Combining science and speech communications courses will soon equal a minor in broadcast meteorology.

The Council on Academic Affairs recently passed a proposal to create a broadcast meteorology minor, which will be available to students in the fall.

Alan Baharlou, chair of the geology and geography departments, said he has been discussing the minor with the speech communications department for four years, and considers the minor another enhancement degree.

The curriculum for the minor will provide students with an understanding of weather and the ability to explain it in a language that is easy to understand, Baharlou said.

On the science side of the minor, students take courses such as weather and climate and climatology, which fill general education requirements.

“It’s a way to kill two birds with one stone,” Baharlou said. “Meet the requirements and get a minor.”

These courses provide fundamentals on how weather is generated, what factors affect weather and how to collect and interpret satellite weather data.

The required speech communications classes for the broadcast meteorology minor include two prerequisite classes in electronic production, said Mark Borzi, chair of the speech communications department.

Borzi said broadcast meteorology minors must take 25 semester hours total, which breaks down to 13 required hours with six hours in earth science and six hours in speech communication.

“I would expect there will be 20-plus minors in the program,” Borzi said.

Baharlou said the minor has potential for students in all areas of study and an understanding of weather can be used for any occupation.

A minor in broadcast meteorology can be helpful when applying for a job at a television or radio station, but John McCall, news director at WAND TV in Decatur, said most stations hire meteorology majors for primary positions.

McCall said WAND has two meteorologists and two non-meteorologists who broadcast news, but the two non-meteorologists are working on degrees.

“A minor can get a job, but it will probably be a part-time or weekend job,” McCall said. “A responsible station will be hesitant to call anyone who doesn’t have a degree as a meteorologist