Note: 91社区鈥檚 new Course Catalogue will replace the eCalendar. The Course Catalogue is expected to go live the week of April 22nd. When the new site is published, "mcgill.ca/study" will be redirected to the new Course Catalogue website.
Course information on this site is not reflective of offerings for the 2025鈥�2026 academic year. Some irregularities may occur as we move operations to the incoming Course Catalogue.
The Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences offers, at the undergraduate level, a broad range of courses in atmospheric chemistry, atmospheric physics, meteorology, ocean and atmosphere dynamics, and climate. The study of atmospheric and oceanic sciences is based largely on physics and applied mathematics. All required courses except those at the introductory level generally have prerequisites or corequisites in physics, mathematics, and atmospheric science.
One of the goals of the discipline is to develop the understanding necessary to improve our ability to predict the weather. Another important area of study focuses on the changes in global and regional climate caused by the changing chemical composition of the atmosphere. The approach to the study of climate change is quantitative in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences. Like other physical sciences, atmospheric and oceanic sciences attempt to create theoretical models of their complex processes as a means of analyzing the motion and composition of the air, seawater, and sea ice; thermodynamic behaviours; and the interaction of the atmosphere and ocean with the other components of the climate system such as land and ice sheets.
From one viewpoint, the atmosphere and ocean may be studied as a large volume of gas or liquid by the methods of fluid mechanics: wind or currents, circulation patterns, turbulence, and energy and momentum exchanges are the ideas employed in this approach. Alternatively, the atmosphere and ocean may be studied from the point of view of their detailed physical processes: how water condenses in the air; how seawater freezes to form sea ice; how cloud droplets make rain; how sunlight warms the surface of the Earth; how heat is exchanged between the ocean and the atmosphere; and how the atmosphere and ocean interact to shape the weather and climate. A comprehensive understanding requires both viewpoints, and these are reflected in the curriculum.
The Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences offers six programs:
The Honours program is meant for students with high standing. It is based on courses similar to those in the Major program, but includes a mandatory research course and provides many opportunities to take advanced courses. The Major program, although somewhat less intensive, provides solid foundations in atmospheric science.Both the Honours and Major programs lead to a broad range of career opportunities in the public and private sectors (e.g. forecasting, renewable energy, reinsurance, environmental consulting) equip the student to undertake postgraduate study in atmospheric and oceanic sciences at any of the leading universities. The Department also offers a special one-year Diploma in Meteorology program to B.Sc. or B.Eng. graduates recognized by Environment and Climate Change Canada, allowing graduates to pursue a professional career as a meterologist. Academic positions in teaching and research are available to M.Sc. and Ph.D. graduates.
Students interested in any of the undergraduate programs should contact:
The B.Sc.; Minor in Atmospheric Science is intended to provide the basics of the atmospheric and oceanic properties and circulation, in connection with weather phenomena and the climate system.
For more information, see Minor Atmospheric Science (18 credits).
The B.Sc.; Liberal Program - Core Science Component in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences provides a solid foundation of knowledge relevant for the physical science of the atmosphere and oceans with application to weather and climate. The program may be completed in 45 or 48 credits
For more information, see Liberal Program - Core Science Component Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (48 credits).
(60-63 credits) The B.Sc.; Major in Atmospheric Science provides the fundamentals of atmospheric physics and dynamics along with applications to weather and climate problems. The program includes the choice of a wide selection of topics spanning from atmospheric chemistry, to weather forecasting and climate dynamics. The program may be completed in 60-63 credits.
For more information, see Major Atmospheric Science (62 credits).
(66-67 credits) The B.Sc.; Major in Atmospheric Science and Physics provides a solid study in meteorology, atmospheric physics, or related fields. The program is jointly offered by the Department of Physics and the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences. Students should consult undergraduate advisers in both departments.
For more information, see Major Atmospheric Science and Physics (67 credits).
72-75 credits ...
For more information, see Honours Atmospheric Science (75 credits).
The Department offers an intensive, one-year program in theoretical and applied meteorology to B.Sc. or B.Eng. graduates of suitable standing in physics, applied mathematics or other appropriate disciplines, leading to a Diploma in Meteorology. The program is designed for students with little or no previous background in meteorology who wish to direct their...
For more information, see Diploma (Dip.) Meteorology (30 credits).
IYS is a pregraduate work experience program available to eligible students and normally taken between their U2 and U3 years. For more information, see Science Internships and Field Studies and visit mcgill.ca/science/undergraduate/internships-field/internships.
The following programs are also available with an internship component:
This program is offered by the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences; Earth and Planetary Sciences; and Geography.
Students in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences interested in this program should contact Professor Bruno Tremblay (bruno.tremblay [at] mcgill.ca). For more information, see Earth System Science (ESYS).
