We offer 5 programs as part of our undergraduate studies here at the department of AOS. Besides a Honours, Major and a Minor in Atmospheric Science, we also offer a combined Major with Physics and a Liberal program. All of these programs are part of the Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree.
For more details on each program, please听click on the tab with the program name in the table below.听
Students are also encouraged to meet with an academic advisors either at the听Faculty Student Affairs Office or in the department to plan their academic program and to make sure they meet all program/ degree听requirements for graduation. For more information on academic advising, please consult听section 'Advising' under the tab 'Student Services' on the Current undergraduate students page.
- Major
- Honours
- Minor
- Major in Atmospheric Science and Physics
- Liberal program with Atmospheric Science as Core Component
Major Program in Atmospheric Science
The Major program satisfies the requirements for a professional career as a meteorologist, and like the Honours program equips the student to undertake postgraduate study in meteorology, atmospheric science, and related sciences (for example, physical oceanography) at any of the leading universities.
The program requires听completion of 62 credits;听24 credits from required courses and 38 credits from complementary courses. When choosing from complementary courses, 21 credits must be selected from core courses and 15-17 credits from one of the four choices of concentrations/ streams.听
Below, we have listed the听credit requirements for various components of a Major program in AOS. All the courses that may be offered to the students are also listed. However, please note 1) all courses are 3 credits unless otherwise indicated 2) some courses are not offered every year.
For course descriptions and听more details on the course restrictions听here. A printable and most up-to-date version of Major program requirements can be found on the听McGill's course calendar website:听e-course calendar for undergraduates (section 11.13.3.6 on page 1426).
Required Courses (24 credits)
Student must take all of the courses listed below:
ATOC 214听Intro:Physics of the Atmosphere
ATOC 312听Rotating Fluid Dynamics听
ATOC 315听Thermodynamics and Convection听
COMP 208听Computers in Engineering听
MATH 222听Calculus 3听
MATH 223听Linear Algebra听
MATH 314听Advanced Calculus听
MATH 315听Ordinary Differential Equations听
Complementary Courses (38 credits)
36-38 credits
Note: Students are required to fulfill the core complementary requirements along with one of the four streams listed below. In cases of overlap, each course can only be used once toward the satisfaction of the core complementary courses or the chosen stream.
Core (21 credits)
3-6 credits selected from:
ATOC 215听Oceans, Weather and Climate听
ATOC 219听Intro to Atmospheric Chemistry* (taught in alternate years)
CHEM 219听Intro to Atmospheric Chemistry*听(taught in alternate years)
* Note: students may select ATOC 219 or CHEM 219 but not both.
3 credits selected from:
ATOC 357听Atmospheric & Oceanic Sci Lab听
PHYS 257听Experimental Methods 1听
3 credits selected from:
PHYS 230听Dynamics of Simple Systems听
PHYS 251听Honours Classical Mechanics 1
3 credits selected from:
PHYS 232听Heat and Waves听
PHYS 253听Thermal Physics听
6-9 credits selected from:
CHEM 213听Introductory Phys Chem1:Thermo听
CHEM 273听Intro Phys Chem2:Kinetics & Methods听
CHEM 367听Instrumental Analysis 1听
CHEM 575听Chemical Kinetics
MATH 203听Principles of Statistics 1*听听
MATH 317听Numerical Analysis听
MATH 319听Intro to Partial Diff Equations听
MATH 323听Probability听
MATH 324听Statistics*听
PHYS 333听Thermal & Statistical Physics听
PHYS 340听Majors Electricity & Magnetism**听
PHYS 342听Majors Electromagnetic Waves***听
PHYS 350听Hons Electricity & Magnetism**听
PHYS 352听Honours Electromagnetic Waves***听
* Students cannot receive credit for both MATH 203 and MATH 324.
