Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, BS

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

AES Flowchart

Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences: Curriculum Checklist

Some upper-division AES courses are only offered every other year. Students should consult with an atmospheric and environmental sciences advisor for a more personalized course of study based on career goals within the atmospheric and environmental sciences.

Required Courses for the Atmospheric Sciences Specialization Are:

The atmospheric sciences undergraduate series: AES 201, AES 401, AES 404, AES 406, AES 430, AES 450, AES 455, AES 460.
The following mathematics and science courses (including required prerequisites): BIOL 311, CHEM 112, CHEM 112L, CHEM 114, CHEM 114L, CSC 111 or CSC 150 or CSC 170, PHYS 211, PHYS 213, PHYS 213L, MATH 123, MATH 125, MATH 225, MATH 321.
STS 201, STS 401, STS 498
A minimum of 24 credit hours of program-approved elective credits.
Up to 6 credit hours of free-elective credits.

Freshman Year

First Semester

CHEM 112 General Chemistry I Credits: (3-0) 3 (Goal 6) ³
CHEM 112L General Chemistry I Lab Credits: (0-1) 1 (Goal 6) ³
ENGL 101 Composition I Credits: (3-0) 3 (Goal 1) ³
MATH 123 Calculus I Credits: (4-0) 4 (Goal 5) ³
AES 201 Introduction to Atmospheric Sciences Credits: (3-0) 3

Total: 14

Second Semester

CHEM 114 General Chemistry II Credits: (3-0) 3 (Goal 6) ³
CHEM 114L General Chemistry II Lab Credits: (0-1) 1
CSC 111/111L Introduction to Computer Programming/Lab Credits: (2-0) 2
OR
CSC 150/150L Computer Science I/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3
OR
CSC 170/170L Programming for Engineers and Scientists Credits: (3-0) 3
MATH 125 Calculus II Credits: (4-0) 4
General Education Goal 3 or 4 Elective(s) Credits: 6 ³

Total: 17

Sophomore Year

First Semester

ENGL 279 Communication in the STEM Workplace Credits: (3-0) 3 (Goal 1) ³
MATH 225 Calculus III Credits: (4-0) 4
PHYS 211 University Physics I Credits: 3 to 4
General Education Goal 3 or 4 Elective(s) Credits: 6 ³

Total: 16

Second Semester

ENGL 289 Explorations in STEM Communications Credits: (3-0) 3 (Goal 2) ³
STS 201 Introduction to Science, Technology, and Society Credits: (3-0) 3
MATH 321 Differential Equations Credits: (3-0) 3
PHYS 213 University Physics II Credits: 3 to 4
PHYS 213L University Physics II Laboratory Credits: (0-1) 1
AES 404/504 Atmospheric Thermodynamics Credits: 2 or 3 ¹

Total: 16

Junior Year

First Semester

AES 450/450L Synoptic Meteorology I/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3 ²
AES 460/560 Atmospheric Dynamics Credits: (3-0) 3 ²
BIOL 311 Principles of Ecology Credits: (3-0) 3
Free Elective Credits: 3

Total: 12

Second Semester

AES 406/506 Global Environmental Change Credits: (3-0) 3
AES 430/530 Radar Meteorology Credits: (3-0) 3 ²
AES 455/455L/555/555L Synoptic Meteorology II/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3 ²
Program Approved Electives Credits: 3
Free Elective Credits: 3

Total: 15

Senior Year

First Semester

AES 401/501 Atmospheric Physics Credits: (3-0) 3
STS 401 Writing and Research in Science, Technology, and Society Credits: (3-0) 3
Program Approved Electives Credits: 9

Total: 15

Second Semester

Program Approved Electives Credits: 12
STS 498 Undergraduate Research/Scholarship Credits: (0-3) 3

Total: 15

120 credits required for graduation

Curriculum Notes

¹Students in the BS-AES degree should take AES 404/504 for 3 credits.

²Courses offered alternate years.

³ Fulfills General Education requirement. Students should consult the “General Education Requirements ” section of this catalog for a complete listing of all general education requirements.

Program Approved Electives (24 Credits)

Select at least 24 credit hours from the program-approved electives. Other science/math/engineering electives may be applied as approved by a student’s advisor.

AES 403/503 Biogeochemistry Credits: (3-0) 3 ²
AES 405/505 Air Quality Credits: (3-0) 3 ²
AES 419/519 High-Performance Computing in Earth Sciences Credits: (3-0) 3 ²
AES 492 Topics Credits: 1 to 3
AES 570 The Wildfire Environment Credits: (3-0) 3 ²
AES 592 Topics Credits: 1 to 3
AES 603 Biosphere-Atmosphere Interactions Credits: (3-0) 3
AES 612 Atmospheric Chemistry Credits: (3-0) 3
AES 615 Earth Systems Modeling Credits: (3-0) 3
AES 625 Scaling in Geosciences Credits: (3-0) 3
AES 643 Precipitation Physics and Cloud Modification Credits: (3-0) 3
AES 651 Measurement and Instrumentation Credits: (3-0) 3
AES 660 Atmospheric Dynamics II Credits: (3-0) 3
AES 692 Topics Credits: 1 to 3
BIOL 151 General Biology I Credits: (3-0) 3
BIOL 151L General Biology I Lab Credits: (0-1) 1
BIOL 153 General Biology II Credits: (3-0) 3
BIOL 153L General Biology II Lab Credits: (0-1) 1
BIOL 311L Principles of Ecology Laboratory Credits: (0-1) 1
BIOL 333/333L Aquatic Ecology & Watershed Management Credits: (4-0) 4
CEE 325 Introduction to Sustainable Design Credits: (3-0) 3
CEE 326 Environmental Engineering I Credits: (3-0) 3
CEE 327/327L Environmental Engineering II/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3
CEE 425/525 Sustainable Engineering Credits: (3-0) 3
CEE 426/526 Environmental Engineering Unit Operations and Processes Credits: (3-0) 3
CEE 427/527 Environmental Engineering Biological Process Design Credits: (3-0) 3
CEE 437/437L/537/537L Watershed Hydrology/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3
CEE 634 Surface Water Hydrology Credits: (3-0) 3
CP 297/397/497 Cooperative Education Credits: 1 to 3
CSC 251 Finite Structures Credits: (3-0) 3
EM 331 Fluid Mechanics Credits: (3-0) 3
GEOE 475/475L/575/575L Groundwater/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3
GEOL 361 Oceanography I Credits: (3-0) 3
GEOL 416/416L/516/516L Introduction to GIS/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3
GEOL 417/517 Geospatial Databases Credits: (3-0) 3
GEOL 419/519 Advanced Geospatial Analysis Credits: (3-0) 3
GEOL 420/420L/520/520L Introduction to Remote Sensing/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3
IENG 466/566 Project Planning and Control Credits: (3-0) 3
MATH 381 Introduction to Probability and Statistics Credits: (3-0) 3
MATH 315 Linear Algebra Credits: (3-0) 3
MATH 443/543 Data Analysis Credits: (3-0) 3
PHYS 225 Vibrations, Waves, and Optics Credits: (3-0) 3
POLS 407 Environmental Law & Policy Credits: (3-0) 3

Completion of Math/Science/Engineering Minor

Students are encouraged to complete one of SD Mines’ Math, Science or Engineering minors to complement their Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences Degree. Coursework toward this minor can also be used to fulfill free and program-approved electives.