BS in Environmental Sciences with Emphasis in Atmosphere
Degree Program Description
The Environmental Science degree combines interests in predicting and understanding weather patterns, monitoring environmental change, conserving and managing soil and biological organisms, assuring healthy streams and adequate water supplies, improving environmental quality with the shaping of new policies and educating others about the natural environment and environmental issues. Example careers include Atmospheric Scientist, Climatologist, Hydrologist, and Meteorologist. Employment may occur in a variety of sectors, including federal, state, county and city government.
Major Program Requirements
The degree combines interests in predicting and understanding weather patterns, monitoring environmental change, conserving and managing soil and biological organisms, assuring healthy streams and adequate water supplies, and improving environmental quality with the shaping of new policies and educating others about the natural environment and environmental issues. Example careers include Atmospheric Scientist, Climatologist, Hydrologist, and Meteorologist. Employment may occur in a variety of sectors, including federal, state, county and city government agencies, non-government agencies (NGOs), and private consulting firms.
Students earning a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences are required to complete all University general education, University graduation, and degree requirements, including selected foundational courses, which may fulfill some University general education requirements.
Foundational
| MATH 1100 | College Algebra | 3-5 |
| or MATH 1160 | Precalculus Mathematics | |
| MATH 1400 | Calculus for Social and Life Sciences I | 3-5 |
| or MATH 1500 | Analytic Geometry and Calculus I | |
| CHEM 1320 | College Chemistry I | 4 |
| Economics/Business Elective (select from ABM, ECONOM, FINPLN, FINANC, MANGMT, MRKTNG) | 3 | |
| ENV_SC 1100 | Introduction to Environmental Science | 3 |
| ABM 2123 | Quantitative Applications in Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences | 3 |
| or STAT 1200 | Introductory Statistical Reasoning | |
| AGSC_COM 2220 | Verbal Communication in Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources | 3 |
| ATM_SC 1050 | Introductory Meteorology | 3 |
| NAT_R 2325 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | 3 |
| or GEOG 3040 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems GIS | |
| ENV_SC 4560 | Observing the Earth from Space | 3 |
| or ABM 1200 | Applied Computer Applications | |
Core Emphasis Requirements
| Mathmatical Science | ||
| MATH 1160 | Precalculus Mathematics | 5 |
| MATH 1500 | Analytic Geometry and Calculus I | 5 |
| MATH 1700 | Calculus II | 5 |
| MATH 2300 | Calculus III | 3 |
| MATH 4100 | Differential Equations | 3 |
| Physics | ||
| PHYSCS 2750 | University Physics I | 5 |
| PHYSCS 2760 | University Physics II | 5 |
| Additional Emphasis Area Requirements | ||
| ATM_SC 2720 | Weather Briefing | 2 |
| ATM_SC 3600 | Climates of the World | 3 |
| ATM_SC 4710 | Synoptic Meteorology I | 4 |
| ATM_SC 4310 | Atmospheric Thermodynamics | 4 |
| ATM_SC 4550 | Physical Meteorology | 3 |
| ATM_SC 4590 | Radar Meteorology | 3 |
| ATM_SC 4720W | Synoptic Meteorology II - Writing Intensive | 4 |
| Capstone Experience | ||
| ATM_SC 4320 | Atmospheric Dynamics | 4 |
| Electives approved by professional advisor to complete 120 credit total; select at least one additional writing intensive course | 20 | |
Accelerated BS in Environmental Sciences with Emphasis in Atmosphere to MS in Natural Resources with Emphasis in Soil, Environmental and Atmospheric Sciences
The accelerated option will allow students to earn a bachelors and masters degree within five years.
Total credits required for graduation must be at least 140 total credit hours:
- Total undergraduate credit hours: 114
- Total dual enrollment credit hours: 14
- Total graduate credit hours: 18
| Required Core Courses | ||
| At least 15 credit hours must be 8000-level & above | ||
| ATM_SC 7310 | Atmospheric Thermodynamics * | 4 |
| ATM_SC 7320 | Atmospheric Dynamics * | 4 |
| ATM_SC 8085 | Problems in Atmospheric Science ** | 3 |
| NAT_R 9087 | Graduate Seminar in Natural Resources ** | 1 |
| ATM_SC 8090 | Masters Research in Atmospheric Science | 1-99 |
- *
Taken during first year as Provisional Graduate Student.
- **
Taken in second year as Graduate Student.
