The undergraduate concentration area in Atmospheric Science offers both a focus for Physical Geography within the Department, and potential job and career opportunities upon graduation. Much of the emphasis is on the physical basis of weather and climate as well as the use of quantitative techniques. Experience in these areas can lead to a wide range of career opportunities. Examples include: consulting and research for private companies, federal, state and local government; the National Weather Service (NWS, note you should contact NWS to determine current requirements for specific levels), and teaching positions in colleges and universities (after completion of appropriate graduate work -- also available at I.U. Geography).

Requirements for a Geography Major (25 credit hours min, 42 credit hours max)

•     i) G107 Physical Systems of the Environment  OR G109 Weather & Climate
•     ii) G110 Introduction to Human Geography OR  G120 World Regional Geography
•     iii) A course in Geographic Methods
•     iv) minimum of 9 credit hours at 300 or 400 level - see Core Courses below
•     v) minimum of 3 credit hours at 400 level

It is highly recommended that all 300 level courses be taken and that 400 level courses be taken after completion of at least two 300 level courses. For further information on any of the courses, email the instructor responsible or see descriptions of courses

• G250 Computer Methods in Geography (Robeson)
• G304  Physical Meteorology & Climatology (Pryor, Robeson)
• G336  Environmental Remote Sensing (Robeson)
• G350  Climatological Instrumentation and Field Methods (Dragoni)
• G400  Internship in Geographical Analysis (e.g. NWS, NCAR, Field work with faculty, Radio, TV station)
• G405  Hydroclimatology (Brown)
• G407 Climate Dynamics (Robeson)
• G433  Synoptic Meteorology and Climatology (Pryor)
• G434  Air Pollution Meteorology (Pryor)
• G436  Dynamic Meteorology
• G437  Topics in Mesoscale Meteorology
• G450   Directed Research or Readings (Arrange with faculty)
• G470  Micrometeorology (Brown)
• G471  Topics in Micro and Boundary Layer Meteorology
• G475  Climate Change (Pryor)
• G477  Advanced Climatology and Meteorology
• G489  Atmospheric Data Analysis (Robeson)

• G208 Human Impact on the Environment
• G237 Computer Cartography
• G305 Environmental Change (Pryor)
• G488 Applied Spatial Statistics
• G438 Intro. to Geographic Information Systems
• G439 Advanced Geographic Information Systems
• G440 Topics in Environmental Geography

Related Courses:

Some combination of these courses are strongly recommended, especially if you plan to enter graduate school or NWS:

Mathematics:

•  M211 - M212 Calculus I, II (4-4 cr.) (Old: M215-M216)
• M301 Applied Linear Algebra (3 cr)
• M343-M344 Introduction to differential equations with  applications I-II (3-3 cr)
Physics:
• P221- P222: Physics I, II (5-5 cr.)
• P310 Environmental Physics (3 cr)
Computing:
• G250 Computer Methods in Geography (3 cr) OR
• A201 Introduction to Computers and Programming (3 cr.) (Languages: Fortran & C)

  Skills Anticipated Upon Completion of Concentration Area
• Understanding of the physical processes involved in weather and climate at all spatial and temporal scales.
• Expertise in analysis of meteorological and climatological data, including statistical analysis, weather forecasting, and climate variations.
• Expertise with meteorological instruments and field techniques.

Atmospheric Science Minor (15 credit hours minimum)
• a) G107 or G109 (3)
• b) G235 (3)
• c) At least 6 credit hours from 300 or 400 level from the Atmospheric Science Core courses [G304 plus two more courses. Note other Geography courses may be substituted for one of these].

For further information contact
• Dr Sara Pryor (812 855-5155; SB 310)
Atmospheric Science Program     Tel: 812/855-6303
Department of Geography, 120 Student Building
Indiana University
Bloomington, IN, USA 47405-6101