Atmospheric Sciences
Chase the Storm and Your Passions: Explore UNC Asheville’s Atmospheric Sciences Major
Our Bachelor of Science in Atmospheric Sciences gives you a comprehensive education in real-world contexts and applications of the discipline. Your liberal arts education is enriched by hands-on learning experiences and three specialized concentrations, allowing you to delve deeper into your passions and prepare for your career.
Concentration-Based Curriculum
The Atmospheric Sciences major builds a strong foundation in weather, climate, and atmospheric processes through coursework that emphasizes data analysis, modeling, and applied forecasting. Students gain experience interpreting real-time atmospheric data and understanding climate variability at local and global scales, preparing them for professional roles in meteorology, climate science, and related fields, as well as graduate study. Designed to meet federal civil service requirements, the curriculum focuses on areas such as forecasting, climatology, and broadcast meteorology.
Broadcast Meteorology Concentration
Career Paths
Our curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and scientific inquiry, preparing you for a rewarding career in atmospheric research and environmental stewardship. Your concentration area provides valuable context for you to grow your abilities in ways that bring real value to your future workplace. Students may become meteorologists, climate analysts or researchers, weather forecasters, and more. Some of our alumni also pursue graduate degrees to advance their education and career.
Embark on Your Own Research
What makes UNC Asheville different is our dedication to undergraduate research. As an Atmospheric Sciences major, pursue a research inquiry that excites you and work alongside supportive, knowledgeable faculty who may also have grants to finance your work. Past funded projects have involved topics such as tornado damage analysis, remote sensing of hurricane winds, geographical information system (GIS) applications, climatological studies, air pollution, fieldwork, and more. Here, the opportunities are boundless.
Chart Your Path
Small class sizes, virtually unlimited access to faculty, and a challenging yet rewarding curriculum make UNC Asheville an ideal place to earn your Atmospheric Sciences degree. We’re thrilled you’d like to connect with UNC Asheville! Complete the form with future student information.
I chose atmospheric science because I was fascinated with severe weather, specifically thunderstorms and tornadoes. Meteorology has been a favorite subject of mine since I was a kid. I decided to learn as much as I could and make a career out of something that I enjoy.
Concentrations
Concentrations
Building on a core foundation in Atmospheric Sciences, UNC Asheville students can choose from several concentrations to align their studies with their specific interests and career goals. These options include Broadcast Meteorology, Weather Forecasting, and Climatology. Each concentration features a focused set of courses that prepares students for the complex work they’ll do in the field, whether that’s communicating weather information to the public, analyzing storm systems, modeling climate patterns, or contributing to emergency response and climate resilience efforts.
Embrace Your Passion
UNC Asheville’s Department of Atmospheric Sciences graduates find meaningful and dynamic careers in various fields, including broadcast meteorology, climate science, emergency management, and hurricane specialization.
From Studying the Weather to Experiencing the Weather
A group of 10 UNC Asheville atmospheric sciences students embarked on a 12-day driving journey around the Great Plains of the United States to chase the strongest thunderstorms in existence — supercells.
Abigail Grulick
Abigail Grulick was one of only two UNC Asheville students to receive the North Carolina Space Grant, allowing her to study other planet's atmospheres and their potential for hosting water.
Weathering the Storm
In 2022, alumni Grant Gilmore ('06) and Tyler Moore ('18) teamed up to cover Hurricane Ian.
Evan Fisher
Atmospheric Science alumni Evan Fisher '23 created the Fall Foliage Map a tool that calculates leaf color changes in the United States for every day in the fall.
Leverage Asheville’s Unique Meteorological and Climatological Resources
Leverage Asheville’s Unique Meteorological and Climatological Resources
Learn about the atmosphere and conduct research alongside faculty specializing in severe weather, atmospheric modeling, air pollution, climatology, observations, tropical meteorology, and weather unique to Western North Carolina. Our location is home to NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)—one of the nation’s largest weather data centers—and UNC Asheville’s National Environmental Modeling and Analysis Center (NEMAC).
Outside the Classroom - Learning Beyond Forecast: Weather Facilities at UNC Asheville
Outside the Classroom - Learning Beyond Forecast: Weather Facilities at UNC Asheville
Outside the classroom, Atmospheric Sciences students at UNC Asheville gain hands-on experience through the University’s weather station, tower camera, and real-time data networks, providing access to professional-grade forecasting and climate analysis tools. Students learn to collect, visualize, and interpret atmospheric data while connecting local observations to broader climate patterns. Opportunities like these, combined with collaborative spaces such as The Cloud living-learning community, create an environment where classroom lessons come alive, and students build both technical skills and professional relationships.
Internships
Internships
Outside the Classroom
Outside the Classroom
Clubs & Organizations
The UNC Asheville Student Chapter of the American Meteorological Society nurtures your career development and encourages you to build lasting connections with your peers. The chapter organizes social gatherings, invites experts in meteorology and climatology to speak, and facilitates professional networking opportunities both within and outside our campus.
Scholarship Opportunities
Scholarship Opportunities
UNC Asheville’s Atmospheric Sciences program offers scholarships that ease financial burdens and recognize achievement, including the Kate Sweely Fund and Memorial Scholarship, the Alumni Scholarship, and the Asheville AMS Scholarship, which support needs like textbooks, conference travel, academic excellence, and professional development.
Meet the Faculty
Meet the Faculty
UNC Asheville Atmospheric Sciences faculty members are experts across a range of atmospheric and climate-focused fields, including weather forecasting, climatology, climate dynamics, and applied meteorology. Faculty are dedicated to providing students with the knowledge, technical skills, and mentorship needed to succeed in academic, research, and professional careers related to weather and climate science.
Related Programs
Ready for What's Next?
Our Bachelor of Science in Atmospheric Sciences gives you a comprehensive education in real-world contexts and applications of the discipline. Your liberal arts education is enriched by hands-on learning experiences and three specialized concentrations, allowing you to delve deeper into your passions and prepare for your career.