Frequently Asked Questions
Do you offer online courses or an online degree in meteorology?
While we do not offer a degree in Meteorology through online courses, we do offer a completely online four-course Certificate of Achievement in Weather Forecasting program. To learn more about this program, please visit http://www.met.psu.edu/academics/online-learning/
Who employs meteorologists and atmospheric scientists?
Traditionally, three major meteorological employers exist: government agencies, private industrial and consulting firms, and colleges and universities. Employers within government include the National Weather Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Air Weather Service of the U.S. Air Force, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the Department of Defense, as well as many state environmental agencies. Penn State's program provides all necessary qualifications to meet civil service requirements for meteorological employment. Many graduates secure employment in jobs related in some way to weather analysis and forecasting. Gathering data and making forecasts is an extremely complex operation involving thousands of skilled meteorological specialists, in such areas as verifying weather forecasts, developing statistical forecast methods, analyzing observations, programming computers, and predicting weather conditions for specialized applications such as aviation. Demand also exists in the government for graduates knowledgeable about atmospheric chemistry, and pollution dispersion processes.
Employment opportunities for meteorology graduates vary considerably from year to year, depending in part on government fiscal policies and in part on economic conditions. In some years, competition for employment is quite keen, and some graduates find it necessary to accept temporary positions in other fields. Because of the strong preparation in basic mathematics, physics, chemistry, and computer science that all Penn State meteorology students acquire, graduates find themselves in good positions to adapt to the wide range of opportunities that they may encounter. Historically, even during periods when there have been no shortages of jobs for graduates, many meteorology graduates have taken jobs in other fields in response to unusual challenges they encountered and found attractive.
The nature of our society's technology and the multitude of environmental problems that will accompany the development of new energy sources are expected to maintain the demand for atmospheric physicists and chemists for many years to come. Salary ranges in meteorology vary depending on private or government employment. Starting salaries usually fall between $20,600 and $25,500 with a B.S. degree, with a wider range possible in private industry.
The practice of meteorology has changed so rapidly over the last 25 years that few career guides give an accurate picture of the true challenges and opportunities facing students who are entering the field. An excellent guide is provided by the American Meteorological Society at http://www.ametsoc.org/AMS/atmoscareers.
The information below gives an idea of typical starting salaries for graduates in atmospheric science/meteorology. The information below is quoted from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2008-2009 Occupational Outlook Handbook, http://stats.bls.gov/oco/) entry-level salaries for atmospheric scientists.
Median annual earnings of atmospheric scientists in May 2006 were $77,150. The middle 50 percent earned between $55,530 and $96,490. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $39,090, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $119,700.
The average salary for meteorologists employed by the Federal Government was $84,882 in 2007. Many meteorologists in the Federal Government with a bachelor’s degree received a starting salary of $35,752, or slightly higher in areas of the country where the prevailing local pay level is higher.
What courses should I take in high school to prepare me for entrance into Penn State's Department of Meteorology?
People who major in Meteorology need a strong background in science, mathematics and computer skills. In high school, students should take earth sciences, physics, chemistry and mathematics through at least pre-calculus. Generally, students who have completed a course in calculus and/or a course in computer programming will have an advantage when starting their meteorology studies. Students should take their high school's college-preparation English classes and should know how to use a word processor on a computer.
If you really want to get a head start, take our completely online course, Meteorology 101: Understanding Weather Forecasting. High school juniors and seniors have successfully taken this course in the past and earned three credits toward their B.S. degree before they even arrived at Penn State! One of the high-school juniors went on, in his senior year, to successfully complete Meteorology 241: Fundamentals of Tropical Forecasting and Meteorology 361: Fundamentals of Mesoscale Weather Forecasting, which are part of Penn State's online program that confers a Certificate of Achievement in Weather Forecasting.
Be sure to read the requirements for these courses to make sure you are prepared for their structure and the commitment of time that is necessary in order to do well in them. These are college-level course. Use the link above or click [here] for more information on the certificate program. For additional information on admissions, please contact Penn State's undergraduate admissions office at 1-814-865-5471.
Can I begin my education at a Penn State branch campus and then transfer to University Park and into the Department of Meteorology after the first year or two?
The University Park campus is the only campus of Penn State to offer a complete Meteorology program. Some students choose to attend one of the branch campuses to complete their general education courses and then transfer to the University Park campus for the required meteorology and elective courses. Course sequencing for students at University Park or for those who start at branch campuses can be found by visiting: http://www.met.psu.edu/academics/undergraduate-studies/advising/recommended-academic-plan-for-meteo-majors/
What are the credit and course requirements to transfer from another university to the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences at Penn State, and specifically into the Meteorology major?
Students must meet the requirements listed at the link below in order to be accepted in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences at Penn State.
http://admissions.psu.edu/academics/majors/requirements/transfer/
How can I tell whether the courses I've taken at another institution will count for credit when I transfer to Penn State?
Visit: http://admissions.psu.edu/academics/credit/transfer/How much does it cost to attend Penn State (tuition)?
Because Penn State's tuition rates vary by campus, student level, program, and residency, a student tuition calculator provides specific tuition rates for individual students. Please visit: http://tuition.psu.edu/ to calculate tuition costs.
