PROGRAM PROPOSAL

Program Title Atmospheric Sciences

Associate of Science
SM - Science, Mathematics, & Engineering
Natural Sciences and Engineering
Division
School
Academic/Catalog Year of Implementation 2016-17
Date of Request 12/01/2015
Type of Request New Program
Fast Track Eligible No
Maura
Hahnenberger
Faculty Contact
Complete the appropriate R401 document for new or significantly revised programs :
R401 Executive Summary: for all Associate of Science (AS) and Associate of Arts (AA) degrees.
R401 Abbreviated Template: for Certificate of Proficiency (CP) and programs that are not financial aid
eligible, program name change, or discontinued program.
R401 Full Template: for financial aid eligible Certificate of Completion (CC) and Associate of Applied
Science (AAS) Degrees.
No R401 required.
Rationale for Request
This program has been designed as a transfer program to the University of Utah BS Atmospheric Sciences program.
Students who complete this program should be prepared to enter the BS program with most of their lower division
requirements completed.
Understanding and practice of Atmospheric Sciences is applicable to numerous 4 year degree programs and careers.
Students who complete the AS Atmospheric Sciences will be well prepared to move into 4 year degree programs in
Atmospheric Sciences, Meteorology, Climate Science, Environmental Studies/Science, Earth System Science, Geography,
Hydrologic Sciences, Applied Physics, and Secondary Science Teaching. Further, this degree will prepare students for 4 year
degrees leading to careers in government (e.g. National Weather Service forecaster, Division of Air Quality scientist), military
(e.g. weather officer, aviation engineer), private industry (e.g. operational weather forecaster, climate risk analyst), media
(e.g. TV meteorologist, environmental reporter), and research science (e.g. atmospheric scientist, climate scientist).

Financial Impact
Most of the required courses and all electives are currently offered. Three new Atmospheric Sciences courses will be added
as core courses for the degree program. One of these courses will additionally be a general education Physical Sciences
course (ATMO 1020 Climate Change).

Impact on Other College Programs

Required and elective courses in the program include currently offered courses in Physics, Chemistry, and Math. It is not
expected that the AS Atmospheric Sciences program would increase enrollment in these courses beyond current capacity.

PCO - AS | SLCC Curriculum & Articulation Office 2015

CATALOG ENTRY
Total Credits/Hours
Program Title Atmospheric Sciences
61.00
Natural Sciences and Engineering
Division
Building SI
Room 241
Taylorsville Redwood Campus
Campus
Webpage http://www.slcc.edu/geosciences
Telephone
(801) 957-4177
Program Advisor Maura Hahnenberger
Academic & Career Advising
Program Faculty Maura Hahnenberger, Adam Dastrup
Program Description
Atmospheric Sciences seeks to understand the behavior and predictability of the Earth's atmosphere. The Atmospheric
Sciences degree program combines courses in meteorology, climate science, mountain weather, air pollution, and other
topics with a foundation in mathematics, physics, and chemistry. The aim of this program is to provide a sufficient academic
background to transfer to BS programs in atmospheric sciences or meteorology and begin the development of skills,
knowledge, and abilities for variety of employment opportunities. Upon transfer to a 4-year institution and completion of a BS
in atmospheric sciences or meteorology students will be qualified for employment in such positions as National Weather
Service forecaster, U.S. Air Force weather officer, broadcast meteorologist, or entrance into MS or PhD graduate programs in
the atmospheric or related environmental sciences.

Career Opportunities

Understanding and practice of Atmospheric Sciences is applicable to numerous 4 year degree programs and careers.
Students who complete the AS Atmospheric Sciences will be well prepared to move into 4 year degree programs in
Atmospheric Sciences, Meteorology, Climate Science, Environmental Studies/Science, Earth System Science, Geography,
Hydrologic Sciences, Applied Physics, and Secondary Science Teaching. Further, this degree will prepare students for 4 year
degrees leading to careers in government (e.g. National Weather Service forecaster, Division of Air Quality scientist), military
(e.g. weather officer, aviation engineer), private industry (e.g. operational weather forecaster, climate risk analyst), media (e.g.
TV meteorologist, environmental reporter), and research science (e.g. atmospheric scientist, climate scientist).

