Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences

Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences BS Learning Outcomes

The Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences major has the following learning outcomes:

• Display mastery of basic principles and tools of science: calculus, physics, chemistry, computer programming, and writing
• Display fundamental understanding of atmospheric and oceanic sciences
• Demonstrated analytical and mathematical skills through application of learned concepts and tools to solve theoretical, computational, and empirical problems
• Ability to apply knowledge to independently identify, analyze, and understand real-world problems and issues
• Demonstrated effective oral and written communication of results and conclusions of investigative work

Required: Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences 51, 90; Chemistry and Biochemistry 14A and 14B, or 20A and 20B; Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences 71 (preferred) or Program in Computing 10A; Mathematics 3A, 3B, and 3C, or 31A, 31B, 32A, 32B, 33A, and 33B; Physics 1A, 1B, and 1C, or 1AH, 1BH, and 1CH, or 5A, 5B, and 5C.

Students interested in pursuing graduate studies in atmospheric and oceanic sciences or obtaining employment with the National Weather Service or other government agencies are strongly urged to select the Mathematics 31A through 33B sequence and the Physics 1 sequence.

Transfer applicants to the Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences major with 90 or more units must complete as many of the following introductory courses as possible prior to admission to UCLA: one year of calculus, one year of calculus-based physics with laboratory, one general chemistry course with laboratory for majors, and one MATLAB, Python, or C++ programming course.

Refer to the UCLA transfer admission guide for up-to-date information regarding transfer selection for admission.

Required: Four courses from Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences 101, 103, 104, M105, 107, 112, three additional upper-division atmospheric sciences courses selected in consultation with the undergraduate advisers, and two upper-division courses from a list of chemistry, mathematics, physics, and statistics courses selected in consultation with the undergraduate advisers.

Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences 199 (independent research) taken for 4 units may be units to satisfy one upper-division elective. Thesis approval required from faculty adviser and submitted to department student affairs officer.