Atmospheric Sciences Minor

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Contact Information

Dr. Adam French
Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences Program
Mineral Industries 208
(605) 394-1649
E-mail: Adam.French@sdsmt.edu

Undergraduate minor in Atmospheric Sciences

Atmospheric scientists apply background knowledge in mathematics, physics, chemistry, computer science and many other disciplines to improve our understanding of the wide variety of weather phenomena that affects peoples’ lives on a daily basis. This includes weather forecasting, fundamental research in areas such as severe and hazardous weather, climate science, and numerical modeling, and supporting a number of weather-sensitive industries including renewable energy production, agriculture, environmental monitoring, and insurance.

Students from any discipline at SDSM&T may pursue a minor in atmospheric sciences by completing 18 credit hours of coursework as described below.

Required Courses (12 cr)

AES 201 Introduction to Atmospheric Sciences Credits: (3-0) 3
AES 406/506 Global Environmental Change Credits: (3-0) 3
AES 404/504 Atmospheric Thermodynamics Credits: 2 or 3 *
AES 450 Synoptic Meteorology I Credits: (3-0) 3
* AES 404/504 may be replaced with a suitable 3-credit thermodynamics course, including CBE 321, ME 211, or MET 320. PHYS 341 may also be used in place of AES 404, however an additional elective will be required to reach the 18 credit total.

Atmospheric Science Electives (3-6 cr)

At least three, elective credit hours are selected from the following list of atmospheric science electives** (six hours total can be applied to the minor):

AES 401/501 Atmospheric Physics Credits: (3-0) 3
AES 403/503 Biogeochemistry Credits: (3-0) 3
AES 405/505 Air Quality Credits: (3-0) 3
AES 419/519 Computing Methods in Atmospheric Sciences Credits: (3-0) 3
AES 430/530 Radar Meteorology Credits: (3-0) 3
AES 460/560 Atmospheric Dynamics Credits: (3-0) 3
AES 455/555 Synoptic Meteorology II Credits: (3-0) 3
** Select graduate courses in Atmospheric and Environmental Science may also be counted, with permission of instructor and program coordinator.

Other Electives (0-3 cr)

Up to three credit hours from the following electives may be selected:

CBE 485/585 Renewable and Sustainable Energy Credits: (3-0) 3
CEE 326 Environmental Engineering I Credits: (3-0) 3
CEE 425/525 Sustainable Engineering Credits: (3-0) 3
CEE 437/437L/537/537L Watershed and Floodplain Modeling/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3
EM 328 Applied Fluid Mechanics Credits: (3-0) 3
EM 331 Fluid Mechanics Credits: (3-0) 3
GEOE 475/475L Groundwater/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3
ME 430 Introduction to Wind Energy Engineering Credits: (3-0) 3
MEM 401/401L Theoretical and Applied Mine Ventilation/Lab Credits: (3-1) 4
MEM 405 Mine Permitting and Reclamation Credits: (3-0) 3
POLS 407 Environmental Law & Policy Credits: (3-0) 3