Gainful Employment Information (Only required for Certificates of Completion)

Transfer & Articulation Information

The program is designed for transfer to the BS Atmospheric Sciences program at the University of Utah. However,
requirements are subject to change so it is recommended that students contact an academic advisor for the department and
institution into which they plan to transfer. Further, completion of the AS Atmospheric Sciences does not guarantee admission
into the Atmospheric Sciences program at the University of Utah or any other program or institution.

Program Entry Requirements

Introductory level courses do not have any pre-requisites, however, some of the more advanced courses have math
requirements (e.g. MATH 1210 (QL)).

Estimated Cost for Students (Include any additional fees beyond tuition such as course fees, text books, etc.)
Tuition and fees as published in current catalog.

Estimated Time to Completion (Based on full time minimum of 15 credits per semester)
If students follow the suggested semester schedules, and have completed necessary prerequisites or placement for MATH
1210 (QL), time to completion is four to six semesters. Students not able to take MATH 1210 their first semester may require
additional courses and time for completion.

Specialized Program Accreditation

PCO - AS | SLCC Curriculum & Articulation Office 2015

PROGRAM CURRICULUM OUTLINE (PCO)

Program Learning Outcomes

Related College-Wide Student

Learning Outcomes
1 Acquire substantive knowledge
2 Communicate effectively
3 Develop quantitative literacies
4 Think critically & creatively
5 Become a community engaged learner
6 Work in professional & constructive manner
7 Develop computer & information literacy
8 Develop lifelong wellness

Apply the fundamentals of the atmosphere to analysis and prediction of

severe weather, including but not limited to:
-Analyze weather maps, synthesize data, and formulate predictions.
-Explain the relevance of severe weather to human societies.
-Discriminate conditions leading to a variety of severe weather types.
-Collect relevant and reliable meteorological data to solve problems.

1
2
3
4

5
6
7
8

Investigate natural and human induced variations in Earth's climate

system, including but not limited to:
-Model the essential components of the Earth-Climate system.
-Collect, interpret, analyze, and draw conclusion from climate data.
-Synthesize climate impacts on human and natural systems.
-Justify potential mitigations for or adaptations to climate change.

1
2
3
4

5
6
7
8

Apply basic principles of chemistry and meteorology to the chemical

composition of Earth's atmosphere, including but not limited to:
-Model how natural and human factors determine air quality.
-Diagram chemical and physical processes in the atmosphere.
-Evaluate human health impacts of different air pollutants.
-Predict pollutant concentrations based on collected data

1
2
3
4

5
6
7
8

Analyze the influence of mountains on weather and climate, and

resulting societal impacts, including but not limited to:
-Model how Utah's topography control local and regional climate.
-Predict mountain weather by collecting and analyzing data.
-Design and implement an effective research methodology.
-Draw conclusions and new questions from analyzed data.

1
2
3
4

5
6
7
8

Communicate knowledge of atmospheric science to varied audiences

using multiple communication techniques, including but not limited
-Analyze and describe weather phenomena using multi-media formats.
-Apply knowledge to serve and fulfill an identified community need.
-Communicate climate impacts from an outside perspective.
-Professionally present a research project orally and visually.

1
2
3
4

5
6
7
8

Develop basic skills in math, chemistry, and physics, and apply them to
understanding of the atmosphere, including, but not limited to:
-Implement the basic concepts of calculus to solve problems.
-Explore the fundamentals of inorganic chemistry.
-Utilize calculus in the study of physics, mechanics, & Newton's laws.
-Analyze meteorological data using statistical techniques.

1
2
3
4

5
6
7
8

PCO - AS | SLCC Curriculum & Articulation Office 2015

PROGRAM CURRICULUM OUTLINE (PCO)

Program Learning Outcomes

Related College-Wide Student

Learning Outcomes
1 Acquire substantive knowledge
2 Communicate effectively
3 Develop quantitative literacies
4 Think critically & creatively
5 Become a community engaged learner
6 Work in professional & constructive manner
7 Develop computer & information literacy
8 Develop lifelong wellness

Communicate effectively, including but not limited to:

Students will communicate on topics related to the atmospheric
sciences, math, physics, and chemistry in a manner that is
professional and effective. Students will communicate orally in formal
and informal settings, in writing to a variety of audiences, visually to
professional standards, and in other manners as appropriate.

