What every new student should know
Meteorology is the study of the atmosphere and, as such, is a challenging applied science. A practitioner must use the basic tools of mathematics and physics in the investigation and understanding of fascinating and sometimes dangerous atmospheric phenomena. Students majoring in meteorology at Oswego will become acquainted with the fields of synoptic, dynamic, meso and micrometeorology as well as atmospheric and cloud physics, climatology, instruments and air pollution. A wide variety of meteorology courses are available as well as occasional special topics courses, internships and independent study opportunities.
Cognates
Cognates are courses required outside of your major. For meteorology, we have based these on the suggestions of the American Meteorological Society. They include chemistry, statistics, a computer programming course appropriate for science majors, physics using calculus and math through differential equations.
Prerequisites
Prerequisites are courses required before you can take a particular course. Most of our upper-division courses (junior and senior level) require a year of calculus. Some require a year of physics in addition.
Freshmen
Freshmen who plan to major in meteorology in college should take physics, chemistry and four years of math in high school.
Transfers
Transfer students entering Oswego with two years of credits will find it easiest to finish in two more years if they enter with a year of calculus, a year of physics with lab, a year of chemistry with lab and a basic meteorology course with lab.