Degree Requirements

B.S. Major Program Requirements

Modern atmospheric science is a quantitative science that is reflected in the major’s curriculum. In addition to the study of daily weather events, the program deals with fundamental dynamical and physical processes that involve the general circulation of the atmosphere; turbulent mass and energy transfer at the planetary surface as well as within the free atmosphere; the transfer of solar and terrestrial radiation throughout the atmosphere; atmospheric interaction with the biosphere; climate variations; and developments in remote sensing using satellites with modern meteorological instrumentation. In addition, the program has significant expertise in the areas of air quality and its related atmospheric chemistry. As well as providing a broad background in meteorology, the major includes an informal minor area to be chosen from mathematics, computer science, environmental studies, resource management or a physical or biological science.

  UNITS
Total Units for the Major 123-125
Written Expression. Also counts toward College English Composition Requirement 4
University Writing Program 101 (UWP101) or one of UWP102A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,L,M,N or one of UWP104A,B,C,D,E,F,FV,FY,I,J,T or course selected with advisor's approval 4
Preparatory Subject Matter 63-65
Plant Sciences (PLS) 2 4
Chemistry (CHE) 2A, 2B 10
Engineering Computer Science (ECS) 32A or course selected with advisor's approval 4
Mathematics (MAT) 21A, 21B, 21C, 21D, (22A, 22B) or (27A, 27B) 22-24
Atmospheric Science (ATM) 60 4
Physics (PHY) 9A, 9B, 9C 15
Statistics (STA) 13 4
Depth Subject Matter 41
Atmospheric Science (ATM) 110, 111, 111LY, 120, 121A, 121B, 124, 128 28
Internship - Atmospheric Science (ATM) 192 or 199 2
Two upper division Atmospheric Science courses selected with advisor's approval, not including courses 192 and 199 7
Programming - Engineering 6 (ENG006) or Atmospheric Science 150 (ATM150) or course selected with advisor's approval 4
Restricted Electives 15
Coordinated group of courses (informal minor area) to be chosen with adviser's approval from mathematics, computer science, environmental studies, communication, resource management, or a physical or biological science (at least 10 upper division units) 15

Note: Alternative options for students who are interested in atmospheric science are to minor in ATM or to major in ESM choosing the climate change and air quality track. However, both the ATM minor and the ESM climate change and air quality track do not meet the Federal civil service requirements for meteorologists. 

Related Courses: See Environmental Science and Policy 150A; Physics 104A, 104B; Environmental and Resource Sciences 131.

Major Adviser: Kyaw Tha Paw U

Student Affairs Officer: Lacole Brooks

Advising Center for the major is located in 1150 Plant and Environmental Sciences Building in the Land, Air and Water Resources Teaching Center (530) 752-1603; lawradvising@ucdavis.edu.

B.S. Minor Program Requirements

The minor in Atmospheric Science provides a broad treatment of weather and climate, with the option to focus on such topics as climate change, meteorological instrumentation, and satellite remote sensing. Students undertaking the minor should have completed minimum preparatory course work in calculus and physics (Mathematics 016A-016B, Physics 005A or 007A). Some upper division courses in Atmospheric Science have the Mathematics 021 and 022 series and the Physics 009 series as prerequisites.

  UNITS
Total Units for the Minor 20‑24
Atmospheric Science (ATM) 60 and 110 8
Four courses selected with the approval of the minor program adviser from upper division Atmospheric Science courses (excluding 192 or 199) or Environmental Science and Management (ESM) 131 12‑16

Minor Adviser: Kyaw Tha Paw U