1
2
3
4

5
6
7
8

Develop quantitative literacies, including but not limited to:

Students will apply quantitative skills to the topics of atmospheric
sciences, math, physics, and chemistry. Students will collect data and
analyze it using quantitative skills including statistical methods,
graphing, mapping, and visualizations.

1
2
3
4

5
6
7
8

Think critically & creatively, including but not limited to:

Students will recognize, interpret, and solve problems related to
atmospheric sciences, math, physics, and chemistry. Students will
apply knowledge to real world problems and combine data and
information from multiple fields of knowledge to develop and justify
solutions.

1
2
3
4

5
6
7
8

Become a community engaged learner, including but not limited to:

Students will recognize the impact of the atmospheric sciences on
local, national, international, and global communities. Students will
explore how environmental justice can be applied to solutions to
weather and climate problems. Students will respond to an identified
community need with a service project using their skills and abilities.

1
2
3
4

5
6
7
8

Work in professional & constructive manner, including but not limited

to:
Students will work with others to solve problems on topics of
atmospheric sciences, math, physics, and chemistry. Students will
coordinate a multi-step group project and produce professional
scientific results that they can be communicated effectively.

1
2
3
4

5
6
7
8

Develop computer & information literacy, including but not limited to:
Students will collect information and data related to the atmospheric
sciences from relevant and appropriate sources, and reference their
sources correctly. Students will analyze atmospheric sciences data
using computer software and produce effective graphs or visualizations
to communicate their results.

1
2
3
4

5
6
7
8

If there are additional learning outcomes for this program, attach additional documentation.
See the SLCC Assessment webpage for additional details about College-Wide Student Learning Outcomes

PCO - AS | SLCC Curriculum & Articulation Office 2015

PROGRAM CURRICULUM OUTLINE (PCO)

GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
Specifying General Education courses requires approval by the SLCC General Education Committee.
For a current list of approved General Education courses, see the SLCC Catalog.
CORE SKILLS
COMPOSITION (EN) 2 courses, 6 credits
ENGL 1010 and
ENGL 2010 or ENGL 2100
Note Students are required to take ENGL 2100.
QUANTITATIVE LITERACY (QL) 1 course, 3-5 credits
MATH 1030
MATH 1040
MATH 1050
MATH 1080
MATH 1090
MATH 1210
Note Students are required to take MATH 1210.
AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS (AI) 1 course, 3 credits
ECON 1740
HIST 1700
or
HIST 2700 and HIST 2710
Note

MATH 1060

POLS 1100

INSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS
LIFELONG WELLNESS (LW) 1 course, 1 credit
Note
STUDENT CHOICE (Chose from either Intensive (IN) or Depth) 1 course, 3 credits
INTENSIVE (IN)
BUS 1010
BUS 2200
COMM 1010
COMM 1020
COMM 1270
PHIL 1250
TECH 1030
or
DEPTH (Any second course from one of the Distribution Areas)
Note
DISTRIBUTION AREAS (One course, 3 credits from each of the following Distribution Areas. One course must
also be co-designated as a Diversity (DV) course).
FINE ARTS (FA)
HUMANITIES (HU)
INTERDISCIPLINARY (ID)
LIFE SCIENCES (LS)
PHYSICAL SCIENCES (PS)
SOCIAL SCIENCE (SS)
Note Physical Science (PS) is satisfied through pre-major coursework. The following courses are
recommended to fulfill HU, ID, and LS requirements: PHIL 2300 (HU), GEOG 1800 (ID), BIOL
1400/1405 (LS).

PCO - AS | SLCC Curriculum & Articulation Office 2015

PROGRAM CURRICULUM OUTLINE (PCO)

REQUIRED COURSES
Prefix

Number

ATMO

1010

Severe and Haz. Weather (PS)

ATMO

1020

Climate Change (PS)

ATMO

2100

Air Pollution and Atm. Chem.

