The Atmospheric Sciences Program

Students interested in severe weather, climate change, forecasting, broadcast meteorology, atmospheric chemistry, and remote sensing may find a home in the Atmospheric Sciences. This internationally acclaimed program provides the knowledge and tools needed to address the challenges posed by hazardous weather and climate change in the 21st century. The mission of the Department of Atmospheric Sciences is to discover, advance, and disseminate knowledge about weather and climate for the benefit of the people of Utah and the wider international community.

• Study in this field seeks to understand the behavior and predictability of the earth's atmosphere.
• As a natural extension of the geographic setting of the U, the atmospheric sciences degree uniquely emphasizes mountain weather and climate.

Student Experiences at the U

• Research and Internships: Pursue your passion and complete your capstone experience through a research project or internship.
• Job Skill Development: Students may join the Ute Weather Team to gain valuable hands-on experience and job skills.
• Organizations: Students may join the U’s chapter of the American Meteorological Society (AMS).

Career Opportunities

• Federal and State agencies (such as NASA and Transportation and Air Quality)
• The US Air Force Weather Service
• Corporate and private sectors including the aviation agriculture industries, broadcast meteorology, mining engineer, climatologist, hydrologist, government research, and development engineering, among others.

Scholarships

Department Scholarships

Degrees offered

  Bachelor of Science  |  Minor in Atmospheric Science

Department of Atmospheric Sciences

The Geology and Geophysics Program

Utah is one of the very few locations in the world that has rocks of every geologic period exposed, extending our state’s history back beyond two billion years into the past. Every major rock type, fossil group, precious metal, economic metal, fossil field, and type of geologic structure and landform can be found within the state. Geoscience applies the principles of chemistry, physics, mathematics, and biology to understand the composition, structure, and history of the Earth and the processes that govern it. Geoscientists use this knowledge to address societal needs and problems, such as locating and characterizing mineral, energy, and groundwater resources, assessing seismic and other geologic hazards, and evaluating and remediating environmental contamination.

The University of Utah’s program provide you with a broad foundation in fundamental science concepts allowing you to individualize your degree by pursuing one of three emphasis areas in the geoscience field:

1. Geology (which focuses on geologic materials, Earth systems, and fossils)
2. Environmental Geoscience (which focuses on the layers of the atmosphere and their interactions)
3. Geophysics (which focuses on using physical methods to image and understand the Earth).

Student Experiences at the U

• Research and Internships: Expand your experience through departmental undergrad research projects or internships with off-campus companies and organizations that partner with the U.*
• Organizations: Students can get involved on campus with the department’s clubs: the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), the Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists (AEG), and the Society of Economic Geology (SEG) all have chapters at the U.

Career Opportunities

• Environmental law
• Earth resource management
• Energy Industry
• Geologic Agencies

Scholarships

There are multiple dedicated scholarships available specifically for Geology and Geophysics majors.

Department Scholarships

Degrees offered 

Bachelor of Science  |  Minor in Earth Sciences

Department of Geology & Geophysics

The Metallurgical Engineering Program

Metallurgical Engineering (METE) combines numerous disciplines, including chemistry, physics and engineering. Scientists in this field apply the principles of physics and chemistry to engineering problems in order to design and develop new materials: without materials science and engineering, things like computer chips and solar cells would not exist. Through the College of Mines and Earth Sciences and College of Engineering at the University of Utah, this degree offers students the unique opportunity to study science and engineering.

• Accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET
• METE curriculum consists of courses in nanostructured materials, composites, microsystems design, biomaterials, nuclear materials, and many others.
• All students complete a capstone design project, preparing them for real-world engineering design and applications.

Student Experiences at the U

• Research and Internships: Though not required, METE students are encouraged to complete academic internships during the course of their program, learning hands-on skills and gaining professional knowledge and experience in the field.
• Organizations: U students can join the Student Advisory Council, offering feedback on METE faculty hires and program processes. Another excellent opportunity is the Women in Engineering (WIE) Program. WIE serves the community of women engineer/computer science students in the College of Engineering, providing retention, recruitment, and climate-enhancement activities.

Career Opportunities

METE students are prepared to pursue careers in manufacturing, material production, metallurgy, research and development, electrochemistry, process engineers, materials engineers, and quality engineers. Employment in allied fields, such as biomedical engineering, project management, and patent examining, are also possible.

Scholarships

Department Scholarships

Degrees offered

Bachelor of Science

Metallurgical Engineering

The Mining Engineering Program

Mining provides the raw materials and energy resources needed to sustain modern civilization. Resources such as copper, iron, silver, gold, lithium, lead, nickel, and other minerals are all mined, processed, and then used to create things from computer processors to construction materials.

The Mining Engineering program at the University of Utah is ABET accredited and prepares you to pursue a productive, life-long career in this exciting industry. The Mining Engineering curriculum combines basic engineering subjects, topics in geology, and essential courses in mining to prepare graduates to discover, evaluate, and develop mineral deposits. Additional coursework includes mathematics, computer applications, economics, communication skills, and physical sciences.

Student Experiences at the U

• Research and Internships: Expand your experience through departmental undergrad research projects or internships with off-campus companies and organizations that partner with the U.
• Organizations: Students can get involved on campus with the the Society of Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration (SME), Women in Mining (WIM), Mine Rescue Team (MRT) and the Utah Student Robotics (USR) which competes annually at NASA.

Career Opportunities

Mining Engineering graduates pursue careers that specialize in the design, operations, management , and reclamation of mines and mining facilities in a profitable, safe, and environmentally responsible manner.

Scholarships

Department Scholarships

Degrees Offered

Bachelor of Science

Department of Mining Engineering