Online Meteorology School?

[ConvergenceZone]

Hi all,
just wondering if anyone knows of an online meteorology school/college program?. A long time ago, there use to be something called meteorological institute. It was really cool. It allowed someone to be qualified for working taking weather observations working for a local weather station etc.... The beauty of it is that it was all done online, kinda like a correspondence type course. It was around for a few years, but now I can't find it. They use to adverties it in the magazine "weatherwise" quite a bit.

I'm hoping there's something similar, but having a hard time finding anything that doesn't take place at an actual university where you are required to be there. I keep thinking there has be something out there.

Thanks in advance!

[Geomagnetic Man]

Penn State Online, not for the degree, but for the credits, and cert..After that you can use it to gain degrees

[ConvergenceZone]

Penn State Online, not for the degree, but for the credits, and cert..After that you can use it to gain degrees

Hmm, I thought I looked there, but they were only offering 1 course is all and it appeared to be geared more towards broadcasters who need to report on weather situations, but I didn't read where you could use to gain a degree with. I guess I'll have to check again.

[WindRunner]

I know someone (senorpepr?) posted this a long time ago, but it's just a reference/tutorial site, you can't use it for anything like a degree, but it's pretty informative.

http://meted.ucar.edu/

[Skywatch_NC]

MS State has a nice online met program, too, from what I hear.

Eric

[Aslkahuna]

Given the complexity of the course work required for an undergraduate degree in Meteorology, it's far wiser to take those courses live rather than online since it's easier to interface with the instructor or TA after class if you need assistance.

Steve

[ConvergenceZone]

Thanx all for those suggestions. I'll have to take a look at them. Right now, I'm more interested in it as a hobby. I've had a passion for weather every since I can remember. When I was younger, I wouldn't miss the weather reports on tv. It was almost an obsession with me. I'd stare out the window and watch the clouds come in and do experiments with jars and water to watch evaporation and condensation take place. I use to also check out weather books in the local library and bring them over and read them over and over. When I was growing up, I was more concerned about what the weather was going to be, as opposed to playing sports and finding a fast car to drive. The only thing that turned me off of pursuing my interest is the physics involved(I'm not math minded) as well as the low salaries(according to the website which track average salaries for workers. Now that I'm 40, I know it's too late to pursue this anyway, but at least I can maybe take a few courses in it, because I enjoy it so much.

One tip I have for others. If you feel a passion for something, DO IT!! Doni't make the mistake of waiting so long in life when you can no longer afford to go to college. Weather has always been my passion/obsession in life, and now I'm stuck doing something for a career that I hate.

I'm not whining, just hoping that by others reading this, that they follow their heart and dreams of being a meteorologist if that's what they really want to do....

[arizonasooner]

Bite the bullet already and go to a real meteorology school.

Oklahoma (my alma mater) is great for severe weather and synoptic studies, while Florida State is the tropical meteorology place.

I've heard Illinois and Washington are also very good.

Do it!!!

[terstorm1012]

http://www.grad.usda.gov

HAs a certificate that is AMS certified....correspondense as well.

That Met institute you mentioned.....I remember seeing it too...I think it was based in Montana.

[ConvergenceZone]

www.grad.usda.gov

HAs a certificate that is AMS certified....correspondense as well.

That Met institute you mentioned.....I remember seeing it too...I think it was based in Montana.

wow thanx a bunch, the best yet!! cool courses offered. My take is that if I take a program such as the one you mentioned and 2 or 3 courses into it I really enjoy it, then perhaps I'll know if it's for me. I already have a 30 K student loan oustanding due to my B.S in Information Technology, so I really can't afford to make a mistake. These prices here are reasonable for the meteorology certification. True, it won't get me a job, but may steer me in the right direction for getting a degree later, or at the worst, it will enable me to enjoy my hobby more.

Thanks again!!!!

[ConvergenceZone]

www.grad.usda.gov

HAs a certificate that is AMS certified....correspondense as well.

That Met institute you mentioned.....I remember seeing it too...I think it was based in Montana.

wow thanx a bunch, the best yet!! cool courses offered. My take is that if I take a program such as the one you mentioned and 2 or 3 courses into it I really enjoy it, then perhaps I'll know if it's for me. I already have a 30 K student loan oustanding due to my B.S in Information Technology, so I really can't afford to make a mistake. These prices here are reasonable for the meteorology certification. True, it won't get me a job, but may steer me in the right direction for getting a degree later, or at the worst, it will enable me to enjoy my hobby more.

