Professional Meteorology Concentration
This program focuses on the study of atmospheric processes and climatic variability. Upon completion of the program (operational emphasis), students will have met the coursework requirements for the National Weather Service, the private meteorology sector, or continue their education in graduate school. Students choosing the program with the broadcast emphasis can also work for the National Weather Service and also earn the American Meteorological Society’s Certified Broadcast Meteorologist Seal of Approval.
The Professional Meteorology Program (PMP) track prepares students for graduate school and/or a career as an operational forecaster. Outside of the core meteorology curriculum, PMP students are encouraged/expected to take courses in advanced mathematics (calculus), statistics, computer programming, Remote Sensing, GIS, and other courses depending upon individual students' interests.
Recent graduates from the PMP have attended meteorology and climatology graduate programs at the University of Georgia, University of South Carolina, Florida State University, the University of Alabama in Huntsville, and others. The USDA, the EPA, the Weather Channel, and the National Weather Service also employ our PMP graduates as forecasters.
Broadcast Meteorology Concentration
This program focuses on preparing students for a career in radio/television weathercasting. The coursework does not meet the requirements for the American Meteorological Society’s Certified Broadcast Meteorologist Seal of Approval because it lacks some of the math and physics requirements. Individuals can, however, be qualified to earn the National Weather Association Seal of Approval after working in the industry for two years full-time OR three years part-time.
The Mississippi State University Climate Lab Studio serves as the hub of the Broadcast Meteorology Program, and was completely renovated in the summer of 2022. It is comprised of a large studio featuring one chroma-key wall, a BAM set, two cameras, and IFB capability. The studio is powered by a control room that features studio controls, a TriCaster 410 production system, and Baron Lynx weather graphics.
The products produced in the studio include Practicum in Broadcast Meteorology I–IV lab exercises and our CampusConnect Forecast.
In addition, students are advised to take a series of communications courses (Intro to Mass Media, Intro to Newswriting and Reporting, TV Production, Newswriting for the Electronic Media, Advanced TV Production, and Mass Media and Society OR Mas Media Law) earning a minor in communication.
For more information about the PMP or BMP undergraduate (B.S. Degree) programs, please contact Tina Davis.
Computer Requirements
The Meteorology faculty have adopted the following policy related to student computer expectations. All Broadcast and Professional Meteorology Undergraduate Majors and all Graduate students with concentrations in Meteorology are required to purchase and maintain a laptop with a Windows Operating System for use in the classroom or lab. Many courses require specific software that requires the Windows OS and such a laptop ensures students have the necessary technology to succeed in the classroom. We expect the laptop to have at least an Intel Core i5 processor with 4 GB of RAM and at minimum a 500 GB hard disk, and that the laptop run the latest version of Windows. Any questions regarding this computer policy can be directed to the departmental undergraduate coordinator or the meteorology team leader.