** Students cannot receive credit for both PHYS 340 and PHYS 350.
*** Students cannot receive credit for both PHYS 342 and PHYS 352.
Weather Analysis and Forecasting Stream (17 credits)
13 credits from:
ATOC 309听Weather Radars and Satellites听
ATOC 521听Cloud Physics听
ATOC 540听Synoptic Meteorology 1听
ATOC 541Synoptic Meteorology 2听
ATOC 546听Current Weather Discussion (1 Credit)
3-4 credits selected from:
ATOC 404听Climate Physics*听
ATOC 512听Atmospheric & Oceanic Dynamics听
ATOC 513听Waves & Stability听
ATOC 525听Atmospheric Radiation听
ATOC 530听Paleoclimate Dynamics听(taught in alternate years)
ATOC 531听Dynamics of Current Climates听
ATOC 558听Numerical Methods & Laboratory听
ATOC 568听Ocean Physics听(taught in alternate years)
ESYS 300听Investigating the Earth System听
ESYS 301听Earth System Modelling听
GEOG 322听Environmental Hydrology
GEOG 372听Running Water Environments听
MATH 555听Fluid Dynamics (4 Credits)**听(taught in alternate years)
PHYS 404听Climate Physics*
PHYS 432听Physics of Fluids**听
* Students cannot receive credit for both ATOC 404 and PHYS 404.
** Students cannot receive credit for both PHYS 432 or MATH 555.
Climate Science Stream (15 credits)
6 credits from:
ATOC 404听Climate Physics*听
ATOC 531听Dynamics of Current Climates听
PHYS 404听Climate Physics*听
*Students cannot receive credit for both ATOC 404 and PHYS 404.
9 credits (at least 6 of which must be ATOC) selected from:
ATOC 512听Atmospheric & Oceanic Dynamics听
ATOC 513听Waves & Stability听
ATOC 519听Advances in Chem of Atmosphere听
ATOC 521听Cloud Physics听
ATOC 525听Atmospheric Radiation听
ATOC 530听Paleoclimate Dynamics (taught only in alternate years)听
ATOC 540听Synoptic Meteorology 1听
ATOC 558听Numerical Methods & Laboratory听
ATOC 568听Ocean Physics听3 Credits (taught only in alternate years)
EPSC 513听Climate and the Carbon Cycle听
EPSC 542听Chemical Oceanography听
ESYS 300听Investigating the Earth System听
ESYS 301听Earth System Modelling听
GEOG 322听Environmental Hydrology听
GEOG 372听Running Water Environments听
MATH 323听Probability听
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Stream (15 credits)
15 credits from:
ATOC 309听Weather Radars and Satellites听
ATOC 404听Climate Physics*听
ATOC 519听Advances in Chem of Atmosphere听
ATOC 521听Cloud Physics听
CHEM 213听Introductory Phys Chem1:Thermo听
CHEM 273听Intro Phys Chem2:Kinetics & Methods听
PHYS 404听Climate Physics *听
* Students cannot receive credit for both ATOC 404 and PHYS 404.
General Stream (17 credits)
15-17 credits (at least 12 of which must be ATOC) selected from:
ATOC 309听Weather Radars and Satellites听
ATOC 404听Climate Physics*听
ATOC 512听Atmospheric & Oceanic Dynamics听
ATOC 513听Waves & Stability
ATOC 519听Advances in Chem of Atmosphere听
ATOC 521听Cloud Physics听
ATOC 525听Atmospheric Radiation听
ATOC 530听Paleoclimate Dynamics (taught only in alternate years)
ATOC 531听Dynamics of Current Climates听
ATOC 540听Synoptic Meteorology 1听
ATOC 541听Synoptic Meteorology 2听
ATOC 546听Current Weather Discussion听
ATOC 558听Numerical Methods & Laboratory听
ATOC 568听Ocean Physics (taught only in alternate years)
CHEM 367听Instrumental Analysis 1
CHEM 575听Chemical Kinetics听
EPSC 513听Climate and the Carbon Cycle听
EPSC 542听Chemical Oceanography听
ESYS 300听Investigating the Earth System听
ESYS 301听Earth System Modelling听
GEOG 322听Environmental Hydrology听
GEOG 372听Running Water Environments听
MATH 555听Fluid Dynamics (4 Credits- taught only in alternate years)**听
PHYS 404听Climate Physics*听
PHYS 432听Physics of Fluids**
*Students cannot receive credit for ATOC 404 and PHYS 404.
