Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Overview

You're now viewing the 2024-25 Catalog

College of Letters and Science

7127 Mathematical Sciences
Box 951565
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1565

Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
310-825-1217
Department e-mail

  • Suzanne E. Paulson, PhD, Chair
    Marcelo Chamecki, PhD, Vice Chair

The atmospheric and oceanic sciences present a wide variety of problems of compelling scientific interest and increasing social concern. This is exemplified by efforts to improve air quality, depredations caused by severe storms and floods, attempts to control or modify weather phenomena, problems of long-range weather forecasts, climate change, and predictions, and expanding scientific frontiers into our outer atmosphere and atmospheres of other planets.

The Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences offers a broad curriculum in dynamic and synoptic meteorology, atmospheric physics and chemistry, and upper atmosphere and space physics.

The Bachelor of Science (BA) degree qualifies students for entry-level technical positions or represents valuable background for training in other professions. Master of Science (MS) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree holders work in universities, research centers, laboratories, and government services and, increasingly, in the rapidly burgeoning private sector.

Course Numbering

Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences courses are organized by number into the categories shown.

Course NumbersCategory
210–229Dynamic and Synoptic Meteorology
230–249Atmospheric Physics and Chemistry
250–269Upper Atmosphere and Space Physics
270–599Special Studies