DEGREES OFFERED
The UW Dept. of Atmospheric Sciences offers a B.S. in Atmospheric Sciences (with track options in Meteorology, Climate, and Atmos Chem & Air Quality) and a Minor in Atmospheric Sciences.
ADMISSION TO THE UW
Anyone interested in majoring in Atmospheric Sciences at the UW must first be admitted to the UW. Information on admissions and how to apply may be found here.
TRANSFER STUDENTS
Students who are planning to transfer to the UW to major in Atmospheric Sciences should concentrate on completing one year of college calculus and one year of calc-based physics at their current institution (UW course numbers listed below). For students studying at a WA-state community college, please download the UW Admissions ATM S academic planning sheet and visit the UW Equivalency Guide for assistance in planning your coursework. Students studying at any other institution may also use the academic planning sheet but should also review the UW’s transfer credit policies here.
Transfer students may also find this page on course planning useful in preparation for applying to the UW.
The Student Services Office in the Dept. of Atmospheric Sciences now offers dedicated Drop-In Advising hours for current and prospective transfer students interested in majoring in Atmospheric Sciences. Drop-In Advising Hours are on Thursdays, 2:00-3:30pm, in ATG 310C (subject to change).
PREPARING FOR THE MAJOR
The core ATM S coursework is typically started in autumn of the junior year. Students who are planning on majoring in Atmos Sci should begin working as soon as possible on a series of pre-requisite courses that must be completed prior to beginning the core coursework. These courses are:
- MATH 124, 125, 126 (or the equivalent of one year of college calculus)
- PHYS 121, 122, 123 (or the equivalent of one year of calculus-based physics)
There are other courses that pre-majors may also choose to take prior to declaring the major (or beginning the core curriculum) – courses listed as required may be taken concurrent with the core ATM S coursework but the dept encourages early completion of these courses. These courses include:
- ATM S 101 or 111 (recommended but not required for the degree)
- CHEM 142 (recommended but not required for the degree)
- CSE 142 (required for the degree)
- MATH 324 & AMATH 351, 353 (required for the degree; pre-req for ATM S 441)
- STAT 390 (required for the degree; pre-req for ATM S 451)
- AMATH 301 (required for the degree)
DECLARING THE MAJOR & PLANNING YOUR DEGREE
The program has open admission which means any student may declare Atmospheric Sciences as a major at any time upon admission to the UW. It’s never too early to work out a degree plan for your intended major. If you’re reading this, you may already know that you want to major in Atmospheric Sciences but anyone who is still deciding on a major may find How to Choose a Major helpful – it provides a list of tips on exploring majors as well as links to many useful resources.
If you have already decided to major in Atmospheric Sciences, the first thing to do is to make an appointment to meet with the departmental adviser. During this meeting, you will complete the paperwork to declare the major and draft a working degree plan (a quarterly list of courses to complete for the degree). This will also be a good opportunity for you to ask any questions you might have about the program, coursework, career options, etc.
If you would like to begin working on a draft degree plan ahead of your meeting with the adviser, visit our website for examples of degree plans for each of the Atmos Sci tracks and links to downloadable worksheets. Be sure to bring your worksheet to your meeting where the adviser will help you to design a comprehensive plan.
To make an appointment to meet with the departmental adviser, Samantha Scherer, email advise(a)atmos.washington.edu or call 206-543-4576.
SCHOLARSHIPS & FINANCIAL AID
Financial support for study at the UW may be available. There are scholarship opportunities through the department and professional societies and the UW awards over $20 million annually in financial aid (both need- and merit-based) to a large portion of the student body. By applying to all three sources, a student can substantially increase his or her chances of securing financial aid.
UW Atmos Sci Scholarships
Academic Achievement Scholarship
Weather Research Scholarship
Other Atmos Sci Scholarships
American Meteorological Society Scholarships
National Weather Association Scholarships
NOAA Scholarships
Hollings Scholarship
SMART Scholarships
Pathways to Science
JOIN OUR MAILING LIST!
If you would like to be added to the UW Atmos Sci Premajors email list, click here to subscribe. This list is used primarily for information about the undergraduate program, program news and events, and opportunities in the atmospheric sciences.
