What Type of Online Schooling is Available for Meteorology?
Programs leading to a degree in meteorology are typically campus-based. However, some schools and universities offer online schooling in meteorology or weather forecasting. Some online schooling consists of single introductory courses, while other options delve deeper into atmospheric and weather science and award a certificate or degree.
Meteorology Programs Available Online
There are a variety of meteorology programs available online. Some programs are designed for those seeking a degree in the field while some are designed as electives for other degree programs or as continuing education courses for teachers or those working in a science field. All programs have similar coursework and requirements for enrollment.
<h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutMeteorologyPrograms">Important Facts about Meteorology Programs</h3><p></p><table border="1"><tr><td> Prerequisites</td><td> High school diploma or GED, high school physics courses, strong background in math</td></tr>
<tr><td> Programs</td><td> Undergraduate certificates, associate to bachelor's degree, associate's, bachelor's and master's degrees available</td></tr>
<tr><td> Online Availability</td><td> Programs available exclusively online as well as both online and on-campus</td></tr>
<tr><td>Possible Careers</td><td> Atmospheric Scientists, Meteorologists, Teachers</td></tr>
<tr><td>Median Salary (2022)</td><td>$56,207 <i>(for meteorologists)</i>*</td></tr>
<tr><td>Job Outlook (2021-2031)</td><td>4% growth <i>(for atmospheric scientists, including meteorologists)</i>**</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: *PayScale.com, **U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)</i>
</p><h3 id="section---UniversityOfArizona">University of Arizona</h3><p>A Bachelor of Applied Science in Meteorology is offered as an online program by the University of Arizona. This online associate-to-baccalaureate program is the only of its kind in the United States. It is designed for military personnel interested in becoming professional meteorologists and applicants must hold an associate's degree in weather technology or a related area. Several math and physics courses will be taken in this program.
</p><h3 id="section---PennStateUniversity">Penn State University</h3><p>Penn State University offers an online undergraduate certificate of achievement in weather forecasting. Completion of the certificate program prepares a student for an apprenticeship in weather forecasting. The courses are taken entirely online and are formatted on a schedule comparable to traditional semesters. The four courses in the program are:
</p><ul><li>Understanding Weather Forecasting
</li><li>Fundamentals of Tropical Forecasting
</li><li>Advanced Topics in Weather Forecasting
</li><li>Fundamentals of Mesoscale Weather Forecasting
</li></ul><h3 id="section---UniversityOfWisconsin">University of Wisconsin</h3><p>The University of Wisconsin offers an online course, Weather and Climate, that covers the most important elements of atmospheric science. The focus of the program is on learning about the earth's atmosphere using a scientific approach. This 4-credit course covers the study of atmospheric processes, weather elements and weather systems. Topics will range from storm systems to climate change and pollution. Students will also learn about the formation of thunderstorms and hurricanes.
</p><h3 id="section---LyndonStateCollege">Lyndon State College</h3><p>Lyndon State College in Vermont offers an elementary meteorology course online. This introductory-level course counts towards CEU requirements for non-meteorology majors as a 4-credit lab course. Course of study is an introduction to atmospheric sciences and weather studies and follows the online weather studies program developed by the American Meteorological Society. Students of this program will be expected to apply analytical methods studied in the program by assessing actual weather conditions using weather data and web resources.</p>