How do I become a Meteorologist?
Someone who wants to become a meteorologist will need a bachelor’s degree, at a minimum, and advanced study may be required for many subfields within the meteorology field. People who are interested in working as meteorologists should also consider the fact that the job often has long, unpredictable hours, because meteorologists must be available in an on-call capacity to deal with rapidly developing weather systems. The work can also be quite varied, and another thing to think about is what type of meteorologist one would like to become. Some meteorologists work for government agencies, forecasting the weather and providing information to the public. Others work as broadcasters, providing weather information on television or the radio. While these two fields are probably the most famous, there are some other kinds of work in the meteorology field to think about for someone who wants to become a meteorologist. For example, some meteorologists specialize in paleoclimatology, which is th
Those who pursue research and teaching will go beyond a four-year degree and seek a masters or doctorate. Some who take the research route may hold an undergraduate degree in one of the sciences or mathematics—but not meteorology. In some cases, a degree in math, physics, or chemistry followed by a Master’s and doctorate in meteorology are be the best track for researchers. Some of the top graduate schools in meteorology encourage students to receive undergraduate degrees in math or physics rather than meteorology. But for those who love the weather, waiting until graduate school for meteorology courses may be too long. It was for me. So for all who want to grow up and be called a “meteorologist,” the message is math, science, math, science …. Study hard, make some sacrifices, and the rewards will most assuredly be there. In more than 25 years of college teaching, I have never failed to place a student who had a B average or better. Which brings us to the next subject.
Well, from my understanding, most meteorologists have a masters degree. So, since you already hold a bachelors degree, you should be able to apply to the masters program and then start taking the courses necessary to become a meteorologist. You may need to take some more science courses if the masters program requires them for entrance. If you seriously want to become a meteorologist, taking these science courses should not bother you, since the majority of what a meteorologist does is all science related. If you dislike science, this is not the career path for you!
