Aeronautical Meteorology Forecaster Certificate

Get Started on Your Certificate Today!

The Aeronautical Meteorology Forecaster Certificate (AMF) was designed to prepare military weather forecasters to meet the World Meteorological Organization qualification requirements for aeronautical meteorology forecasters.

Program highlights:

Satisfy most national or international meteorology requirements, such as those of the National Weather Service or the World Meteorological Organization, by completing advanced meteorological training.
Coursework from the AMF curriculum can be applied to the Bachelor of Science in Geosciences with a concentration in Broadcast and Operational Meteorology.

Tuition & Fees

Tuition per credit hour	$558.50
Instructional Support Fee per credit hour	$25.00

Tuition and fees listed are subject to change and do not include all possible charges. Additional fees may apply. Please refer to the master class schedule for individual course charges.

Who should pursue this certificate

Those interested in certification by the National Weather Service, American Meteorological Society, and/or World Meteorological Organization should consider this certificate program along with those with experience in military weather training seeking to further develop forecasting skills. And of course, the general weather enthusiast would enjoy this coursework.

What are some potential careers?

This certificate opens doors to meteorological careers, military careers, aviation forecasting, climate research and more.

For more information on how specific courses are aligned with national or international standards and learning outcomes, please access Certificate Requirements & Seals.

What are some potential careers?

Program Structure

Students must complete each of the following courses with a C or better in order to receive the certificate. GR 1604 Weather and Climate or its equivalent must be completed before enrolling in any of the following classes. It is also required to meet WMO BIP-M qualifications.

Course Number	Course Title	Hours
GR 4713	Synoptic Meteorology	3
GR 4753	Satellite & Radar Meteorology	3
GR 4473	Numerical Weather	3
GR 4623	Physical Meteorology	3
GR 4443	Weather Prediction I	3
GR 4453	Weather Prediction II	3
GR 4923	Severe Weather	3
GR 4823	Dynamic Meteorology I	3
GR 4933	Dynamic Meteorology II	3
GR 4603	Climatology*	3
GR 4633	Statistical Climatology	3
Total Hours:		33

*May be substituted with GR 4643 – Physical Climatology. Contact the advisor for more information.

New Admissions

Follow the guidelines below to ensure that you complete all that is necessary for taking courses in the Aeronautical Meteorology Forecaster (AMF) certificate program at Mississippi State University.

Fill out the online Application for Admission, and pay an application fee online or by mail.

**Please choose Online Education as your campus and Geoscience/Broadcast & Operational Met (BS) as your choice of major.

Request official transcripts from EVERY university or school you have previously attended. Your application will not be considered until ALL transcripts are received. Transcripts can be mailed to the Office of Admissions and Scholarships, P O Box 6334, Mississippi State, MS 39762 or electronically submitted (eScripted) to admit@msstate.edu.
If you have never attended college; please submit the following:
- High school transcript showing graduation date.
- ACT or SAT scores.
If you have attended college; please submit the following:
- Official transcripts from each school attended.
- ACT or SAT scores may possibly be required; NOT required if you have already earned a bachelor's degree.
- High school transcript; may possibly be required.

NOTE: We recommend that you submit your online application and all necessary documentation (transcript, application fee, etc) prior to July 1.

You will receive an email of acceptance when you are officially admitted to Mississippi State University.
Every new student must register for Online@State Orientation. Students must complete online orientation in order to be released for registration by their advisor.
Contact the Academic Advisor, Yasma Jacobs, at yjacobs@geosci.msstate.edu to determine the courses most appropriate for your individual needs.
Textbooks are available 2 to 3 weeks prior to the start of classes, and can be ordered through Barnes & Noble At MSU.
You will be able to access Canvas on the first day of the semester. To access your online courses, enter your NetID and NetPassword and click the classroom tab.

Freshman Requirements

To be accepted into the freshman class at MSU, students must satisfactorily complete the course requirements as outlined by the Office of Admissions and Scholarships as stated below:

To be accepted into the freshmen class at Mississippi State University, students must satisfactorily complete the following College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC) with an appropriate core grade-point average:

