Professional Electives (Meteorology Courses)

These are professional elective courses in Meteorology. In addition to all the required courses for the Meteorology major, you will need to select from these courses in order to fulfill your degree requirements.

You should consult Meteorology Course Offerings by Academic Year to see if one of the professional electives below is being offered in a particular semester.

  • METEO 215. WEATHER FORECAST PREPARATION LABORATORY (0.5 per semester, max. of 4).
    Forecast methods/data discussed prior to nightly weather forecast entry. Satisfactory performance will be determined by attendance and forecast accuracy. Concurrent: METEO 101, METEO 200A and METEO 200B, or METEO 201.
  • METEO 296 INDEPENDENT STUDIES (1-18).
  • METEO 395A INTERNSHIP IN METEOROLOGICAL COMMUNICATION
    (3 per semester/ maximum of 6) Meteorology internship focusing on communication of weather forecasts or other atmospheric information.
  • METEO 395B PRIVATE SECTOR METEOROLOGY INTERNSHIP
    (3 per semester/maximum of 6) Private sector internship focusing on atmospheric problems and applications.
  • METEO 395C INTERNSHIP IN METEOROLOGICAL OPERATIONS
    (3 per semester/maximum of 6) Internship focusing on time-sensitive operational meteorological applications such as weather or climate forecasts.
  • METEO 395D INTERNATIONAL METEOROLOGICAL INTERNSHIP
    (3 per semester/maximum of 6) An internship in an international setting that focuses on applying meteorological knowledge.
  • METEO 395E OFF-CAMPUS METEOROLOGICAL RESEARCH INTERNSHIP
    (3 per semester/maximum of 6) Meteorological internship focusing on an off-campus research project.
  • METEO 413 MAP ANALYSIS
    Analysis of actual surface weather observations, with emphasis on the Norwegian cyclone model, missing or bad data, and mesoscale phenomena. 
  • METEO 414 MESOSCALE METEOROLOGY
    A survey of conceptual models and analysis techniques for mesoscale atmospheric features.
  • METEO 415 FORECASTING PRACTICUM
    Modern techniques in weather analysis and forecasting.
  • METEO 416 ADVANCED FORECASTING
    Competitive, simulated, operational, real-time forecasting is covered. 
  • METEO 418W TOPICS IN MESOSCALE METEOROLOGY
    Topics in mesoscale meteorology will be investigated in an independent study environment through computer-based modules, papers, and semester project.
  • METEO 419. AIR QUALITY FORECASTING (3).
    Issues relating to the prediction and dispersion of air pollutants as discussed. Prerequisite: CHEM 110 and METEO 003 or METEO 101 or METEO 200A and METEO 201B or METEO 201
  • METEO 422. ADVANCED ATMOSPHERIC DYNAMICS (3).
    Survey of advanced dynamical topics including instabilities, numerical modeling, and others of current interest. Prerequisite: METEO 421.
  • METEO 434 RADAR METEOROLOGY
    Fundamental operating principles of radars, with application to observation of meteorological phenomena.
  • METEO 451. INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY (3).
    Air-sea interaction, wind-driven and thermohaline circulations, upwelling, El Nino, waves, and tides. Prerequisite: METEO 421
  • METEO 452 TROPICAL METEOROLOGY
    Atmospheric processes in the tropics; mass, heat, energy, momentum, and water vapor budgets, cumulus convection, hurricanes and other disturbances.
  • METEO 455 ATMOSPHERIC DISPERSION
    The basic principles of atmospheric flow, introduction to the modeling of turbulent diffusion, and the use of EPA dispersion models.
  • METEO 460 WEATHER RISK AND FINANCIAL MARKETS (3)
    This course will introduce the role that weather plays as a source of financial and operational risk for businesses, market and other institutions. METEO 411; E B F 472 or STAT 301; E B F 301 or EM SC 473
  • METEO 465 MIDDLE ATMOSPHERE METEOROLOGY
    A topical survey of physical, chemical, and dynamical processes at work in the stratosphere and mesosphere (middle atmosphere).
  • METEO 466 PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES
    A survey of planetary atmospheres and the chemical and physical processes by which they form and evolve.
  • METEO 471W OBSERVING METEOROLOGICAL PHENOMENA
    Teaching the observational and interpretative skills needed to read the sky.
  • METEO 477 (E E 477). FUNDAMENTALS OF REMOTE SENSING SYSTEMS (3).
    The review of fundamental physical properties leads into discussions of various techniques, including imaging, spectroscopy, radiometry, and active sensing. Prerequisite: E E 330 or METEO 436
  • METEO 480M or METEO 480W. UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH (3).
    A research thesis will be prepared and a written and oral presentation required. Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing as a meteorology major.
  • METEO 481 WEATHER COMMUNICATIONS I
    Multi-instructor weather communications survey including forecasting, science teaching and writing, television and radio broadcasting, climate studies, forensics, industrial applications.
  • METEO 482 WEATHER COMMUNICATIONS II
    Multi-instructor workshop designed to mimic real-life applications of weather communications in industry, broadcasting, the courtroom, and the classroom.
  • METEO 483 WEATHER COMMUNICATIONS III
    Individualized course designed for in-depth study of weather communications in industry, broadcasting, the courtroom and/or the classroom.
  • METEO 484 WEATHER COMMUNICATIONS APPRENTICESHIP
    Mentor-led course that focuses on a specific issue or problem in weather communications related to broadcasting, climate, or industry.
  • METEO 485 NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OPERATIONS (2 or 3)
    Joint instruction with lead personnel from the State College National Weather Service Office on a variety of operational weather topics.
  • METEO 486. CLIMATE STUDIES (1-3).
    An overview of the Pennsylvania State Climate Office and an introduction to various aspects of its operations. Prerequisite: METEO 101.
  • METEO 494. RESEARCH PROJECT (1-12).
    Supervised student activities on research projects identified on an individual or small-group basis.
  • METEO 495A METEOROLOGY COMMUNICATIONS INTERNSHIP
    (3 per semester/maximum of 6) Internship focusing on communication of weather forecasts or other meteorological information.
  • METEO 495B METEOROLOGY PRIVATE SECTOR INTERNSHIP
    (3 per semester/maximum of 6) Internship focusing on meteorological problems and applications pursued by private sector companies.
  • METEO 495C METEOROLOGICAL OPERATIONS INTERNSHIP
    (3 per semester/maximum of 6) Internship focusing on time-sensitive meteorological applications such as weather or climate forecasts that are produced.
  • METEO 495D METEOROLOGICAL INTERNATIONAL INTERNSHIP

    (3 per semester/maximum of 6) Meteorological internship in an international setting.

  • METEO 495E METEOROLOGICAL OFF-CAMPUS RESEARCH INTERNSHIP (3 per semester/ maximum of 6) Off-campus meteorological internship focusing on a research project.

  • METEO 496 INDEPENDENT STUDIES (1 -18)

  • METEO 498K. SUPERVISED TEACHING (1)