Get A Master's In Meteorology

With a master’s in meteorology from Florida Tech, students develop extensive knowledge and skillsets in many areas of Earth science, including weather forecasting, climatology, atmospheric dynamics, storms and hurricanes, atmospheric physics, and global climate change. Master's students in meteorology become experts in math and physics, gaining in-depth exposure to other scientific disciplines including oceanography, ocean engineering, environmental science, climate science, and remote sensing. Importantly, they learn to analyze 'big data,' a critical component of any scientist's skillset.

Hands-on Experience in a Unique Meteorological Setting

Because Florida Tech is located at the boundary between tropical and subtropical weather patterns, and Florida is the lightning capital of the world, students gain unique fieldwork experience at Patrick Space Force Base and the Kennedy Space Center with some of the most respected weather experts in the world.

Florida Tech's master’s program in meteorology provides training for students interested in becoming broadcast meteorologists, world weather experts, storm trackers, or weather researchers.

Our close-knit educational community provides graduate students with small class sizes, where professors mentor students for success. A personalized learning environment allows students the opportunity to work alongside professionals in the industry to develop real-world skills in vital weather-related research, making them attractive candidates to employers.

Experienced Interdisciplinary Faculty

The faculty is a mix of environmental scientists, oceanographers, meteorologists, and ocean engineers who are active in research. The faculty in meteorology are atmospheric scientists who are members of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, the American Meteorological Society, the Florida Academy of Sciences, and the National Center for Atmospheric Research. The interdisciplinary program also includes mathematicians, physicists, and engineers who collectively bring a wealth of knowledge to mentoring graduate students.

High-Tech Research Facilities

Students have access to the National Weather Service site in Melbourne, Fla., as well as the 45th Weather Squadron at Patrick Space Force Base. On campus, Florida Tech also provides state-of-the-art facilities and laboratories in the F.W. Olin Engineering Complex and F.W. Olin Life Sciences Building. Research facilities include:

• Synoptic Meteorology Laboratory—This lab includes computers optimized for weather data acquisition and analysis.
• Wind and Hurricane Impacts Research Laboratory (WHIRL)—The WHIRL facility is designed for study on the impacts of windstorms including hurricanes, tornadoes, thunderstorms, and other related meteorological hazards. Students have access to a wind tunnel, wave tank, coastal processes lab, an environmental optics and remote sensing lab, and a fleet of 50 single and multiengine airplanes.
• Adjunct Facilities—Other facilities include the National Weather Service, Kennedy Space Center, the 45th USAF Weather Squadron, and several private company facilities that support student research including Harris Corp. and ENSCO.

Professional Organizations

The Florida Tech student chapter of the American Meteorological Society (FITSCAMS) actively participates in the Cape Canaveral AMS Chapter. Several students attend the annual AMS conference.

The Research Recap Project

Working toward a master’s degree in meteorology, students embark on a variety of advanced research experiences that include the Research Recap, in which students conduct research with marine meteorologists and oceanographers doing mesoscale weather system research on improving coastal forecasts of hazardous atmospheric and oceanic conditions including surface waves and rip currents. Research allows students to investigate topics that most interest them, and could include such other studies such as wind and wave nowcasting, gamma rays, and hurricane and lightning research (involving access to largest X-ray array in the world for measuring lightning).

Research at Florida Tech also includes working with the 45th Weather Squadron in tropical cyclone research. This involves students in high-wind and -wave forecasting and evaluation of the National Hurricane Center’s wind speed probability forecasts.

Careers in Meteorology

Career options include forecasting, weather-data analysis, developing new weather-data equipment, and working alongside other professionals in need of weather information.

Since weather is everywhere, and climate affects everyone on Earth, a meteorology career can be found all over the world in a variety of different jobs. Developing forecasts, collecting and compiling data, assisting in the development of new weather data equipment, or advising employers and clients on the risks and opportunities caused by weather and climate change are just some of the careers options for graduates. A meteorology career could also include:

• Broadcasting weather reports via Internet, radio, and television
• Observing weather to advise military commanders
• Forecasting for the travel industry
• Managing and stabilizing needs by power companies
• Advising safety agencies on weather-related emergency responses
• Working with farmers and other agricultural concerns
• Providing information to city managers and other public agencies that interact with a host of organizations such as hospitals, stadiums, shopping malls, schools, etc.
• Producing weather maps and graphics
• Writing computer models and other programs that analyze and report weather data

Students who graduate with their master’s in meteorology from Florida Tech have gone to work for employers such as NOAA's National Weather Service, NASA, and Executive Jet.

Career Outlook

The Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the US Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), provides detailed information about hundreds of occupations, including entry-level education, overall working environment, and employment prospects.

The Bureau states that opportunities for a meteorology career are projected to grow by 10% through 2022, as the need for meteorologists and atmospheric scientists in private industry increases. New computer models have improved forecast accuracy and given scientists the ability to provide specialized information to businesses. The global economic environment demands that business understand how weather is affecting operational concerns such as the flow of goods, shipping delays, international executive travel, and more.

Life-, physical-, and social-science occupations will also expand meteorology careers by 10%, according to the BLS, as meteorologists work with other professionals in energy, transportation, agriculture, and with environmental organizations on such activities as planning new wind farms for electricity, or researching how climate change affects water supply.

Career Options

Florida Tech graduates can find different options for a meteorology career including:

• Meteorologist
• Weather forecaster
• Climate scientist
• Broadcast meteorologist
• Environmental engineer
• Environmental scientist
• Earth remote sensing scientist
• Air quality scientist
• Physicist
• Climate change analyst
• Oceanographic engineer
• Instructor