Course Descriptions

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Meteorology Discipline Courses Details

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METR 100 : Our Dynamic Weather

Prerequisites: Not open to students who have completed METR 104.
Description: The nature of weather, including winds, storms, clouds, and precipitation. How and why weather changes, emphasizing the process of scientific discovery. Weather map interpretation and weather forecasting. Designed for non-science majors.
General Education:
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

METR 101 : Our Dynamic Weather Lab

Prerequisites: METR 100 (may be taken concurrently); not open to students who have completed METR 104.
Description: Weather observations and instruments, weather map and satellite image analysis and interpretation, and weather forecasting, emphasizing the process of scientific discovery. Extra fee required.
General Education:
Units: 1
Latest Offering: Fall 2011

METR 104 : Our Dynamic Weather Lecture and Lab

Prerequisites: Not open to students who have completed METR 100 and/or 101.
Description: The nature of weather, including winds, storms, clouds, and precipitation. How and why weather changes, emphasizing the process of scientific discovery. Weather map interpretation and weather forecasting. Designed for non-science major. Classwork, 2 units; laboratory, 1 unit. Extra fee required.
General Education:
  • Segment II Area - Physical and Biological Sciences Area (PBS) Category A Physical Sciences
  • Laboratory or fieldwork (L/F)
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

METR 201 : Physical Processes in the Atmosphere

Prerequisites: Math 109 or equivalent or satisfactory score on calculus pretest.
Description: Observed behaviors of the atmosphere and the processes and principles that explain and predict them. Algebra-based problem solving. Classwork, 2 units; laboratory, 1 unit. Extra fee required.
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Spring 2013

METR 301 : Weather Chart Analysis and Discussion

Prerequisites: METR 201(may be taken concurrently).
Description: Weather chart analysis techniques; weather briefing and discussion. Laboratory. (Paired with METR 801. Students who have completed METR 301 may not take METR 801 for credit.) (Formerly METR 400.)
Units: 1
Latest Offering: Spring 2012

METR 302 : Extreme Weather in a Warming World

Prerequisites: Upper division standing or consent of instructor.
Description: Atmosphere and ocean as agents of catastrophic change. Fluctuations in atmospheric and oceanic circulations and their environmental impacts. Implications of human modification of the ocean-atmosphere system. Weather variability as evidenced by recent floods, droughts, and severe weather. Designed for non-science majors.
General Education:
  • Segment III Cluster - Our Violent Planet
Units: 3

METR 302 : The Violent Atmosphere and Ocean

Prerequisites: Upper division standing or consent of instructor.
Description: Atmosphere and ocean as agents of catastrophic change. Fluctuations in atmospheric and oceanic circulations and their environmental impacts. Implications of human modification of the ocean-atmosphere system. Weather variability as evidenced by recent floods, droughts, and severe weather. Designed for non-science majors.
General Education:
  • Segment III Cluster - Our Violent Planet
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

METR 320 : Introduction to Fluid Mechanics for Earth-Environmental Science

Prerequisites: MATH 227 and PHYS 220, or consent of instructor.
Description: Cross listed with OCN 320. For course description, see OCN 320. (May not be repeated under alternate prefix.)
Units: 4

METR 356 : California Weather Events

Prerequisites: Upper division standing or consent of instructor.
Description: Investigation of the basic meteorology of normal and abnormal weather events in California.
General Education:
  • Segment III Cluster - California Cultures and Environments
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

METR 405 : Planetary Climate Change

Prerequisites: At least 9 units of physical sciences coursework.
Description: Cross listed with GEOL/OCN 405. For course description, see GEOL 405. (May not be repeated under alternate prefix.)
Units: 4
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

METR 410 : Atmospheric Thermodynamics and Cloud Physics

Prerequisites: METR 100 or METR/OCN 201; METR/OCN 460 (may be concurrent); and PHYS 220.
Description: Composition, structure, and thermodynamics of the atmosphere; cloud and precipitation formation processes. Classwork, 3 units; laboratory, 1 unit. Extra fee required.
Units: 4
Latest Offering: Fall 2012

METR 415 : Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere and Ocean

Prerequisites: MATH 227; and METR 201/OCN 201 or METR 410. PHYS 230 recommended.
Description: Physical principles and applications of satellite and radar remote sensing of the atmosphere and ocean. Classwork, 2 units; laboratory, 1 unit. (Paired with METR 715. Students who have completed METR 715 may not take METR 415 for credit.) (Plus-minus letter grade only.)
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Spring 2013

METR 420 : Atmospheric Dynamics I

Prerequisites: PHYS 220; MATH 228; and METR 410 or consent of instructor. MATH 245 and METR 465 recommended.
Description: Basic dynamical equations governing atmospheric motions, particularly on large scales. Classwork, 3 units; laboratory, 1 unit. Extra fee required.
Units: 4
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

METR 430 GW : Weather Analysis and Forecasting I - GWAR

Prerequisites: METR 201, METR 301, MATH 227, PHYS 220, and ENG 214 or its equivalent with a C- or better.
Description: Weather analysis and forecasting as an application of the principles of atmospheric physics and dynamics. Weather satellite analysis techniques. Operational forecasting. Classwork, 2 units; laboratory, 2 units. (ABC/NC grading only.)
Units: 4