ATM_SC 8085 Problems in Atmospheric Science is a requirement for M.S. students on the atmospheric science track. It is a generalized atmospheric science class testing students’ all-round fundamental knowledge of atmospheric science at a graduate level. All students are required to take NAT_R 9087 Graduate Seminar in Natural Resources.
| Year 1 of Master's (as Provisional Graduate Student - Dual Credit, Atmosphere Track) | 14 | |
| ATM_SC 7310 | Atmospheric Thermodynamics | 4 |
| ATM_SC 7320 | Atmospheric Dynamics | 4 |
| Atmospheric Science 7000-level Elective | 3 | |
| Atmospheric Science 8000-level Elective | 3 | |
| Year 2 of Master's (As Graduate Student) | 18 | |
| ATM_SC 8085 | Problems in Atmospheric Science | 3 |
| NAT_R 9087 | Graduate Seminar in Natural Resources | 1 |
| ATM_SC 8090 | Masters Research in Atmospheric Science | 5 |
| Atmospheric Science 8000-level & above | 9 | |
Thesis
Thesis is required for students to completed the degree.
For general information on how accelerated programs work, and for guidance on participation, refer to Accelerated Programs.
Semester Plan
Below is a sample plan of study, semester by semester. A student's actual plan may vary based on course choices where options are available.
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| MATH 1500 | 5 | MATH 1700 | 5 | ||
| HIST 1100 or POL_SC 1100 | 3 | AGSC_COM 2220 | 3 | ||
| ENV_SC 1100 | 3 | ATM_SC 2720 | 2 | ||
| ATM_SC 1050 | 3 | NAT_R 2325 | 3 | ||
| ENGLSH 1000 | 3 | ||||
| 14 | 16 | ||||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| MATH 2300 | 3 | ATM_SC 3600 | 3 | CHEM 1320 | 4 |
| FINPLN 2183 | 3 | MATH 4100 | 3 | ||
| PHYSCS 2750 | 5 | PHYSCS 2760 | 5 | ||
| ATM_SC 2022 | 3 | Related Disciplinary Elective | 3 | ||
| 14 | 14 | 4 | |||
| Third Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| ATM_SC 4710 | 4 | ATM_SC 4590 | 3 | ||
| ATM_SC 4550 | 3 | Humanities Elective | 3 | ||
| ENV_SC 4560 | 3 | ATM_SC 4720W | 4 | ||
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 | ||
| Humanities Elective-Lower Level WI | 3 | ||||
| 16 | 13 | ||||
| Fourth Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| ATM_SC 4310 | 4 | ATM_SC 4320 | 4 | ||
| Elective | 6 | Related Disciplinary Electives | 9 | ||
| ENV_SC 2600 | 3 | Elective | 3 | ||
| 13 | 16 | ||||
| Total Credits: 120 | |||||
Degree Audit
The degree audit is an automated report reflecting a student’s academic progress toward the completion of a degree.
MU students can request a degree audit by logging in to myDegreePlanner. Students may also access myDegreePlanner via myZou, in the Student Center, click on the Academic Progress Tile, then select Request Degree Audit. The audit automatically pulls in the student’s MU course work, transfer courses and courses in progress. This is available to current students, admitted students, and those who last attended less than three terms ago.
Past MU students can request a degree audit by contacting the Academic Advising Unit of the division in which they were last enrolled at MU. For contact information, go to https://advising.missouri.edu/contact/.
Prospective students, can access a preliminary MU degree audit via https://www.transferology.com. Information on the college credits already earned will have to be manually entered before it can be evaluated against current degree requirements.
For additional details on degree audits, go to https://registrar.missouri.edu/degrees-audits/degree-audits/.
Major and Career Exploration
The University of Missouri has many resources to assist you in exploring majors and career possibilities. For guidance, visit the Majors and Careers website or view specific resources below.
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If you are considering a change of major or are exploring multiple majors, schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Discovery Center by calling (573)884-9700 or through MU Connect Discovery Center service in you success network.
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If you have decided on a major, visit an academic advisor in the School or College that you are interested in to discuss the process of declaring the major.
- If you would like to learn more about your career interests, abilities, values and talents, visit the MU Career Center. No Appointment is necessary to explore career options with one of our staff members.
- If you would like information about MU majors and degree programs, visit:
- the Degrees, Majors (Degree Programs), Emphasis Areas, Minors and Certificates page in the catalog,
- the MU Majors website.
For additional major and career exploration resources, visit Major & Career Exploration in the catalog.