This option provides students with additional programming, data management, visualization and machine learning skills which can be applied to meteorology, air pollution, climate, and other fields.

DATA SCIENCE OPTION COURSEWORK (28-35 CREDITS TOTAL)

If you declared your major prior to Autumn 2023, please check here.

Courses listed below are required to complete a BS in Atmospheric and Climate Science with the Data Science option and are in addition to ATMOS core coursework and UW College of Environment general education requirements.

Advanced Math (Required; 6-12 credits total)

These courses (or their equivalent) should be completed as soon as possible as they are pre-requisites for upper-division ATMOS coursework. All of these courses have their own pre-requisites.

MATH 207 Introduction to Differential Equations (4cr, AWSpS)
MATH 208 Matrix Algebra with Applications (4cr, AWSpS)
MATH 209 Linear Analysis (4cr, AWSpS)

or

AMATH 351 Introduction to Differential Equations and Applications (3cr, AWSpS)
AMATH 353 Fourier Analysis and Partial Differential Equations (3cr, SpS)

*For transfer students – some WA-state community colleges offer equivalents to the courses listed above. Consult your institutional adviser or the UW Equivalency Guide for more information.

ATMOS Courses (One of the following courses required; 3-4 credits total)
ATMOS 310 Programming for Atmospheric Data Analysis (3cr, Aut) or
ATMOS 350 Ecological Climatology (3cr, Aut) or
ATMOS 358 Fundamentals of Atmospheric Chemistry (3cr, Spr) or
ATMOS 380 Weather and Climate Prediction (3cr, Win) or
ATMOS 458/CHEM 458 Air Pollution Chemistry (4cr, Aut)

Programming (Required; 4-5 credits total)
CSE 123 Introduction to Computer Programming III (4cr, AWSpS) or
CSE 143 Computer Programming II (5cr, A) or
CSE 163 Intermediate Data Programming (4cr) (CSE 163 overlaps with ATMOS 310 – if you took ATMOS 310, please take CSE 123 or CSE 143 instead of CSE 163)

Machine Learning (Required; 4-5 credits total):
CSE/STAT 416 Introduction to Machine Learning (4cr) or
STAT 435 Statistical Machine Learning (4cr) or
INFO 371 Advanced Methods in Data Science (5cr)

Data Science and Society (Required; 3 credits total):
SOC 225  Data and Society (3cr)

Additional Courses (Required; 8-10 credits total)
Students must complete one course from each of the following categories. Most courses have pre-requisites.

Data Management
CSE 414 Introduction to Database Systems (4cr) or
INFO 430 Advanced Database Design (5cr)

Data Visualization
CSE 412 Introduction to Data Visualizations (4cr) or
HCDE 411 Information Visualization (5cr) or
INFO 474 Interactive Data Visualization (5cr)

Another course that also fulfills the data visualization requirement: STAT 451 Visualizing Data (4cr). Offered Aut 2025.

*Note for 2025-2026 Academic Year: CSE 412 sill be offered in Winter 2026; CSE 414 will be offered in Autumn 2025 and Winter 2026; and CSE 416 will be offered in Autumn 2025 and Spring 2026. Please note that these offerings are tentative and subject to change.

DEGREE PLANS

Most Atmospheric and Climate Science majors take their major courses during the junior and senior years, although it is certainly possible to begin the major course work as a sophomore if the prerequisites are met. ATMOS core courses are offered only once per academic year, with the first course beginning in Autumn Quarter.  It is crucial that ATMOS courses are taken in the recommended sequence.

Below are two suggested degree plans for students interested in the Data Science option – the first is a four-year plan, designed for freshmen. The second is a two-year plan designed for transfer students and UW students who decide to major in Atmospheric and Climate Science in their sophomore or junior year.

Plans do not include UW College of Environment general education requirements and may vary, depending on the individual. Please note that the data science option includes many non-ATMOS courses that are subject to the home departments’ scheduling discretion and may not be offered as listed in degree plans. It may also be possible to complete some non-ATMOS courses prior to the quarter(s) listed in the degree plans below, depending on pre-requisites and quarters offered. Due to the variety of options, each student will need to customize their own course plan and ensure they can meet all the requirements in time. To discuss this plan, please contact the Academic Adviser.

Data Science – FOUR YEAR PLAN

4-Year Plan Data Science Option Worksheet (Printable Version)

Recommended for freshmen interested in majoring in Atmospheric and Climate Science. This plan is also appropriate for students on track to complete the MATH and PHYS sequences by autumn quarter of their sophomore year.

Most classes have prerequisites. Please contact the Academic Advisor for a list of prerequisites.

*Note for 2025-2026 Academic Year: CSE 412 sill be offered in Winter 2026; CSE 414 will be offered in Autumn 2025 and Winter 2026; and CSE 416 will be offered in Autumn 2025 and Spring 2026. Please note that these offerings are tentative and subject to change.

DATA SCIENCE – TWO YEAR PLAN

2-Year Plan Data Science Option Worksheet (Printable Version)

Recommended for transfer* students and UW students who decide to major in Atmospheric and Climate Science in their sophomore or junior year. This plan assumes that at least two years of college-level courses – including the pre-requisite MATH and PHYS sequences – have already been completed.

NOTE: Many non-ATMOS courses can be taken in summer quarter (not represented in degree plan).

*Students planning on transferring to the UW should consult with their institutional adviser or the UW Equivalency Guide for more information on equivalencies for the courses listed in these plans.

Most classes have prerequisites. Please contact the Academic Adviser for a list of prerequisites.