Meteorology is a science which studies the atmosphere. Thus it is also called atmospheric science. It includes forecasting the weather, modeling air pollution, studying climate change and numerous other topics as well as research into improving all of the above. Most forecasters and many air pollution meteorologists have only a bachelors degree. Other areas may require a masters degree. Research generally requires a PhD. The American Meteorological Society (AMS) has a booklet "Careers in Atmospheric Research and Applied Meteorology" on its web site.
Careers in Atmospheric Research and Applied Meteorology
Employment opportunities are available with the National Weather Service, state and municipal environmental agencies, private industry, or in consulting firms. AMS maintains an employment listing service.
AMS Employment Announcements
Employment with the National Weather Service is listed with the Office of Personnel Management. Type in "National Weather Service" (with the quotes).
Office of Personnel Management

Meteorology Schools
AMS maintains a list of colleges and universities which offer meteorology degrees.
AMS listing of meteorology schools
With about 60 students, SUNY Oswego has the largest undergraduate meteorology program in New York. SUNY Albany has the largest graduate program in New York.

SUNY Oswego
SUNY Oswego is located on the southeast corner of Lake Ontario giving us an excellent view over the lake from west to north. Since most weather comes from that direction, we can watch storms approach from across the lake. Oswego snow is legendary. Oswego Snowfall. Thus studying snow and topics like lake-effect snow are naturals for our school. Oswego Research.

Cooperation with Niagara Mohawk gives us meteorological data from their Nine Mile tower and their new doppler Sound Detection And Ranging (SODAR) instrument which gives winds up to about 1 km. In exchange they can access our research grade instruments on our tower. We also have numerous portable instruments for student projects.

Almost all meteorology schools have computer access to current weather data including maps, doppler radar and satelliet images. SUNY Oswego does this via 6 computers connected to a server using various software programs like GARP, NTRANS, NSAT, McIDAS and GEMPAK.

SUNY Oswego has no graduate program in meteorology, hence all lectures and labs are taught by faculty. Also, undergraduates have the opportunity to participate in faculty research.

All three television stations in Syracuse which do their own weather have former Oswego students employed giving us lots of access for present students to do internships. In addition, our students do internships all over the state at NWS forecast offices and other sites.

Employment of Past Graduates:

• National Weather Service
• Television
• Private Forecasting Firms
• Air Force and Navy
• Environmental Firms
• Industry
• Graduate Schools

Graduate Schools SUNY Oswego meteorology graduates have attended:

• SUNY Albany
• Colorado State University
• University of Illinois
• University of Maryland
• University of Nebraska
• North Carolina State University
• University of Oklahoma
• Pennsylvania State University
• Texas A&M
• University of Washington

As an example of our reputation, Texas A&M recruited three of our graduates this past. When asked why they wanted all three, they said that they were happy with our previous graduates.

Reasons to attend SUNY Oswego

• Excellent Meteorology Program
• Good Facilities
• All meteorology classes taught by faculty
• Good Reputation with Graduate Schools
• Live in Student Housing right on the lake
• Ability to see the weather comming from across the lake
• Snow
• Beautiful Sunsets