English -- 4 units, all requiring substantial communication skills components.
Mathematics -- 3 units: Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry. (Algebra I taken in the 8th grade will be accepted for admission provided the course content is the same as the high school course.)
Natural Science -- 3 units chosen from Biology, Advanced Biology, Chemistry, Advanced Chemistry, Physical Science, Physics, Advanced Physics, or another science course of comparable rigor. (Two science units must be laboratory-based.)
Social Studies -- 3 units, including U.S. History, World History (substantial Geography component), Government (1/2 unit), and Economics (1/2 unit) or Geography (1/2 unit).
Advanced Electives -- 2 units chosen from Foreign Language, World Geography, 4th-year laboratory-based Science, and 4th-year Mathematics. One of the units must be Foreign Language or World Geography. (Foreign Language taken in the 8th grade will be accepted for admission provided the course content is the same as the high school course.)
Computer -- 1/2 unit: computer as a productivity tool, not as a keyboarding device.
Pre-High School Units - Algebra I, or first year Foreign Language, or Mississippi Studies taken prior to high school will be accepted for admission provided the course content is the same as the high school course.

Transfer Student Requirements

Transfer credit may be accepted in lieu of AMF Certificate courses offered through the Geosciences Distance Education Programs if the following criteria are met:

Courses must be from an accredited institution.
Courses must be equivalent to the program's course.
Courses must have been taken within the past 5 years.
Student must have earned a grade of "B" or better in the course.

To request a waiver for a course please send a copy of your transcript with the courses you wish to have evaluated marked. Transcripts can be faxed to 662.325.9423*, scanned in an email to yjacobs@geosci.msstate.edu or sent to:

Geosciences Distance Education Programs
Attn: Academic Advisor
P.O. Box 5448
Mississippi State, MS 39762

*Please include a cover sheet with your name, phone number, and current email address.

To be accepted, transfer students must meet the following transfer admissions requirements:

Students may transfer to Mississippi State University from regionally accredited community, junior, or senior colleges for any period of enrollment, provided they have earned a 2.0 GPA (as computed by Mississippi State University) on all college courses attempted as well as earned a 2.0 GPA on the 30-hours of core courses. Applicants must list all colleges attended on the application for admission, must be in good standing with the last college or university attended, and must meet one of the following:

Complete the 30-hours of core courses listed below with a 2.0 GPA on those courses and earn an overall 2.0 GPA (as computed by Mississippi State University) on all hours attempted.
- English Composition – 6 semester hours
- College Algebra, Quantitative Reasoning, or a higher level math - 3 semester hours
- Natural Science - 6 semester hours
- Humanities and Fine Arts - 9 semester hours
- Social or Behavioral Sciences - 6 semester hours
Earn an A.A. degree (associate in art) or a higher degree from a regionally accredited community, junior, or senior college with a 2.0 GPA (as computed by Mississippi State University).
Meet the requirements for entering freshmen and earn an overall 2.0 GPA (as computed by Mississippi State University) on all hours attempted.

Transfer Credit

Transfer credit may be accepted in lieu of AMF Certificate courses offered through the Geosciences Distance Education Programs if the following criteria are met:

Courses must be from an accredited institution.
Courses must be equivalent to the program's course.
Courses must have been taken within the past 5 years.
Student must have earned a grade of "B" or better in the course.

Geosciences Distance Education Programs
Attn: Academic Advisor
P.O. Box 5448
Mississippi State, MS 39762

*Please include a cover sheet with your name, phone number, and current email address.

Academic Advising

Students should contact Yasma Jacobs, Academic Advisor, about advising or if you have not been released to register by the time registration begins. All returning students will be sent an email to their MsState email account during the advising periods with course schedule recommendations and a release to register.

Yasma Jacobs

Geosciences

Academic Advisor

yjacobs@geosci.msstate.edu 662-325-3476 Fax: 662-325-9423

Professional Requirements and Certificates

Alignment with National and International Standards for Meteorologists

The World Meteorological Organization and the National Weather Service have specific educational requirements for aviation forecasters or meteorologists. Not all weather careers will require the same exact courses, so feel free to discuss your career plans with an advisor before beginning any of our programs.

A degree in meteorology or a related natural science may also be necessary to gain employment in a meteorological career (this will depend on employer). Additional math and science courses will most likely be required for employment. All the AMF courses can be applied toward our undergraduate degree program in Geosciences, which is considered a related natural science field. Our full BS and MS degree programs (e.g. BOMP or AMP) can be modified or tailored to meet these requirements.

Full Requirements

Certificate Request

Students who have completed the 33-hour Aeronautical Meteorology Forecaster (AMF) certificate program must submit the form below to request their certificate. Once requested, we will verify that you have met all program requirements and request that your AMF certificate be printed. Please allow 2 - 3 weeks for your certificate to arrive at the mailing address you provide below.

Certificate Request