**Students cannot receive credit for both PHYS 432 or MATH 555.
Honours Program in Atmospheric Science
The Honours program is meant for students with high standing. It is based on courses similar to those in the Major program, but provides opportunities to perform research and to take advanced courses. As with our Major program, the Honours program satisfies the requirements for a professional career as a meteorologist, and听 equips the student to undertake postgraduate study in meteorology, atmospheric science, and related sciences (for example, physical oceanography) at any of the leading universities.
Students can be admitted to the Honours program after completion of the U1 year of the Major in Atmospheric Science program with a minimum GPA of 3.30. Students having completed a U1 year in a different program with high standing may be admitted to the Honours program on the recommendation of that department. A minimum GPA of 3.30 in the Honours program courses (taken as a whole) is required to remain in the program. A CGPA of 3.30 on the total program is also required to graduate with honours.听
The program requires听completion of 74 credits;听27 credits听from required courses and 47 credits from complementary courses. When choosing from complementary courses, 24 credits must be selected from core courses and 21-23 credits from one of the four choices of concentrations/ streams.听
Below, we have listed the听credit requirements for various components for an Honours in AOS. All the courses that may be offered to the students are also listed. However, please note 1) all courses are 3 credits unless otherwise indicated 2) some courses are not offered every year.
For course descriptions and听more details on the course restrictions听here. A printable and most up-to-date version of Honours program requirements can be found on the听McGill's course calendar website:听e-course calendar for undergraduates (section 11.13.3.8 on page 1430).
Required Courses (27 credits)
Student must take all of the courses listed below:
ATOC 214听Intro:Physics of the Atmosphere
ATOC 312听Rotating Fluid Dynamics听
ATOC 315听Thermodynamics and Convection听
ATOC 480听Honours Research Project听
COMP 208听Computers in Engineering听
MATH 222听Calculus 3听
MATH 223听Linear Algebra听
MATH 314听Advanced Calculus听
MATH 315听Ordinary Differential Equations听
Complementary Courses (47 credits)
45- 47 credits
Note: Students are required to fulfill the core complementary requirements along with one of the four streams listed below. In cases of overlap, each course can only be used once toward the satisfaction of the core complementary courses or the chosen stream.
Core (24 credits)
3-6 credits selected from:
ATOC 215听Oceans, Weather and Climate听
ATOC 219听Intro to Atmospheric Chemistry* (taught in alternate years)
CHEM 219听Intro to Atmospheric Chemistry*听(taught in alternate years)
* Note: students may select ATOC 219 or CHEM 219 but not both.
3 credits selected from:
ATOC 357听Atmospheric & Oceanic Sci Lab听
PHYS 257听Experimental Methods 1听
3 credits selected from:
PHYS 230听Dynamics of Simple Systems听
PHYS 251听Honours Classical Mechanics 1
3 credits selected from:
PHYS 232听Heat and Waves听
PHYS 253听Thermal Physics听
3 credits selected from:
CHEM 213听Introductory Phys Chem1:Thermo听
MATH 319听Intro to Partial Diff Equas听
6-9 credits selected from:
CHEM 273听Intro Phys Chem2:Kinetics & Methods听
CHEM 367听Instrumental Analysis 1听
CHEM 575听Chemical Kinetics
MATH 203听Principles of Statistics 1*听听
MATH 317听Numerical Analysis听
MATH 319听Intro to Partial Diff Equations听
MATH 323听Probability听
MATH 324听Statistics*听
PHYS 333听Thermal & Statistical Physics听
PHYS 340听Majors Electricity & Magnetism**听
PHYS 342听Majors Electromagnetic Waves***听
PHYS 350听Hons Electricity & Magnetism**听
PHYS 352听Honours Electromagnetic Waves***听
* Students cannot receive credit for both MATH 203 and MATH 324.