METR 450 : Atmosphere-Ocean Interactions

Prerequisites: METR/OCN 201 or METR 410; and METR 420 or OCN 420.
Description: Atmospheric behavior in the marine environment. Fluxes of energy, momentum, and material between the atmosphere and sea surface. Atmospheric/ocean feedbacks. Classwork, 2 units; laboratory and fieldwork, 1 unit. (Cross listed with OCN 450. May not be repeated under alternate prefix.)
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Spring 2013

METR 460 : Use of Computers in Meteorology and Oceanography

Prerequisites: A college course in meteorology or oceanography.
Description: Use of computers to access, display, and analyze meteorological and oceanographic data. UNIX operating system, text editing, electronic mail, file transfers between computers, weather graphics software, MATLAB software, creating web pages. (Cross listed with OCN 460. May not be repeated under alternate prefix.)
Units: 2
Latest Offering: Fall 2012

METR 465 : Computer Programming with Applications in Meteorology and Oceanography

Prerequisites: METR/OCN 201 or METR 410, METR 415, METR/OCN 460 or familiarity with UNIX.
Description: Principles of computer programming, illustrated with applications in meteorology and/or oceanography. (Cross listed with OCN 465. May not be repeated under alternate prefix.)
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Spring 2013

METR 470 : Meteorological and Oceanic Observing Techniques and Systems

Prerequisites: METR 201 or OCN 200, or GEOG 101 and GEOG 103; and METR 410 or OCN 420 or GEOG 313 or GEOG 314; or consent of instructor.
Description: Operation, design, and calibration of atmospheric and oceanic monitoring instruments. Experience with instrument types, data processing, and techniques applied to problems in atmospheric pollution, global weather, and dynamical oceanography. Classwork, 1 unit; laboratory and fieldwork, 1 unit. (Cross listed with OCN 470 and GEOG 607. May not be repeated under alternate prefix.)
Units: 2
Latest Offering: Spring 2013

METR 500 : Weather Analysis and Forecasting II

Prerequisites: METR 420 and METR 430GW; concurrent enrollment with METR 520 and/or consent of instructor.
Description: Quasi-geostrophic theory in the understanding of mid-latitude synoptic systems. Evolution and motion of mid/upper troposheric waves. Fronts and jet streaks. Mesoscale and severe weather meteorology.Classwork, 2 units; laboratory, 1 unit. Paired with METR 800. Students who have completed METR 500 may not take METR 800 for credit.
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

METR 520 : Atmospheric Dynamics II

Prerequisites: METR 420, MATH 245, PHYS 240 recommended.
Description: Development of the vorticity equation and the quasi-geostrophic approximation to the full dynamical equations governing atmospheric behavior. Classwork, 1 unit; laboratory, 1 unit.
Units: 2
Latest Offering: Spring 2012

METR 535 : Analysis and Prediction of Severe Storms

Prerequisites: Senior or graduate standing in meteorology; METR 430 and 520; consent of instructor. Must be taken concurrently with METR 530.
Description: Large and local-scale controls on severe storms. Morphology of severe thunderstorms. Thunderstorm spectrum. Tornadic storms. Severe storms forecasting and analysis techniques. Paired with METR 835. Students who have completed METR 835 may not take METR 535 for credit.
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Fall 2011

METR 590 : Consulting Meteorology and Oceanography

Prerequisites: Senior standing in meteorology, oceanography, geology, or geography and consent of instructor.
Description: Forensic meteorology and climatology, climatological and meteorological site assessments, site specific operational forecasting, AMS program for professional certification as consulting meteorologist, the meteorologist as expert witness, depositions and court testimony. Paired with METR 790. Students who have completed METR 790 may not take METR 590 for credit.
Units: 2
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

METR 652 : Geoscience Partners in K-12 Education

Prerequisites: Completion of at least one upper division course in your major field of study.
Description: Cross listed with GEOL/OCN 652. For course description, see GEOL 652. (May not be repeated under an alternate prefix.)
Units: 4
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

METR 693 : Cooperative Education Program

Prerequisites: Upper division standing or consent of instructor.
Description: Intended for meteorology majors. Supervised employment in an academically relevant field of study. Objectives are career development, occupational experience, and educational subsidy. Units do not count toward major. Limited free elective credit is available. CR/NC grading only.
Units: 6-12

METR 694 : Cooperative Education in Meteorology

Prerequisites: Intended for meteorology majors.
Description: Supervised employment in an academically relevant field of study. Objectives are career development, occupational experience, and educational subsidy. Units do not count toward degree. Limited free elective credit is available.
Units: 1-3

METR 697 : Senior Project

Prerequisites: Senior standing in meteorology, 3.0 GPA in major course work, and consent of meteorology faculty adviser.
Description: Directed, original research on a meteorological problem. May be repeated for a total of 6 units.
Units: 1-3