ATMO

2200

Mountain Weather and Climate

CHEM

1210

General Chemistry I

CHEM

1215

General Chemistry Lab I

MATH

1220

Calculus II

PHYS

2210

Physics for Sci & Eng I

PHYS

2215

Physics for Sci & Eng Lab I

Title

TOTAL:

Cr/Hrs Semester Taught Prerequisite

All
Yes
No
3
All
Yes
No
3
Spring
Yes
No
3
Fall
Yes
No

4
All
Yes
No
1
All
Yes
No
All
4
Yes
No
4
All
Yes
No
1
All
Yes
No
Select One:
Yes
No
Select One:
Yes
No
Select One:
Yes
No
Select One:
Yes
No
Select One:
Yes
No
Select One:
Yes
No
Select One:
Yes
No
Select One:
Yes
No
Select One:
Yes
No
Select One:
Yes
No
Select One:
Yes
No
Select One:
Yes
No
Select One:
Yes
No
Select One:
Yes
No
Select One:
Yes
No
Select One:
Yes
No
Select One:
Yes
No
Select One:
Yes
No
Select One:
Yes
No
Select One:
Yes
No
Select One:
Yes
No
Select One:
Yes
No
Select One:
Yes
No
Select One:
Yes
No
Select One:
Yes
No
Select One:
Yes
No
Select One:
Yes
No
Select One:
Yes
No
Select One:
Yes
No
Select One:
Yes
No
3

26

PCO - AS | SLCC Curriculum & Articulation Office 2015

PROGRAM CURRICULUM OUTLINE (PCO)

ELECTIVE COURSES
Elective requirements:

Complete 3-5 credit hours from the following courses.

Prefix

Number

Title

CHEM

1220

General Chemistry II

CHEM

1225

General Chemistry Lab II

MATH

2210

Multivariate Calculus

MATH

2250

Differential Eq/Linear Algebra

PHYS

2220

Physics for Sci & Eng II

PHYS

2225

Physics for Sci & Eng Lab II

TOTAL:

Cr/Hrs Semester Taught Prerequisite

4
All
Yes
No
1
All
Yes
No
3
All
Yes
No
4
All
Yes
No
4
All
Yes
No
Yes
1
All
No
Yes
Select One:
No
Yes
Select One:
No
Yes
Select One:
No
Yes
Select One:
No
Yes
Select One:
No
Yes
Select One:
No
Yes
Select One:
No
Yes
Select One:
No
Yes
Select One:
No
Yes
Select One:
No
Yes
Select One:
No
Yes
Select One:
No
Yes
Select One:
No
Yes
Select One:
No
Yes
Select One:
No
Yes
Select One:
No
Yes
Select One:
No
Yes
Select One:
No
Yes
Select One:
No
Yes
Select One:
No
Yes
Select One:
No
Yes
Select One:
No
Yes
Select One:
No
Yes
Select One:
No
Yes
Select One:
No
Yes
Select One:
No
Yes
Select One:
No
Yes
Select One:
No
Yes
Select One:
No
Yes
Select One:
No
Yes
Select One:
No
17

PCO - AS | SLCC Curriculum & Articulation Office 2015

Semester
Course

Fall

RECOMMENDED SAMPLE SCHEDULE

Semester Spring
Cr/Hrs
Course

Cr/Hrs

ATMO

1010 (PS)

ATMO

1020 (PS)

CHEM

1210

ENGL

2100 (EN)

CHEM

1215

GEOG

1800 (ID) (recommended)

ENGL

1010 (EN)

MATH

1220

MATH

1210 (QL)

Distribution (SS)

Total
Semester
Course

Total

15

16

Fall

Semester
Cr/Hrs
Course

Spring

ATMO

2200

ATMO

2100

PHIL

2300 (HU) (recommended)

BIOL

1400/1405 (LS) (recommended)

PHYS

2210

AI

PHYS

2215

Student Choice

Distribution (FA)

Elective

LW

Total
Semester
Course

Total

15

Semester
Cr/Hrs
Course

Select One:

Total

Cr/Hrs

16

Select One:

Cr/Hrs

Total

Advising Notes
Students needing to take classes to meet prerequisites of first semester courses should plan on extra time for program
completion. For students not able to take MATH 1210 upon entering the program should take MATH 1080 as a prerequisite
for MATH 1210 and CHEM 1210. Courses recommended to fulfill the HU, ID, and LS general education requirements are not
required. Some of the junior (5000) level courses in the BS Atmospheric Sciences courses at the University of Utah have
Additional
Program
Notes
prerequisites
of MATH
1220 and PHYS 2210. Students are encouraged to contact their intended transfer institution and
department for up to date program information.

PCO - AS | SLCC Curriculum & Articulation Office 2015