** Students cannot receive credit for both PHYS 340 and PHYS 350.
*** Students cannot receive credit for both PHYS 342 and PHYS 352.
Weather Analysis and Forecasting Stream (23 credits)
16 credits from:
ATOC 309听Weather Radars and Satellites听
ATOC 512听Atmospheric and Oceanic Dynamics听
ATOC 521听Cloud Physics听
ATOC 540听Synoptic Meteorology 1听
ATOC 541Synoptic Meteorology 2听
ATOC 546听Current Weather Discussion (1 Credit)
6-7 credits selected from:
ATOC 404听Climate Physics*听
ATOC 513听Waves & Stability听
ATOC 515听Turbulence in Atmosphere and Ocean听(taught in alternate years)
ATOC 525听Atmospheric Radiation听
ATOC 530听Paleoclimate Dynamics听(taught in alternate years)
ATOC 531听Dynamics of Current Climates听
ATOC 558听Numerical Methods & Laboratory听
ATOC 568听Ocean Physics听(taught in alternate years)
ESYS 300听Investigating the Earth System听
ESYS 301听Earth System Modelling听
MATH 555听Fluid Dynamics (4 Credits)**听(taught in alternate years)
PHYS 404听Climate Physics*
PHYS 432听Physics of Fluids**听
* Students cannot receive credit for both ATOC 404 and PHYS 404.
** Students cannot receive credit for both PHYS 432 or MATH 555.
Climate Science Stream (22 credits)
15 credits from:
ATOC 404听Climate Physics*听
ATOC 512听Atmospheric & Oceanic Dynamics听
ATOC 531听Dynamics of Current Climates听
MATH 323听Probability听
MATH 324听Statistics听
PHYS 404听Climate Physics*听
*Students cannot receive credit for both ATOC 404 and PHYS 404.
6-7 credits (3 of which must be ATOC) selected from:
ATOC 513听Waves & Stability听
ATOC 515听Turbulence in Atmosphere and oceans (taught only in alternate years)听
ATOC 521听Cloud Physics听
ATOC 525听Atmospheric Radiation听
ATOC 530听Paleoclimate Dynamics (taught only in alternate years)听
ATOC 540听Synoptic Meteorology 1听
ATOC 558听Numerical Methods & Laboratory听
ATOC 568听Ocean Physics听3 Credits (taught only in alternate years)
EPSC 513听Climate and the Carbon Cycle听
EPSC 542听Chemical Oceanography听
ESYS 300听Investigating the Earth System听
ESYS 301听Earth System Modelling听
MATH 423听Regression and Analysis of Variance听
MATH 555听Fluid Dynamics** (taught only in alternate years)听
PHYS 432听Physics of Fluids**听
*Students cannot receive credit for both PHYS 432 and MATH 555.
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Stream (21 credits)
15 credits from:
ATOC 309听Weather Radars and Satellites听
ATOC 519听Advances in Chem of Atmosphere听
ATOC 521听Cloud Physics听
CHEM 213听Introductory Phys Chem1:Thermo听
CHEM 273听Intro Phys Chem2:Kinetics & Methods听
6-7 credits (3 of which must be ATOC) selected from:
ATOC 404听Climate Physics*听
ATOC 512听Atmospheric and oceanic Dynamics听
ATOC 513听Waves & Stability听
ATOC 519听Advances in Chemistry of Atmosphere听
ATOC 525听Atmospheric Radiation听
ATOC 530听Paleoclimate Dynamics (taught only in alternate years)听
ATOC 540听Synoptic Meteorology 1听
ATOC 558听Numerical Methods & Laboratory听
CHEM 367听Instrumental Analysis 1听
CHEM 575听Chemical Kinetics听
EPSC 513听Climate and the Carbon Cycle听
EPSC 542听Chemical Oceanography听
MATH 423听Regression and Analysis of Variance听
PHYS 404听Climate Physics*听
*Students cannot receive credit for both ATOC 404 and PHYS 404.
