TheWriter
12-23-2004, 03:24 AM
UIW is looking for aspiring meteorologists
Web Posted: 12/23/2004 12:00 AM CST
Karen Adler
Express-News Staff Writer
Aspiring meteorologists no longer have to leave San Antonio to get a degree.
The University of Incarnate Word now offers a meteorology program for undergraduates and for those who already have a bachelor's degree but want to be certified meteorologists.
Texas A&M is the only other university in the state to offer a comprehensive undergraduate degree, but Incarnate Word's broadcast track makes the San Antonio program unique, said Bill Thomann, chairman of UIW's environmental science department.
The university has plans to construct a fully equipped television studio in Science Hall, where students will be trained in weather analysis, weather forecasting and map graphics and animation.
"When they leave here ... they will be able to walk into a TV weather office and say, 'Yeah, I know how to do this,'" said Alex Garcia, a meteorologist at KABB-TV, who was instrumental in the creation of UIW's new program.
Anyone can be a television weather forecaster, but to be a meteorologist, certification is required from the National Weather Association or the American Meteorological Society, Garcia said.
Garcia grew up in Victoria and had to go to Mississippi State to get his meteorology degree.
Now, "you don't have to leave," he said. "You can stay here."
This semester, Garcia is teaching an oceanography class, one of the requirements for a meteorology degree.
"We had to learn about waves and wind currents, how the ocean affects the weather and how the speed of waves affects the size of hurricanes," said junior Abigail Shaver, a math major.
Students also learned why San Antonio is getting so much rain.
"Right now, we're in an El Niņo, which is completely related to ocean temperature," said Kelly Turner, a biology major.
Besides television broadcasting, graduates of the meteorology program will be able to pursue jobs with the National Weather Service, the military, research laboratories and private-sector companies.
Because the degree is so new, there are no declared meteorology majors yet, but Thomann said he expects 15 to 20 students by next fall.
Initially, Incarnate Word's program will target students from South Texas.
Because of the expansion of cable and satellite television in Mexico and South America, UIW eventually would like to offer online courses in Spanish to help fulfill the need for meteorologists there, Garcia said.
Web Posted: 12/23/2004 12:00 AM CST
Karen Adler
Express-News Staff Writer
Aspiring meteorologists no longer have to leave San Antonio to get a degree.
The University of Incarnate Word now offers a meteorology program for undergraduates and for those who already have a bachelor's degree but want to be certified meteorologists.
Texas A&M is the only other university in the state to offer a comprehensive undergraduate degree, but Incarnate Word's broadcast track makes the San Antonio program unique, said Bill Thomann, chairman of UIW's environmental science department.
The university has plans to construct a fully equipped television studio in Science Hall, where students will be trained in weather analysis, weather forecasting and map graphics and animation.
"When they leave here ... they will be able to walk into a TV weather office and say, 'Yeah, I know how to do this,'" said Alex Garcia, a meteorologist at KABB-TV, who was instrumental in the creation of UIW's new program.
Anyone can be a television weather forecaster, but to be a meteorologist, certification is required from the National Weather Association or the American Meteorological Society, Garcia said.
Garcia grew up in Victoria and had to go to Mississippi State to get his meteorology degree.
Now, "you don't have to leave," he said. "You can stay here."
This semester, Garcia is teaching an oceanography class, one of the requirements for a meteorology degree.
"We had to learn about waves and wind currents, how the ocean affects the weather and how the speed of waves affects the size of hurricanes," said junior Abigail Shaver, a math major.
Students also learned why San Antonio is getting so much rain.
"Right now, we're in an El Niņo, which is completely related to ocean temperature," said Kelly Turner, a biology major.
Besides television broadcasting, graduates of the meteorology program will be able to pursue jobs with the National Weather Service, the military, research laboratories and private-sector companies.
Because the degree is so new, there are no declared meteorology majors yet, but Thomann said he expects 15 to 20 students by next fall.
Initially, Incarnate Word's program will target students from South Texas.
Because of the expansion of cable and satellite television in Mexico and South America, UIW eventually would like to offer online courses in Spanish to help fulfill the need for meteorologists there, Garcia said.