The National Weather Service (NWS) Forecast Office is located near SLU and regularly accepts SLU students for internships. Classes also take field trips to the office to experience NWS operations.
Saint Louis University's oldest academic unit offers degrees in more than 30 academic areas.
Students who graduate from Saint Louis University's meteorology programs are trained to be meteorologists. They study the dynamics of air motion; physical processes such as transfer of radiation; and convection resulting in severe storms, flash floods and hurricanes. Research is underway at SLU on heavy precipitation, regional climate and air quality using numerical weather prediction models. Faculty members collaborate with research meteorologists at national centers, as well as operational meteorologists at the St. Louis National Weather Service forecast offices.
SLU is a founding member of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, which manages the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), in Boulder, Colorado, under the sponsorship of the National Science Foundation and NASA's DEVELOP program.
SLU's Doctor of Philosophy in Meteorology requires a total of 30 credits beyond the master's degree (30 credits), including 12 credits of dissertation research.
SLU's Ph.D. in Meteorology may be pursued directly from the baccalaureate with the permission of the program director.
SLU's Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences is a charter member of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) which manages the National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado, under the sponsorship of the National Science Foundation. External funding for research comes from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Weather Service, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The department has a dedicated synoptic computer lab and receives real-time data from both satellite downlink and the internet.
Software for displaying and analyzing weather data comes from Unidata Program Center, the National Weather Service, and locally written code.
SLU meteorology graduates work for federal and state government agencies, such as the National Weather Service, Federal Aviation Administration, NASA and the Environmental Protection Agency. Others are employed in the private sector, conducting atmospheric and agricultural research, weather forecasting and air quality assessments.
Successful applicants possess sufficient test scores, GPA and TOEFL scores (for international students).
An undergraduate degree in meteorology or a related field.
All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students along with the following:
Students who want to be considered for an assistantship must submit their applications by Jan. 2.
U.S. students should apply for the fall semester by July 1 and for the spring semester by Nov. 1. International students should apply for the fall semester by May 1 and for the spring semester by Oct. 1.
Faculty committee members examine qualified applicants' materials and make recommendations.
For priority consideration for a graduate assistantship, applicants should complete their applications by the program admission deadlines listed. Fellowships and assistantships provide a stipend and may include health insurance and a tuition scholarship for the duration of the award.
For more information, visit the student financial services office online at http://www.slu.edu/financial-aid.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Required Courses | ||
EAS 5080 | Dynamics of the Atmosphere | 3 |
EAS 5090 | Physics of the Atmosphere | 3 |
EAS 5300 | Seminar in Atmospheric Science | 1 |
EAS 5330 | Communicating in Research | 2 |
Elective Courses | ||
Select 9-39 credits of the following: 1 | 9-39 | |
Computing in Atmospheric Science | ||
Meteorology of Severe Storms | ||
Cloud Physics | ||
Stat Methods in Meteorology | ||
Principles of Radiative Transference | ||
Atmospheric Chemistry | ||
Radar Meteorology | ||
Convection in the Atmosphere | ||
Graduate Reading Course | ||
Gen Circulation of Atmosphere | ||
Special Topics | ||
Graduate Reading Course | ||
Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | ||
Dissertation Research | ||
EAS 6990 | Dissertation Research (taken over multiple semesters) | 12 |
Total Credits | 30-60 |
1 | The doctorate may be pursued directly from the baccalaureate with the permission of the Program Director. |
Written and oral preliminary exam
Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.
Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.
Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.
This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.
Year One | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | |
Three graduate courses | 9 | |
EAS 5300 | Seminar in Atmospheric Science (when offered) | 0 |
Credits | 9 | |
Spring | ||
Two graduate courses | 6 | |
EAS 6980 | Graduate Reading Course | 3 |
Credits | 9 | |
Summer | ||
EAS 6990 | Dissertation Research | 3 |
Credits | 3 | |
Year Two | ||
Fall | ||
EAS 6990 | Dissertation Research | 6 |
Credits | 6 | |
Spring | ||
Preliminary exam (Early semester) | ||
EAS 6990 | Dissertation Research | 3 |
Credits | 3 | |
Summer | ||
EAS 5990 | Thesis Research | 0 |
Credits | 0 | |
Year Three | ||
Fall | ||
EAS 6990 | Dissertation Research | 0 |
Credits | 0 | |
Spring | ||
EAS 6990 | Dissertation Research | 0 |
Credits | 0 | |
Total Credits | 30 |
Requirements for Ph.D. include 18 credits of course work, 12 credits of dissertation, and preliminary exam. The EAS 5300 Seminar in Atmospheric Science (0-1 cr)/EAS 5330 Communicating in Research (2 cr) combination is required for those who are admitted to the Ph.D. program with M.S. degree already.