General Stream (22 credits)
21-22 credits (at least 15 of which must be ATOC) selected from:
ATOC 309听Weather Radars and Satellites听
ATOC 404听Climate Physics*听
ATOC 512听Atmospheric & Oceanic Dynamics听
ATOC 513听Waves & Stability
ATOC 519听Advances in Chem of Atmosphere听
ATOC 521听Cloud Physics听
ATOC 525听Atmospheric Radiation听
ATOC 530听Paleoclimate Dynamics (taught only in alternate years)
ATOC 531听Dynamics of Current Climates听
ATOC 540听Synoptic Meteorology 1听
ATOC 541听Synoptic Meteorology 2听
ATOC 546听Current Weather Discussion听
ATOC 558听Numerical Methods & Laboratory听
ATOC 568听Ocean Physics (taught only in alternate years)
CHEM 367听Instrumental Analysis 1
CHEM 575听Chemical Kinetics听
EPSC 513听Climate and the Carbon Cycle听
EPSC 542听Chemical Oceanography听
ESYS 300听Investigating the Earth System听
ESYS 301听Earth System Modelling听
MATH 423听Regression and Analysis of Variance听
MATH 555听Fluid Dynamics (4 Credits- taught only in alternate years)**听
PHYS 404听Climate Physics*听
PHYS 432听Physics of Fluids**
*Students cannot receive credit for ATOC 404 and PHYS 404.
**Students cannot receive credit for both PHYS 432 or MATH 555.
Minor in Atmospheric Science
This Minor may be taken in conjunction with any program in the Faculty of Science (18 credits).
The program requires听completion of 18 credits;听3 credits from required courses and 15 credits from complementary courses.听
Below, we have listed the听credit requirements for a Minor in AOS. All the courses that a student taking a minor听are also listed. However, please note 1) all courses are 3 credits unless otherwise indicated 2) some courses are not offered every year.
For course descriptions and听more details on the course restrictions听here. A printable and most up-to-date version of Minor program requirements can be found on the听McGill's course calendar website:听e-course calendar for undergraduates (section 11.13.3.4 on page 1424).
Required Courses (3 credits)
ATOC 214听Introduction: Physics of the Atmosphere听
Complementary Courses (15 credits)
3-6 credits selected from:听
ATOC 215 Oceans, Weather and Climate
ATOC 219 Introduction to Atmospheric Chemistry*听
CHEM 219 Introduction to Atmospheric Chemistry*
* Students may select ATOC 219 or CHEM 219 but not both.
9-12 credits selected from:
ATOC 309听Weather Radars and Satellites听
ATOC 312 Rotating Fluid Dynamics听
ATOC 315 Thermodynamics and Convection听
ATOC 357 Atmospheric and Oceanic Science Laboratory听
ATOC 512听Atmospheric & Oceanic Dynamics听
ATOC 513听Waves & Stability
ATOC 519听Advances in Chem of Atmosphere听
ATOC 521听Cloud Physics听
ATOC 525听Atmospheric Radiation听
ATOC 531听Dynamics of Current Climates听
ATOC 540听Synoptic Meteorology 1听听
ATOC 558听Numerical Methods & Laboratory听
ATOC 568听Ocean Physics (taught only in alternate years)
听
Major Atmospheric Science and Physics
The program is jointly administered by the Department of Physics and the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences. Students should consult undergraduate advisers in both departments.This Major provides a solid basis for postgraduate study in meteorology, atmospheric physics, or related fields, as well as the necessary preparation for embarking on a professional career as a meteorologist directly after the B.Sc.
The program requires听completion of 69听credits;听57听credits from required courses and 12听credits from complementary courses.听听
Below, we have listed the听credit requirements for various components of a Major program in AOS. All the courses that are听offered to the students taking this program are also listed. However, please note 1) all courses are 3 credits unless otherwise indicated 2) some courses are not offered every year.
For course descriptions and听more details on the course restrictions听here. A printable and most up-to-date version of Major program requirements can be found on the听McGill's course calendar website:听e-course calendar for undergraduates (section 11.13.3.7听on page 1434).
Required Courses (57 credits)
Student must take all courses listed below:
ATOC 214听Intro:Physics of the Atmosphere
ATOC 215听Oceans, Weather and Climate听
ATOC 309听Weather Radars and Satellites
ATOC 312听Rotating Fluid Dynamics听
ATOC 315听Thermodynamics and Convection听
MATH 222听Calculus 3听
MATH 223听Linear Algebra听
MATH 314听Advanced Calculus听
MATH 315听Ordinary Differential Equations听
PHYS 230听Dynamics of Simple Systems听
PHYS 232听Heat and Waves听
PHYS 241听Signal Processing听
PHYS 257听Experimental Methods 1听
PHYS 258听Experimental Methods 2听
PHYS 331听Topics in Classical Mechanics听
PHYS 333听Thermal & Statistical Physics听
PHYS 340听Majors Electricity & Magnetism听
PHYS 342听Majors Electromagnetic Waves听
PHYS 446听Majors Quantum Physics听
Complementary Courses (12 credits)
At least 6 of the 12 complementary credits must come from ATOC courses.
