•     GEOG 101 Earth Sea Sky (3)
•     GEOG 230 Elementary Meteorology (3)
•     GEOG 330 Weather Analysis (3)
•     GEOG 331 Global Climatology (3)
•     GEOG 410 Broadcast Meteorology (3)
•     GEOG 450 Severe Local Storms (3)

This minor is intended for students with career interests in the broadcast industry. The course work sequence is designed to prepare future weathercasters for the increasing expectations and demands of the twenty-first century and to ready them for the successful completion of the National Weather Association Weathercaster Seal of Approval examination.

Quality weathercasters must have a thorough understanding of basic meteorological theory and be able to utilize the rapidly evolving technology necessary to analyze atmospheric conditions. The current and future trends will be for media executives to hire weathercasters with real meteorological backgrounds, as opposed to the pure "personalities" of the past. This means that most television stations are looking for individuals who have earned weathercasting seals of approval. In fact, many stations now market their newscasts based on these seals of approval. The principle meteorological theory necessary to begin building a solid background is presented in Elementary Meteorology (GEOG 230), while Weather Analysis (GEOG 330) is dedicated to the understanding of satellite and radar systems, products, and interpretation skills, and familiarization with the numerical weather prediction methods critical in understanding modern forecasting methods.

A new course addition, Severe Local Storms (GEOG 450), will provide students a thorough review of the processes and events associated with severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. This is very important to future weathercasters who will have the responsibility to present critical information to the public regarding life-threatening severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. This class is further supported through our extracurricular Storm Chase Team, and a second new course, Field Observation of Severe Local Storms (GEOG 490). This course includes a four-week field trip to the Great Plains to observe tornadoes and severe thunderstorms. Although GEOG 490 is not a minor-course requirement, the experience gained in completing this course will be quite valuable for future weathercasters who may be asked to accompany their station's camera crews into the field to provide live reports on evolving severe weather events.

A third new course, Broadcast Meteorology (GEOG 410), has been designed specifically for students selecting the minor in operational meteorology and climatology. This course provides a survey of the broadcast seal of approval programs, a history of weathercasting, the weathercaster's relationship with the National Weather Service, technology used in weathercasting, diversity in the workplace, and careers within the industry.

The minor is rounded out through a comprehensive study of the global climate system in Global Climatology (GEOG 331).