAA/ National Weather Service or graduate school in atmospheric science. Rather, students graduating in this track receive a solid background in statistics, atmospheric science, and oceanography and are therefore well qualified for jobs in the private sector (instrument companies,
      weather and climatology consultants, weather support for major industry such as airlines and utilities, as well as forecast and climate modeling companies). The oceanrelated courses also help those students who are interested in the M.S. graduate program in physical oceanography. Students are also prepared for positions in other technically related fields.
      Note: The following alternate beginning calculus sequences may be substituted for major requirements or prerequisites: MAT 125, 126, 127 or 141, 142 or MAT 171 or AMS 151, 161 for MAT 131, 132. Equivalency for MAT courses achieved by earning the appropriate score on a placement test is accepted as fulfillment of the requirement without the necessity of substituting other credits.
  5. Upper-Division Writing Requirement
    All students majoring in Atmospheric Sciences/Meteorology must submit two papers from required departmental courses (term papers, laboratory reports, or independent research papers) to the director of undergraduate studies for evaluation by the end of the junior year. If this evaluation is satisfactory, the student has fulfilled the upperdivision writing requirement. If it is not, the student must fulfill the requirement before graduation.

Sample Course Sequence (Meteorology Track)

Freshman Fall
Credits
   Spring
Credits
First Year Seminar 101
1
   First Year Seminar 102
1
D.E.C. A
3
   D.E.C. A
3
MAT 131
4
   MAT 132
4
CHE 131 0r 141
4
   CHE 132 or 142
4
PHY131/133 or PHY 141
4
   PHY 132/134 or PHY 142
4
Total
16
   Total
16
 
Sophomore Fall
Credits
   Spring
Credits
ATM 205
3
   AMS 247
3
MAT 203 or 205 or AMS 261 or PHY 251
4
   MAT 203 or 205 or AMS 261 or PHY 251 or ATM 320
4
PHY 277 or ESG 111 or CSE 130
3
   D.E.C.
3
D.E.C.
3
   D.E.C.
3
D.E.C.
3
   D.E.C.
3
Total
16
   Total
16
 
Junior Fall
Credits
   Spring
Credits
ATM 345
3
   ATM 346
3
MAT 303 or 305 or AMS 361
3
   ATM 348 or 397
3
D.E.C.
3
   D.E.C.
3
D.E.C.
3
   Upper Division Elective
3
D.E.C.
3
   Elective
3
Total
15
   Total
15
 
Senior Fall
Credits
   Spring
Credits
ATM 347
3
   ATM 348 or 397
3
MAR 334
3
   MAR 350
2
Upper-Division Elective
3
   Upper-Division Elective
3
Elective
3
   Elective
3
Elective
3
   Elective
3
Total
15
   Total
14

Sample Course Sequence (Oceanography Track)

Freshman Fall
Credits
   Spring
Credits
First Year Seminar 101
1
   First Year Seminar 102
1
D.E.C. A
3
   D.E.C. A
3
MAT 131
4
   MAT132
4
CHE 131 or 141
4
   AMS 102
3
PHY131/133 or PHY 141
4
   PHY 132/134 or PHY 142
4
Total
16
   Total
15
 
Sophomore Fall
Credits
   Spring
Credits
ATM 205
3
   ATM 247
3
MAT 203 or 205 or AMS 261
4
   MAT 203 or 205 or AMS 261
4
PHY 277 or ESG 111 or CSE 130
3
   D.E.C.
3
D.E.C.
3
   D.E.C.
3
D.E.C.
3
   Elective
3
Total
16
   Total
16
 
Junior Fall
Credits
   Spring
Credits
ATM 345
3
   ATM 320 or 348
3
AMS 394
3
   MAR 333
3
D.E.C.
3
   MAR 340 or ENS 301
3
D.E.C.
3
   D.E.C.
3
D.E.C.
3
   Elective
3
Total
15
   Total
15
 
Senior Fall
Credits
   Spring
Credits
MAR 334
3
   ATM 397
3
Upper-Division Elective
3
   MAR 350
2
Elective
3
   ATM 320 or 348
3
Elective
3
   Upper-Division Elective
3
Elective
3
   Elective
3
Total
15
   Total
14


 

Copyright 2010 School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, All Rights Reserved | SoMAS, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-5000, USA
General Information Contact: Communications Manager | Site Information Contact: Webmaster | Disclaimer.
Site designed by Academic Web Pages.