Application deadline
Credits and costs
Learn How to Forecast the Weather with an Online Weather Forecasting Certificate
Use the program's innovative forecasting techniques and conceptual approaches to learn about meteorology, enrich your hobby, supplement your professional career, or build a preparatory foundation for future study or work. As a student in this program, you will have an opportunity to become a better-informed, critical consumer of weather-related news. Whether you are an amateur weather enthusiast or a weather-related industry professional, enrolling in this 12-credit certificate program can help you refine your skills to more effectively predict the weather.
Why a Weather Forecasting Certificate Online at Penn State?
75 Years of Teaching and Research — The meteorology and atmospheric science department at Penn State, with more than 75 years of rich traditions in teaching, research, and community service, is one of the most highly regarded programs in the United States.
Our faculty continue to pioneer research in areas such as weather communications, severe storms, tropical cyclones, weather risk, and more. This online program uses cutting-edge forecasting techniques as well as innovative conceptual models to help you learn more about the science of meteorology. Interactive, web-based animations can help you to develop operational forecasting skills and gain keen insights into how the atmosphere works.
You Can Earn College Credits — By successfully completing this certificate program, you will earn 12 credits, which you may be able to apply toward a bachelor's degree at Penn State or another accredited institution.
Who Should Apply?
Hobbyists, storm chasers, weather forecasters, or other professionals who rely on weather data to perform their job duties successfully can all benefit from this program, as can:
- sailing enthusiasts and pilots who rely on meteorological data to chart courses or plan flights
- professionals whose businesses are affected by weather and who seek a deeper understanding of meteorology
- secondary teachers in Earth science who aspire to enhance their understanding of meteorology
- communication majors looking for a stepping-stone into the broadcasting profession
- weather enthusiasts seeking a preparatory foundation to pursue an undergraduate degree in meteorology
There are no formal calculus or physics requirements for entrance to the program.
Courses
The online undergraduate certificate in weather forecasting is a four-course, 12-credit program of study designed to provide students with a foundational apprenticeship in weather forecasting. To earn this certificate, you must successfully complete the four prescribed meteorology courses.
- METEO 101 is offered spring, summer, fall
- METEO 241 is offered fall and summer
- METEO 361 is offered spring and summer
- METEO 410 is offered fall and spring
The delivery method for the core courses in this program is "online group," with a group of students progressing together through each course. The courses are offered in a timeframe comparable to a traditional semester schedule, with fixed start and end dates. The course content and activities are available in electronic format, and access to the web is required in order to complete this program.
Required Courses (12 credits)
METEO 241 and METEO 361 are offered on an alternating basis every summer semester.
Prerequisites as listed may be waived by the course instructor if you can demonstrate the required level of competency. Students need to earn at least a "C" grade in all four courses to be eligible for the certificate.
Course Availability
If you're ready to see when your courses will be offered, visit our public LionPATH course search (opens in new window) to start planning ahead.
Costs and Financial Aid
Undergraduate Tuition
Undergraduate tuition is calculated based on the number of credits for which you register and the number of total credits you have accrued at or transferred to Penn State. Tuition is due shortly after each semester begins and rates are assessed every semester of enrollment.
| How many credits do you plan to take per semester? | If you have 59 or fewer credits | If you have 60 or more credits |
|---|---|---|
| 11 or fewer | $620 per credit | $664 per credit |
| 12 or more | $7,527 per semester | $8,125 per semester |
Financial Aid and Military Benefits
Some students may qualify for financial aid. Take the time to research financial aid, scholarships, and payment options as you prepare to apply. Military service members, veterans, and their spouses or dependents should explore these potential military education benefits and financial aid opportunities, as well.
Paying for Your Certificate
Students pursuing a certificate are considered "nondegree," a status that is not eligible for federal student aid, including the Federal Direct Stafford Loan program. A private alternative loan may be an option to consider.
Additionally, Penn State offers many ways to pay for your education, including an installment plan and third-party payments. Penn State World Campus also offers an Employer Reimbursement and Tuition Deferment Plan. Learn more about the options for paying for your education.
Students pursuing a degree and meeting all other eligibility requirements may qualify for financial aid.
How to Apply
Deadlines and Important Dates
All supporting materials should be sent following the submission of your application.
For current and future course registration deadlines, visit the Registrar’s website to view the academic calendar by semester.
Admissions Help
If you have questions about the admissions process, contact [email protected].
Admission Requirements
To apply for this program, you must be a high school graduate, or have completed your GED.
Technical Requirements
Review the technical requirements for this program.
Get the resources you need to make informed decisions about your education. Request information on this program and other programs of interest by completing this form.
Start or Advance Your Career
Start or Advance Your Career
You can use the knowledge gained from this program and the support of Penn State career resources to pursue careers in a variety of fields, depending on your goals.
Contact Us
For questions about admissions and applications, please contact World Campus Central:
World Campus Central
Phone: 814-865-1146
[email protected]
For program comments and questions, please contact:
Steve Seman
Lead Faculty, Weather Forecasting Certificate
Department of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science
College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
Penn State University
2217 Earth & Engineering Sciences
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: 814-863-7205
[email protected]
To learn more about the program, visit the Weather Forecasting program website within Penn State's Department of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences.
Faculty
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Steve Seman
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DegreeM.Ed., Adult Education, Penn State
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DegreeB.S., Meteorology, Penn State
Steve Seman is the lead faculty for the Undergraduate Certificate in Weather Forecasting program and an assistant teaching professor in the Department of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science. He has written forecasts for the New York Times and has regularly appeared as a forecaster on Weather World, which airs on WPSU television and the Pennsylvania Cable Network. He specializes in weather analysis and forecasting on the synoptic scale and mesoscale, as well as in instructional design and development of asynchronous online courses. He was the recipient of both the John A. Dutton Award in Atmospheric Dynamics and the Special Award for Teaching Support in Meteorology in 2003.
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Sim Aberson
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DegreePh.D., Atmospheric Sciences, University of Maryland
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DegreeM.S., Meteorology, Penn State
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DegreeB.S., Meteorology, Penn State
Dr. Sim Aberson is a research meteorologist for the Hurricane Research Division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Miami, Florida. He participates in NOAA's Hurricane Field Program by flying into hurricanes to collect critical observations used in research and forecasting. Dr. Aberson has worked on numerous projects aimed at improving observational data from aircraft and satellites and better assimilating the data into computer models, with the overall goal of advancing the accuracy of tropical cyclone forecasting. He joined the certificate program faculty in 2013.
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Steve Corfidi
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DegreeM.S., Meteorology, Penn State
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DegreeB.S., Meteorology, Penn State
Steve Corfidi is a research associate for the Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorology Studies at the University of Oklahoma and the NWS Warning Decision Training Division. Prior to this position, he retired as a lead forecaster with the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma. Corfidi has won numerous awards for excellence in forecasting, including Department of Commerce Silver Medals for his contributions to forecasts of tornado outbreaks on April 2, 1982, and December 16, 2000, as well as a Gold Medal for a series of severe weather outbreaks from May 4 to 10, 2003. He joined the certificate program faculty in 2013.
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Brian Carcione
DegreeB.S., Meteorology, Penn StateBrian Carcione is the science and operations officer at the National Weather Service (NWS) forecast office in Hunstville, Alabama. In addition to serving as the liaison between the NWS and NASA Earth Science Office (specifically the Short-term Prediction Research and Transition Center, or SPoRT Center), he has extensive experience as an operational forecaster. He has issued countless forecasting products for a wide variety of hazardous weather episodes, including several violent tornado events, such as the “Super Outbreak” of April 2011. He joined the certificate program faculty in 2016.
