New Atmospheric Science Major at George Mason University!

As of this Spring, there is an approved course list for an Atmospheric Science B.S at George Mason University. This is a great step for the growing Atmospheric Oceanic and Earth Science (AOES) department in their goal to help improve the visibility.

Before this major was announced, students like myself had to major in Earth Science and have an Atmospheric Science concentration. The course load compared to the new major is relatively similar, with some slight changes, noted below.

The Atmospheric Science department is divided into concentrations as well: a meteorology concentration and a computational science concentration.

Meteorology Concentration-This concentration focuses more on the pure scientific aspect of the study. Starting out with the very basics of atmospheric composition, it goes through the various dynamical steps without diving too deep into the computation and mathematical aspects.

Computational Science Concentration-This major is purely based on how forecasting is done in the field today. With required classes such as intro to programming and scientific programming, it introduces and teaches concepts that can directly be applied to graduate and eventual field work in computer model based forecasting.

This department is still young, and is still in the budding stage from within the College of Science. With the help of many different distinguished professors, this Major could be the one of choice for many new future meteorologists.

Changes from the old Earth Science Concentration in Atmospheric Science:

1. No more Physics 262/Math 214 as an overall requirement (it is needed for computational science)
2. Added required classes for the core such as Climate 411-Atmospheric Dynamics, Climate 429-Atmospheric Thermodynamics, and Physics 475-Atmospheric Physics
3.  Just Chemistry 211 required not 212
4.   For the meteorology option: new required class: GGS 312-Physical Climatology
5. For the computational science option: New classes such as CDS 251-Introduction to Scientific Programming, Climate 440-Climate Dynamics or Climate 470-Numerical Weather Prediction

Overall though amidst these changes, the major is fairly similar to the concentration. It varies only in the new class choices and the elimination of some required classes.

The major is still pending approval, but should be available by this fall. Click here for more info. 

Interested? Contact your advisor to start right away!