METR 698 : Public Weather Forecasting

Prerequisites: METR 100 or METR 200 and meteorology major or in Broadcast Meteorology Certificate program.
Description: Weather forecasting tailored for public use. Forecasting and nowcasting in the media. Weather briefing duties of intern forecaster. May be repeated for a total of 3 units.
Units: 1-3

METR 699 : Independent Study

Prerequisites: GPA of 3.0 or higher in course work in the major and consent of meteorology or oceanography faculty advisor.
Description: Special study of meteorology or oceanography, directed by a member of the meteorology or oceanography faculty. Written report of work required.
Units: 1-3

METR 700 : Graduate Seminar in Geosciences

Prerequisites: Graduate standing.
Description: Cross listed with GEOL/OCN 700. For course description, see GEOL 700. (May not be repeated under alternate prefix.) Plus-minus letter grade only.
Units: 2
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

METR 701 : Research Methods in Geosciences

Prerequisites: GEOL 700/METR 700/OCN 700 or consent of instructor.
Description: Cross listed with GEOL 701/OCN 701. For course description, see GEOL 701. (May not be repeated under alternate prefix.) (Plus-minus letter grade only.)
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Spring 2013

METR 702 : Quantitative Methods in Geosciences

Prerequisites: Courses in basic statistics, calculus, and computer applications, or consent of instructor.
Description: Cross listed with GEOL/OCN 702. For course description, see GEOL 702. (May not be repeated under alternate prefix.) Classwork, 2 units; laboratory and fieldwork, 1 unit. (Plus-minus letter grade only.)
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

METR 715 : Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere and Ocean

Prerequisites: Graduate or senior standing; MATH 227; and METR 201/OCN 201 or METR 410. PHYS 230 recommended.
Description: For course description, see METR 415. Classwork, 2 units; laboratory, 1 unit. (Paired with METR 415. Students who have completed METR 415 may not take METR 715 for credit.) (Plus-minus letter grade only.)
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Spring 2013

METR 790 : Consulting Meteorology and Oceanography

Prerequisites: Graduate or senior standing in meteorology, oceanography, geology, or geography and consent of instructor.
Description: For course description, see METR 590. Paired with METR 590. Students who have completed METR 590 may not take METR 790 for credit.
Units: 2
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

METR 792 : Our Dynamic Classroom

Prerequisites: Graduate standing or consent of instructor.
Description: Cross listed with GEOL/OCN 792. For course description, see GEOL 792. (May not be repeated under alternate prefix.) May be repeated under same prefix for 3 units for degree credit. Plus-minus letter grade only.
Units: 1
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

METR 798 : Advanced Public Weather Forecasting

Prerequisites: METR 698 and/or consent of instructor.
Description: Direction of a forecast office. Students assume lead forecaster responsibilities in administration of the SFSU Public Weather Forecast Center.
Units: 1-3

METR 800 : Weather Analysis and Forecasting II

Prerequisites: Graduate standing; METR 420 and METR 430GW; concurrent enrollment with METR 520 and/or consent of instructor.
Description: Paired with METR 500. For course description, see METR 500. Students who have completed METR 800 may not take METR 500 for credit.
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

METR 801 : Weather Chart Analysis and Discussion

Prerequisites: Graduate standing or consent of instructor.
Description: Paired with METR 301. For course description, see METR 301. (Students who have completed METR 301 may not take METR 801 for credit.) (Formerly METR 800.)
Units: 1

METR 825 : Synoptic Meteorology of Mid-latitude Oceans

Prerequisites: METR 502 and/or consent of instructor.
Description: Synoptic scale analysis and discussion of the extratropical systems of the mid-latitude oceans. Organized convective systems in the eastern Pacific and adjacent coastal margins. California weather patterns.
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Fall 2010

METR 835 : Analysis and Prediction of Severe Storms

Prerequisites: Graduate or senior standing in meteorology; METR 430 and 520; consent of instructor. Must be taken concurrently with METR 530.
Description: For description, see METR 535. Paired with METR 535. Students who have completed METR 535 may not take METR 835 for credit.
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Fall 2011

METR 896 : Directed Reading in the Geosciences

Prerequisites: Graduate status.
Description: Supervised research in a specific topic, concept, or area chosen on the basis of individual student need. Readings, tutorial discussion, and research report or creative projects required.
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

METR 897 : Research Project

Prerequisites: graduate status; GEOL/METR 700 and 701.
Description: Thesis research incorporates all aspects of investigative studies from data collection to data analysis. May be repeated for a total of 6 units.
Units: 1-3

METR 898 : Master's Thesis

Prerequisites: Graduate status; GEOL 700/METR 700, GEOL 701, and GEOL 702.
Description: Advancement to Candidacy and Proposal for Culminating Experience Requirement forms must be approved by the Graduate Division before registration. (Plus-minus letter grade; no CR/NC allowed; RP)
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

METR 899 : Independent Study

Prerequisites: Graduate status in meteorology; approval of the department and the instructor.
Description: Special study in the laboratory and field under the direction of a member of the department. The student must present a detailed written report of the work accomplished to the faculty of the department. May be repeated for a total of 3 units.
Units: 1-3
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