approval form for - Department of Geosciences - Mississippi State ...

APPROVAL FORM FOR
DEGREE PROGRAMS
MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY
NOTE: This form is a cover sheet that must accompany the degree program change proposal. The actual proposal
should be prepared in accordance with format requirements provided in the Guide and Format for Curriculum Proposals
published by the UCCC. Both cover sheet and proposal should be submitted, along with all required copies, to UCCC,
Mail Stop 9699 (25 Morgan Ave), Phone: 325-0831.
College: Arts & Sciences Department: Geosciences
Contact Person: Grady Dixon Mail Stop: 9537 E-mail: grady.dixon@msstate.edu
Nature of Change: Modification Date Initiated: 5/9/2011 Effective Date: Spring 2012
Current Degree Program Name: Certificate in Operational Meteorology
Major: N/A
Concentration: N/A
New Degree Program Name: Certificate in Operational Meteorology
Major: N/A
Concentration: N/A
Summary of Proposed Changes:
Delete GR 4663 and GR 4673
Add GR 4473 (Numerical Weather Prediction) and 4753
Approved:
Date:
______________________________________ ___________________________________
Department Head
______________________________________
Chair, College or School Curriculum Committee
______________________________________
Dean of College or School
______________________________________
Chair, University Committee on Courses and Curricula
______________________________________
Chair, Graduate Council (if applicable)
______________________________________
Chair, Deans Council
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
IHL Action Required
SACS Letter Sent

CURRICULUM OUTLINE TABLE
Bold = add; Italics = delete
CURRENT Certificate Description
Certificate in Operational Meteorology
Successful completion of the 52 credit hours
offered in the OMP can lead to a Certificate in
Operational Meteorology from Mississippi State
University. In order to receive the certificate, the
Department of Geosciences requires successful
completion of the 17 courses with a grade of "C" or
better. After completion of the 52 credit hours,
students must be present at the Summer Workshop
(four days) in August in order to receive the
certificate. However, those who provide
documentation of being active duty military will be
exempt from the Workshop requirement as the
military provides abundant experience in hands-on
forecasting that exceeds the hands-on experience
gained at the workshop. The workshop includes a
series of hands-on sessions presented by MSU
faculty, the National Weather Service and other
experts. After the workshop, students complete the
final exam via the internet. Students must score a
minimum of 80% to be awarded the certificate.
Students are allowed up to three attempts to score
80% or better on the exam.
CURRENT CURRICULUM OUTLINE
FIRST YEAR:
GR 1114 Physical Geography
GR 1123 World Geography
GR 1603 Introduction to Meteorology
GR 4603 Climatology
GR 4813 Natural Hazards & Processes
PROPOSED Certificate Description
Certificate in Operational Meteorology
Successful completion of the 52 credit hours
offered in the OMP can lead to a Certificate in
Operational Meteorology from Mississippi State
University. In order to receive the certificate, the
Department of Geosciences requires successful
completion of the 17 courses with a grade of "C" or
better. After completion of the 52 credit hours,
students must be present at the Summer Workshop
(four days) in August in order to receive the
certificate. However, those who provide
documentation of being active duty military will be
exempt from the Workshop requirement as the
military provides abundant experience in hands-on
forecasting that exceeds the hands-on experience
gained at the workshop. The workshop includes a
series of hands-on sessions presented by MSU
faculty, the National Weather Service and other
experts. After the workshop, students complete the
final exam via the internet. Students must score a
minimum of 80% to be awarded the certificate.
Students are allowed up to three attempts to score
80% or better on the exam.
Required PROPOSED CURRICULUM OUTLINE
Hours
52 FIRST YEAR:
GR 1114 Physical Geography
GR 1123 World Geography
GR 1603 Introduction to Meteorology
GR 4603 Climatology
GR 4813 Natural Hazards & Processes
Required
Hours
SECOND YEAR:
GR 4713 Synoptic Meteorology
GR 4633 Statistical Climatology
GG 3613 Water Resources
GR 4663 Satellite Meteorology
GR 4613 Applied Climatology
GR 4673 Radar Meteorology
THIRD YEAR:
GR 4623 Physical Meteorology
GR 4913 Thermodynamic Meteorology
GR 4923 Severe Weather
GR 4443 Weather Prediction I
GR 4453 Weather Prediction II
GG 3603 Oceanography
SECOND YEAR:
GR 4713 Synoptic Meteorology
GR 4633 Statistical Climatology
GG 3613 Water Resources
GR 4753 Satellite & Radar Meteorology
GR 4613 Applied Climatology
GR 4473 Numerical Weather Prediction
THIRD YEAR:
GR 4623 Physical Meteorology
GR 4913 Thermodynamic Meteorology
GR 4923 Severe Weather
GR 4443 Weather Prediction I
GR 4453 Weather Prediction II
GG 3603 Oceanography

JUSTIFICATION AND LEARNING OUTCOMES
The curriculum for the Operational Meteorology Certificate is being changed to improve the
consistency and efficiency of the Department of Geosciences. These changes will allow the
students in this certificate program to receive an education more like that of our on-campus
(Campus 1), degree-seeking students, and it will streamline the administration of courses and
curricula on both Campus 1 and Campus 5.
1. This program change will enable the Operational Meteorology Program to continue to
meet a national educational need as undereducated operational meteorologists, especially
those working as forecasters in the military, will be able to improve their knowledge of
weather and forecasting.
2. This program change will reduce duplication in the system as there will be only one
course offered by our department for satellite and radar meteorology. Currently, there are
three such classes with the content of two being duplicated in the third.
3. This program change is not expected to alter student diversity within the discipline.
4. This program change is not expected to increase the potential placement of graduates in
MS, the Southeast, or the U.S.
5. This program change is not expected to increase the potential salaries of graduates in MS,
the Southeast, or the U.S.
SUPPORT
A letter of support from Doug Gillham, Director of Distance Learning for the Department of
Geosciences, is included at the end of this proposal.
PROPOSED 4-LETTER ABBREVIATION
OMET
EFFECTIVE DATE
January 6, 2012