ATOC 357听Atmospheric & Oceanic Sci Lab听
ATOC 404听Climate Physics*听
ATOC 512听Atmospheric & Oceanic Dynamics听
ATOC 513听Waves & Stability听
ATOC 515听Turbulence in Atmosphere & Oceans (taught only in alternate years)听
ATOC 521听Cloud Physics听
ATOC 525听Atmospheric Radiation听
ATOC 531听Dynamics of Current Climates听
ATOC 540听Synoptic Meteorology 1听
ATOC 541听Synoptic Meteorology 2听
ATOC 558听Numerical Methods & Laboratory听
ATOC 568听Ocean Physics听(taught only in alternate years)
PHYS 339听Measurements Lab in General Physics听
PHYS 404听Climate Physics*听
PHYS 432听Physics of Fluids
PHYS 434听Optics
PHYS 439听Majors Lab in Modern Physics听
PHYS 449听Majors Research Project听
* Students cannot take both ATOC 404 and PHYS 404.
Liberal program- Core Science Component Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
Liberal programs provide students with the opportunity to study the core of one science discipline along with a breadth component from another area of science or from many other disciplines. In a liberal program, you must complete a Core Science Component (CSC) (45鈥�50 credits), plus a Breadth Component (at least 18 credits).
To complete the Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences component of the Liberal program 21 credits must be听from required courses and 27听credits from complementary courses for a total of 48 credits.听
Below, we have listed the听credit requirements for the AOS core-component of this program. All the courses that a student may take are also listed. However, please note 1) all courses are 3 credits unless otherwise indicated 2) some courses are not offered every year.
For course descriptions and听more details on the course restrictions听here. A printable and most up-to-date version of Liberal program requirements can be found on the听McGill's course calendar website:听e-course calendar for undergraduates (section 11.13.3.5 on page 1425).
Required Courses (21 credits)
Student must take all of the courses listed below:
ATOC 214听Intro:Physics of the Atmosphere
ATOC 312听Rotating Fluid Dynamics听
ATOC 315听Thermodynamics and Convection听
MATH 222听Calculus 3听
MATH 223听Linear Algebra听
MATH 314听Advanced Calculus听
MATH 315听Ordinary Differential Equations听
Complementary Courses (27 credits)
36-38 credits
Students are required to fulfill the core complementary requirements.
3-6 credits selected from:
ATOC 215听Oceans, Weather and Climate听
ATOC 219听Intro to Atmospheric Chemistry* (taught in alternate years)
3 credits selected from:
ATOC 357听Atmospheric & Oceanic Sci Lab听
PHYS 257听Experimental Methods 1听
3 credits selected from:
PHYS 230听Dynamics of Simple Systems听
PHYS 251听Honours Classical Mechanics 1
3 credits selected from:
PHYS 232听Heat and Waves听
PHYS 253听Thermal Physics听
12-16 credits selected from:
ATOC 309听Weather Radars and Satellites听
ATOC 512听Atmospheric & Oceanic Dynamics听
ATOC 513听Waves & Stability听
ATOC 515听Turbulence in Atmosphere & Oceans听(taught only in alternate years)听
ATOC 519听Advances in Chem of Atmosphere
ATOC 521听Cloud Physics听
ATOC 525听Atmospheric Radiation听
ATOC 531听Dynamics of Current Climates听
ATOC 540听Synoptic Meteorology 1听
ATOC 541听Synoptic Meteorology 2听
ATOC 546听Current Weather Discussion (1 Credit)
ATOC 558听Numerical Methods & Laboratory听
ATOC 568听Ocean Physics (taught only in alternate years)听
COMP 208听Computers in Engineering听
MATH 203听Principles of Statistics 1听
MATH 319听Intro to Partial Differential Equations
PHYS 333听Thermal & Statistical Physics听
PHYS 340听Majors Electricity & Magnetism听