Thanks again!!!!

Another thing I noticed is that it does require college algebra and physics, so I have to take those classes prior. I had up to Trig in College. I'm confused though, because I thought they used Calculus in Physics? but it only says Algebra and Physics. A good friend of mine who's a meteorologist told me that I should write every single weather service office I can get a hold of and see if they have any general computer based jobs. He knows of a couple of folks who got in the door that way and then furthered their education taking various meteorological courses. He told me that sometimes ya just got to think outside of the box when it comes to finding what you want.

[terstorm1012]

I'm actually going back to school for this field, in about 2 years. It'll take about that much to save up while paying off my current student loans (yuck). To catch up on the math stuff, I'm either going to take math classes at night at my local community college (and try to sucker my employer into paying for it. . . muhahahahaha) . .. or I'm going to self-study.

I did have Calc in college, but it was known as "Calc for Poets" that is, no good for a science background and barely good for a business background. I kept the book, and bought "Calc for Dummies." I also bought an intro physics book (published by Barrons) and looking for an intro Statistics book. I'll probably buy Statistics for Dummies. If they need the prereq class and not my self study, I can always take a CLEP exam which gives you college credit and costs about 60 or 70 bucks.

Good luck to you!

[ConvergenceZone]

good for you testorm1012, that's awesome!!!
My ONLY fear is, if I decide to do this, by the time I finish with all of the courses, I may be in my upper 40's. Is that too late to enter that field?? According to that website, the certification covers many of the required courses for a degree in Meteorology, but not all of them. I'm sure that many of my general ed classes I took for my B.S degree I got in IT will satisfy the ones for Met, but I'm still wondering if entering that particular field in my late 40s is too late or not. I try and stay optimistic and tell my self that even if I didn't enter the field until the age of 50, at least I know I'd have 15 good solid years of doing something I absolutely love. I think my age of 40 is the only thing that's discouraging me at this point.

Another thing is that the website says "physics" is required, but doesn't say what types of "physics" course. The "physics" course seems to be the only one not offered online at that site. Is it "Quantum Physics"? "General Physics"? etc... I doubt that there are any Physics classes offered online, LOL, due to lab work, but these days, ya never know!!

[SEAZSky]

Here is the link to the Mississippi State offering
that "Skywatch_NC" posted on Oct. 29th:

http://www.theweatherprediction.com/

But, who will be giving you the periodic exams?

Stan

[ConvergenceZone]

thanx for the info SEAZSky,
but I think I'm going to stick to that AMS certification that someone posted earlier. I talked to a friend of mine who's a meteorologist and he tells me he'll get me a job if I get that certification, but that I may have to take some additional courses while I'm employed... That made my day . Now I can start working towards my goal of working a job studying something I actually enjoy ...off to register for the college algebra class. I have 2 hard years ahead of me before I get to the meat of the material.

[terstorm1012]

thats great to hear buddy!

[Brett Adair]

Here is the link to the Mississippi State offering
that "Skywatch_NC" posted on Oct. 29th:

http://www.theweatherprediction.com/

But, who will be giving you the periodic exams?

Stan

I am a MSU online student. You are given tests and due dates through an online portal. You actually have professors teaching you through chat rooms, forums, and DVD's that you are sent. The MSU program will give you credits towards a degree and several graduates have actually went on to become broadcast meteorologists. I am working towards going to WBRC-TV FOX 6 in Birmingham, Alabama.

MSU is great and I encourage all to check it out. We have great staff and support on any issues that we have.

[Brett Adair]

thanx for the info SEAZSky,
but I think I'm going to stick to that AMS certification that someone posted earlier. I talked to a friend of mine who's a meteorologist and he tells me he'll get me a job if I get that certification, but that I may have to take some additional courses while I'm employed... That made my day . Now I can start working towards my goal of working a job studying something I actually enjoy ...off to register for the college algebra class. I have 2 hard years ahead of me before I get to the meat of the material.

Can you just take the test to get AMS certified? How does that work? I haven't really been able to look into that lately...

[P.K.]

Given the complexity of the course work required for an undergraduate degree in Meteorology, it's far wiser to take those courses live rather than online since it's easier to interface with the instructor or TA after class if you need assistance.

I'd have to agree with that although I can't speak for met courses over there.

[arizonasooner]

My opinions are in line with those of P.K.

No on-line or remote "degree" can compare to an actual degree in Meteorology from a real university.