NOAA approved weather programs?

Question

Which universities in CALIFORNIA have NOAA approved meteorology degrees? If I study there, I would like to make sure I can be apart of NOAA. Which schools can I go to? Preferrably in the Bay Area.

Answer 1

NOAA does not give formal "approval" to schools that have meteorology programs.  To work for NOAA, one simply has to have the requisite course work completed.  For example, for a forecaster position in a current NOAA job opening, here are the educational requirements:

Basic Education Requirements:  Bachelor's degree in Meteorology,

atmospheric science, or other natural science major that included:

1) At least 24 semester hours (36 Quarter hours) in meteorology

including six semester hours in weather analysis and prediction of

weather systems (synoptic/mesocale); six semester hours of

atmospheric dynamics and thermodynamics*; three semester hours of

physical meteorology; and two semester hours of remote sensing of

the atmosphere and/or instrumentation. 2)Six semester hours of

physics with at least one course that includes laboratory sessions*

3) Three semester hours of Ordinary Differential Equations* 4)At

least nine semester hours of course work appropriate for a physical

science major in any combination of three or more of the following:

physical hydrology, statistics, chemistry, physical oceanography,

physical climatology, radiative transfer, aeonomy, advanced

thermodynamics, advanced electricity and magnetism, light and

optics, computer science.

I don't offhand know what schools have these courses offered in the Bay area, but I would think some would.  Good Luck!!

Answer 2

I agree with the answerer above and some schools out that way are UCLA and San Jose state but keep in mind you don't have to have ATMS as a major if you don't want  it; you can major in Physics or mathematics and maybe have a geography degree in your back ground as well. And working for NOAA most of the time you need at least a master's degree so you can do a M.S in ATMS tafter a B.S then or vice versa. Or you can do like me and get your B.S In ATMS and M.S in it as well. But most importantly you have to have those requirement that the guy above listed. They are also on the American Meteorological Society website.

Answer 3

Here is a list with a link to the program offered.  I have also added what I think are their biggest strengths.  

Starting in the Bay Area,

San Francisco State

They are one of the best university that can teach you about severe weather that occurs in the western United States.    

http://www.geosci.sfsu.edu/

Other nearby locations,

Just to the east,

UC Davis

Their program in Agriculture Weather is considered one of the best in the United States.

http://atm.ucdavis.edu/

Just to your south

San Jose State

For a small university, their synotic weather program is well balanced and is considered top notch.  Their program can be compared to some of the bigger and much more well known meteorology/atmospheric science programs found across the United States.

http://www.met.sjsu.edu/

Finally, well south in "SoCal":

UCLA

The largest weather related program in CA.  Its biggest strengths are in research and marine weather.

http://www.atmos.ucla.edu/

All of these university programs can get you into a NOAA NWS forecast office.  If you do get into one of these universities, I would highly recommend that you consider after your freshman year to sign up for a student internship program with one of the local NWS office.  Be aware that many of these internships are non-paid internships (student volunteer program).  If you do well, you may be invited back to a paid internship program.  If do well in school and in the internship, the NWS may open the door wide open for you once you complete your degree program.

For more information on the internship program, see the following link.

http://www.weather.gov/careers.php

Best wishes!