The two definitions most commonly used for who is a meteorologist are those given by the U.S. federal government and the American Meteorological Society (AMS). Federal government: The educational requirements given by the federal government can be found on the following webpage: http://www.ametsoc.org/AMS/policy/bachelor99.html#AppendixB The math requirements include differential calculus and integral calculus as prerequisites to differential equations. The remote sensing requirement can be satisfied by a satellite or radar meteorology course. The critical meteorology courses include Intro to meteorology, thermodynamics, 2 semesters of calculus-based dynamics, 2 semesters of synoptic meteorology, and physical meteorology. Relevant Geoscience courses include oceanography, water resources, and climatology. Most students satisfy these requirements by earning a degree in meteorology. Often students combine their undergraduate studies with their graduate studies to satisfy all the requirements. Notice on the website it states, "A combination of education and experience-course work shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education" can substitute for some of the requirements listed. This can be used by military forecasters and other's working in the field of meteorology that have a large amount of experience. Exactly how experience substitutes for some of the coursework varies with the situation. Mississippi State Geoscience graduates can become eligible for federal employment by integrating into and/or supplementing the MSU Geoscience degree requirements with differential calculus, integral calculus, differential equations, 2 calculus based physics courses and 2 courses in atmospheric dynamics. The two dynamics courses are available by distance learning through the USDA: http://www.grad.usda.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=97&Itemid=205 American Meteorological Society: **NOTE: The AMS will prevent Mississippi State Broadcast Meteorology Program students in the online program from getting the CBM (Certified Broadcast Meteorologist) because the MSU online program is not calculus based. The CBM started in January of 2005. BMP students can still get the regular AMS seal but that program will be ending at the end of 2008. The definition of a meteorologist given by the AMS is more liberal (but only a calculus based meterology degree or equivalent can be used to get the CBM without being grandfathered in). The AMS policy statement on who is a meteorologist can be found at the website below: http://www.ametsoc.org/AMS/policy/whatisam.html A meteorologist according to the AMS is a person working in the field of meteorology that has gained a sufficient amount of coursework in meteorology (without a B.S. degree, 3 years full time experience is required). This coursework does not have to be calculus based and includes several key meteorology and Geoscience courses. BMP students: Without a science degree and without a calculus background, the AMS requires 4 of the following: Synoptic Meteorology 1, Water Resources, Physical Meteorology, Thermodynamics, and Oceanography. With a science degree, any 3 of the above courses are needed instead of four. Students have to take several prerequisite courses to be able to get to the courses the AMS requires. The following AMS website lists the required courses: http://www.ametsoc.org/AMS/amscert/approv.html#SectIA Using the AMS definition a person can be classified as a meteorologist without even having a degree. Many students meet the minimum AMS requirements by enrolling in the off-campus Broadcast Meteorology Program at Mississippi State. These courses give the students the educational background to apply for the NWA and AMS seals. Once a broadcaster receives the AMS seal then that person can properly call their self a meteorologist using the AMS definition. New testing and re-certification requirements are being implemented in the future in addition to the educational and tape evaluation requirements for those wanting to attain the AMS CBM. Military personnel and other operational meteorologists that have 3 or more years of experience in operational meteorology and complete the minimum coursework can also call themselves a meteorologist according to the AMS. Those that fit the federal government definition of a meteorologist are eligible for any type of meteorology job. Those that fit the AMS definition but not the federal definition usually work in broadcasting, the military, or consulting / private meteorology jobs but not federal meteorology jobs such as the National Weather Service. Many consulting / private meteorology companies use the federal standard when hiring meteorologists, but in some cases experience and sufficient coursework can substitute for the federal education standard. |