1. What are the major talking points in a class based on atmospheric Science?

● It all depends on the class that you are in. We have classes that are required in the major
for every person to take like: weather analysis, computer applications, thermodynamics,
kinematics and dynamics, or synoptic, to name a few. Other classes that are offered are
electives that a person can chose to take. Those include: tropical meteorology, mesoscale
meteorology, radar and satellite meteorology, etc. But each class usually offers an in
depth look at something regarding atmospheric science. The introduction classes are
broader and cover more. As students in the major get to their sophomore and junior years
classes become more in-depth focusing are certain things that pertain to the topic of that
class. For example, thermodynamics looks at the atmosphere as a whole and how to apply
equations to things in the atmosphere, but nothing is really moving. You must take
thermodynamics before taking kinematic and dynamics because in kinematic and
dynamics things begin to move in all different direction and there are more equations for
that. Each class in our department just builds on each other and allows to you to slowly
learn meteorology.
2. Is the Major a hard one?
● Yes, I would say the major is definitely not the easiest major. You must be motivated to
get the work done and be willing to put in many hours a week studying the material. Just
because the major is hard doesn’t mean that it isn’t enjoyable though. For most of us in
the department we have wanted to study meteorology most of our life, so having to go
through such a hard major is always worth it in the end.
3. Is it based more on the math side of the science side?
● I would say that the major is very much based in math. Science does come into the major
using physics often and chemistry sometimes. But math plays a major role in
meteorology. For our major we have to have Calculus I, II, III, and Differential
Equations. Not to mention we have other classes like mathematics in meteorology that
just show us relevant equations used for the atmosphere to help us forecast.
4. How much of the major is based in Meteorology?
● All of it. Every class you take at UNC Asheville related to getting your degree in
atmospheric science will relate in some way to meteorology.
5. What do you want to do when you leave college?
● My concentration at UNC Asheville is in weather forecasting. So, when I graduate, I am
hoping to work in a National Weather Service Weather Forecasting Office forecasting the
weather. But I am also looking into the private sector at possible becoming a forecaster
for companies that higher meteorologists for their businesses.