Course Information

Although there are stated prerequisites for almost every course, any course may be taken with permission of the instructor. Lecture and laboratory hours per week are given in parentheses following credit hours listed for each course. For example, (3:0) denotes three lecture hours and no lab hours per week. Lab courses will have lab fees and materials fees in addition to tuition charges.

Undergraduate Courses

ATSC 2101 - Weathercasting 1 sem. hrs. (1:0) This course is to practice in preparing and presenting weathercasts for radio and television. The instructors of this course will provide the students with: (1) information in the form of lectures and supplemental readings; (2) opportunities to practice weathercasting on video, and (3) advice, supervision, and guidance. In lecture, students will spend most of the course learning about geography and weathercasting rules. A large portion of the course is to practice the weathercasting and report. Prerequisite ATSC 2403. Offered on sufficient demand.

ATSC 2301 - Weather Observations 3 sem. hrs. (3:0) This course is an introduction of the basic concept of meteorology. The focus is on the measurements of the atmosphere and weather related phenomenon. The principle of the instruments used to measure temperature, pressure, moisture, radiation, precipitation and other weather related properties of the atmosphere will be introduced. The differences among the observations from in-situ, balloon borne, airborne, and satellite borne instruments will be examined and discussed. Prerequisite: ATSC 2403. Offered on sufficient demand.

ATSC 2403 - Introduction to Meteorology 4 sem. hrs. (3:2) This course is an introduction to meteorology and the dynamics of planetary atmospheres. Emphasis on atmospheric accretion, composition, evolution, structure, and dynamics. Lab exercises cover basic measurement techniques, weather maps, and forecasting. A student cannot receive credit for both this course and ESCI 3403 - Introduction to Meteorology. Corequisite: SMTE 0096 Environmental Science Laboratory Safety Seminar required every semester for lab-based courses. The Safety Seminar must be completed before the Census Date of the semester to participate in the lab portion of this course. Spring (on sufficient demand), Fall.

ATSC 3305 - Physical Meteorology 3 sem. hrs. (3:0) This course will cover the fundamentals of atmospheric physics including the atmospheric composition, kinetic theory of gases, moist processes, aerosol, solar and terrestrial radiation, scattering of electromagnetic radiation and radiative transfer. Prerequisites: ATSC 2403 and PHYS 2426. Offered on sufficient demand.

ATSC 3306 - Atmospheric Thermodynamics 3 sem. hrs. (3:0) This course introduces a foundation in the thermodynamics of the atmosphere. After a brief review of general thermodynamics, the emphasis is given to the basic principles that are useful for the application to atmospheric problems. The course covers a number of atmospheric processes that are basically thermodynamic in nature. The specific topics include aerological diagrams, atmospheric statics, and vertical stability. Prerequisite: ATSC 2403 and PHYS 2425. Offered on sufficient demand.

ATSC 3401 - Synoptic Meteorology 4 sem. hrs. (3:2) This course focuses on introducing middle-latitude synoptic weather phenomenon, including planet waves, frontal systems etc. We will apply principles of Dynamic Meteorology in regards to processes in the atmosphere, weather elements and forecasting. We will examine the structure and dynamics of these systems by integrating weather observations with the current state of dynamic theory, numerical weather prediction models, and the physical principles of atmospheric thermodynamics and cloud and precipitation physics. Prerequisite: ATSC 3306 - Atmospheric Thermodynamics. Corequisite: SMTE 0096 Environmental Science Laboratory Safety Seminar required every semester for lab-based courses. The Safety Seminar must be completed before the Census Date of the semester to participate in the lab portion of this course. Offered on sufficient demand.

ATSC 3402 - Mesoscale Meteorology 4 sem. hrs. (3:2) This course focuses on introducing mesoscale weather systems including thunderstorms, squall lines and hurricanes, as well as the mechanisms of tornado and lighting. The methods of observing, analyzing, and predicting these severe weather systems with the interpretation of satellite and radar images will also be introduced in this class. Prerequisite: ATSC 3306 - Atmospheric Thermodynamics. Corequisite: SMTE 0096 Environmental Science Laboratory Safety Seminar required every semester for lab-based courses. The Safety Seminar must be completed before the Census Date of the semester to participate in the lab portion of this course. Offered on sufficient demand.

ATSC 4301 - Dynamic Meteorology I 3 sem. hrs. (3:0) This course focuses on introductory-level atmospheric dynamics. Basic concepts of geophysical fluid dynamics and its application to a variety of atmospheric phenomena are introduced. Specific topics include the equations of motion on rotating earth, vorticity, potential vorticity, divergence, circulation theorem, and planetary wave. Prerequisites: ATSC 3306 and MATH 2414. Offered on sufficient demand

ATSC 4302 - Dynamic Meteorology II 3 sem. hrs. (3:0) This course is a continuation of ATSC 4301 (Dynamic Meteorology I), which covers the introductory-level atmospheric dynamics. The course introduces more advance materials including equatorial waves, baroclinic and barotropic instability, two-dimensional turbulence, atmospheric teleconnection, El Nino/Southern Oscillation, Madden-Julian Oscillation, global warming, and numerical modeling of atmospheric circulations. Prerequisite: ATSC 4301 . Offered on sufficient demand.

ATSC 4305 - Remote Sensing 3 sem. hrs. (3:0) This course aims to introduce the fundamentals of satellite/airborne remote sensing techniques and demonstrates its application to various aspects of Earth Sciences. Topics include physical principles of remote sensing from ultraviolet to the microwave, radiometry, sensors and sensor technology, calibration, and environmental applications for land, ocean and atmosphere research. Prerequisite: PHYS 2426. Offered on sufficient demand.

ATSC 4335 - Climate and Climate Variability 3 sem. hrs. 3:0 This course intended to guide environmental science undergraduate students in developing a conceptual understanding of Earth’s global climate and its variability. Review past climates, present mean state of the climate system, climate variability from seasonal to multi-decadal time scales, and climate change. Special attention will be given to climates of the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea and surrounding land regions. Plausible climate-change scenarios, as well as mitigation and adaptation strategies will also be discussed. Prerequisite: ATSC 2403 or ESCI 3351. Spring.

ATSC 4496 - Directed Independent Study 1-4 sem. hrs. (1-4:0-4) Requires a formal proposal of study to be completed in advance of registration and to be approved by the supervising faculty, the Chairperson, and the Dean of the College. Spring, Summer, Fall.

ATSC 4590 - Selected Topics 1-5 sem. hrs. (1-5:0-4) This course includes special topics with variable content. May be repeated for credit. Offered on sufficient demand. Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor. Offered on sufficient demand.