ASU Launches Dual Degree in Journalism and Meteorology

Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication and School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning are offering a new dual degree for students interested in careers as meteorologists at news and weather organizations. The two schools are partnering to launch a dual degree in journalism and meteorology starting in fall 2015. Students would earn a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and a Bachelor of Science in Geography (Meteorology-Climatology). The program allows students to pursue two separate degrees in less time by streamlining the admissions process and course requirements. “There is great demand for journalists with a high level of expertise in meteorology and climatology,” said Cronkite School Dean and University Vice Provost Christopher Callahan. “We are excited to partner with the School of Geographical Sciences to offer an extraordinary learning experience for our students interested in reporting and studying the weather.” The dual degree saves approximately two semesters of study by eliminating overlapping course requirements between the two schools. Under the program, students take courses in synoptic, physical and dynamic meteorology as well as geographic research methods through the School of Geographical Sciences. At Cronkite, they take advanced-level classes in reporting, videography and multimedia journalism. Students also get the opportunity to report the weather for Cronkite News, the Cronkite School’s award-winning student news broadcast, which airs weeknights on Arizona PBS to more than 1.9 million households. “The School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning is excited about the career opportunities for students in the new journalism-meteorology dual degree program,” said Elizabeth A. Wentz, the school’s director. “This cooperation between SGSUP and the Cronkite School will ensure that students will be able to fully understand processes related to weather and climate and competently and fully report these interactions to the interested public.” The School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, an academic unit of ASU’s College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, provides curricular programs that challenge students on a variety of geographical topics. The journalism-meteorology initiative is the third in a series of undergraduate degrees to be offered by the Cronkite School in conjunction with other ASU schools and colleges. The others include dual degrees in journalism and graphic information technology with the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering as well as journalism and Chicano and Latino studies through the School of Transborder Studies.