University Curriculum Committee
Course Proposal Form
for Courses Numbered 0001 – 4999
(Faculty Senate Resolution #04–18, April 2004)
(editorially revised 02-21-07)
Note: Before completing this form, please carefully read the accompanying instructions.
GEOG 4590
1.
Course Prefix and Number:
2.
Date:
3.
Requested Action (check only one box):
x
New Course
Revision of Active Course
Revision & Unbanking of a Banked Course
Renumbering of Existing Course
from:
#
to
#
4.
Justification for new course or course revision or renumbering:
Elective for atmospheric science certificate; course is a specialty option in the
American Meteorological Society and National Weather Service certification of a
meteorologist. This course will cover the main topics in tropical meteorology with an
emphasis on climate prediction. This is a crucial area of study for students whose
future careers will involve climate prediction and weather forecasting, as well as
climate related issues of policy making and impact analysis.
5.
Course description exactly as it should appear in the next catalog:
4590. Tropical Meteorology (3) (F) May not count toward foundations curriculum
social sciences requirement. P: GEOG 2200, 2250; or consent of instructor.
Tropical atmosphere as a key component of global weather and climate and climate
prediction. Examination of the El Niño – Southern Oscillation, the Madden Julian
Oscillation, tropical cyclones and monsoons and their associated climate
predictability.
6.
If this is a course revision, briefly describe the requested change:
7.
Page Number from current undergraduate catalog:
8.
The Writing Across the Curriculum Committee must approve Writing
Intensive (WI) Credit for all courses prior to their consideration by the UCC.
137,139,397
No
If WI credit is requested, has this course been approved for Writing
Intensive (WI) credit (yes/no)?
If Yes, will all sections be Writing Intensive (yes/no)?
9.
10.
The Academic Standards Committee must approve Foundations
Curriculum Credit for all courses prior to their consideration by the UCC. If
FC credit has been approved by the ASC, then check the appropriate box
(check at most one):
English (EN)
Science (SC)
Humanities (HU)
Social Science (SO)
Fine Arts (FA)
Mathematics (MA)
Health (HL)
Exercise (EX)
Course Credit:
Lecture Hours
3
3
Weekly or
Per Term
Credit Hours
s.h.
Lab
Weekly or
Per Term
Credit Hours
s.h.
Studio
Weekly or
Per Term
Credit Hours
s.h.
Practicum
Weekly or
Per Term
Credit Hours
s.h.
Internship
Weekly or
Per Term
Credit Hours
s.h.
Other (e.g., independent study):
Total Credit Hours
11.
Anticipated yearly student enrollment:
12.
Affected Degrees or Academic Programs:
Degree(s)/Course(s)
13.
10-15
Catalog Page
Change in Degree Hours
Overlapping or Duplication with Affected Units or Programs:
x
Not Applicable
Applicable (Notification and/or Response from Units Attached)
14.
Approval by the Council for Teacher Education (required for courses
affecting teacher education programs):
x
s.h.
Not Applicable
Applicable (CTE has given their approval)
15.
Statements of Support:
x
Current staff is adequate
Additional Staff is needed (describe needs in the box below):
x
Current facilities are adequate
Additional Facilities are needed (describe needs in the box below):
x
Initial library resources are adequate
Initial resources are needed (in the box below, give a brief explanation
and estimate for cost of acquisition of required resources):
x
Unit computer resources are adequate
Additional unit computer resources are needed (in the box below,
give a brief explanation and an estimate for the cost of acquisition):
x
ITCS Resources are not needed
Following ITCS resources are needed (put a check beside each need):
Mainframe computer system
Statistical services
Network connections
Computer lab for students
Describe any computer or networking requirements of this program
that are not currently fully supported for existing programs (Includes
use of classroom, laboratory, or other facilities that are not currently used
in the capacity being requested).
Approval from the Director of ITCS attached
17.
Syllabus – please insert course syllabus below. Do not submit course
syllabus as a separate file. You must include (a) the name of the textbook
chosen for the course, (b) the course objectives, (c) the course content
outline, and (d) the course assignments and grading plan.
GEOG 4590: Tropical Meteorology
Pre-Requisites:
Course Description
This course examines the tropical atmosphere as a key driving force of global weather
and climate and a key piece of the climate prediction puzzle. Given the fact that climate
affects all aspects of human society, the success of climate prediction holds the promise
of enormous benefits to society.
In this course we will examine some of the most important tropical atmosphere
phenomena such as El Niño – Southern Oscillation, the Madden Julian Oscillation,
tropical cyclones and monsoons. In class tropical weather briefing presentations will
give students exposure to real-time tropical weather phenomena. We will also
investigate how tropical phenomena affect extratropical climate through teleconnections
and study the climate predictability associated with them.
Course Materials
There is no textbook. We will be drawing on web based material and the published
literature.
Course Learning Objectives
By the end of this course students will be able to:
 Explain the role of tropical atmospheric phenomena in affecting the global
climate.
 Discuss how the El Niño – Southern Oscillation phenomenon works and how it
affects global climate patterns and climate prediction.
 Discuss the role of African Easterly waves in the formation of hurricanes in the
Atlantic Ocean.
 Discuss the ‘meteorological history’ of hurricanes that made landfall in North
Carolina
 Discuss the importance of climate prediction to human society.
 Research a tropical meteorology science topic and summarize findings in written
and oral format.
 Access relevant real-time web based data to follow the evolution of the tropical
phenomena discussed in class.
Assignments and Grading
Homework and Class Project
Homework will be assigned periodically for a total of 4 homework sets throughout
the semester.
A project that will include bibliography research on a tropical meteorology topic, as
well as a written and oral component will be assigned individually.
Midterm and Final Exams
There will be two midterm exams and a final exam. The final exam is cumulative.
Make-up exams will only be given in extreme circumstances, i.e. documented
medical reasons with advance warning to the instructor. There will be no extra credit
assignments. The organization, neatness, clarity, spelling and grammar of your work
will count toward grades.
Grading Information
WHAT
WEIGHT
MIDTERM #1
20 %
MIDTERM #2
20 %
FINAL
20 %
HOMEWORK
20 %
CLASS
20 %
PROJECT
Grading Percentage Breakdown
90% and above
A
80% to 89%
B
70% - 79%
C
60% - 69%
D
below 60%
F
Course Content
 Main climatological features of the global atmosphere and oceans.
 Tropical precipitation systems
 The Earth’s monsoons
 The El Niño-Southern Oscillation
 The Madden-Julian Oscillation
 Teleconnections
 African Easterly Waves
 Tropical Cyclones
 A meteorological history of Tropical Cyclones that made landfall in North Carolina
 Tropical cyclone prediction
 Climate prediction and its benefits to society