Become a leader in Weather and Climate Risk and Data Analytics
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The field of atmospheric sciences offers a wide range of career paths, and our online Graduate Programs in Weather and Climate Risk and Data Analytics are designed to prepare you for leadership in this dynamic space. Tailored for working professionals, the programs is fully online and flexible, allowing you to complete your degree in as little as two years or take it at your own pace without stepping away from your career. You'll gain advanced knowledge and technical skills that go beyond traditional forecasting, positioning you to meet the growing demand for weather and climate data experts across industries.
Students will take new steps in their professional journey to advance their expertise to solve industry problems. Students in our program learn how to use Python and R to:
- conduct computational analysis/analytics of weather and climate data
- implement and use predictive models for the weather-climate interface
- assess weather and climate-related risk
This particular skill set is different than, but complementary to, skills used in traditional weather forecasting, and is particularly desirable in the private sector, which is the fastest-growing employment sector in the atmospheric sciences.
Start in the Fall, Summer or Spring
Choose your pathway
Graduate Certificate Program
The 12-credit-hour certificate program allows students to gain and hone programming and statistical skills and tools key in this growing field. The certificate is a micro-credential that can be added to a student's résumé and LinkedIn profile and looks great on a job application. The certificate provides an ideal bridge into the 32-credit hour online master’s degree, should students desire to continue on for an advanced graduate degree.
Master of Science Degree Program
The 32-credit-hour master’s program is designed specifically to meet the industry need for advanced expertise and skills in designing, analyzing, and interpreting statistical models in Python and R. You will apply the cutting-edge skills you gain in our program to relevant applications for weather and climate phenomena and hazards, in both your courses and your capstone project.
Frequently asked questions
What skills will students gain?
- Understand how and why weather/climate phenomena produce high-impact hazards
- Develop a cutting-edge data analytics toolkit in Python for weather/climate data
- Create statistical models in R to evaluate and predict weather/climate risk
- Build statistical models to evaluate variability and change in the climate
- Develop a strong quantitative foundation to analyze and model key weather/climate problems
What types of careers do graduates get?
- Catastrophe Modeling Analyst
- Analyst
- Geospatial Data Scientist
- Scientific Software Engineer
- Agricultural Meteorologist
- Commodities Forecaster
- Consultant
- Atmospheric Scientist
- Educator
Where are alumni working?
- State Farm Insurance
- FirstCarbon Solutions (FCS)
- Resource Innovations (RI)
- CNA Insurance
- Missouri State University
- Blue Hill Harbor School, Maine
- United States Air Force
- United States Army
- FEMA
- Cactus Communications
What are the application deadlines?
Master's Degree
Apply by:
- December 1 to start in the Spring semester
- May 1 to start in the Summer Semester
- August 1 to start in the Fall semester
Certificate
Apply by:
- January 10 to start in the Spring semester
- June 1 to start in the Summer Semester
- August 15 to start in the Fall semester
Become a leader in Weather and Climate Risk and Data Analytics
Get a sneak peek at the Weather & Climate Risk & Data Analytics online programs.
Brandon Bourassa - Spring 2025 Master's Graduate
"My capstone project explored how atmospheric river-driven precipitation has shifted over time along the U.S. West Coast—linking storm track changes and jet stream dynamics to water risk across California, Oregon, and Washington.” But more than the tools and methods, this degree represents resilience, purpose, and clarity. It’s a reminder that progress isn’t always loud—it’s often quiet, hard-fought, and deeply personal."
Duane Claybrooke - Spring 2025 Master's Graduate
"My overall experience in this program has been great. The instructors have been very supportive and extremely helpful in all of the coursework. The knowledge gained during this experience has been very rewarding and very applicable in today’s world. Even though I’m just finishing the degree, it has already helped me to advance in my field with a position."
Corrine Wolfe - Spring 2025 Certificate Graduate
“Before I joined this program, I only had coding experience with just one coding class in undergrad. This program has given me a better foundation in coding, data science/analysis, and in statistical concepts. I was already able to use my new R and Python skills for a project at work last year. One of my favorite experiences from this program was being able to communicate directly with other students on topics relating to assignments and projects, such as on Slack or on the course discussion pages. Although the program is fully online, you still feel as though you have a community of people around you in the same boat as you who are always willing to help you out.”
Sophia Schutte - Spring 2025 Certificate Graduate
“The Weather and Climate Risk & Data Analytics Certificate Program has been an incredibly valuable experience for both my academic and professional growth. Through courses like Data Science for Geosciences, Weather Phenomena and Hazard, and Risk Analysis in Geoscience, I gained practical skills in meteorological data analysis, risk assessment, and programming. One of the most rewarding aspects of the program was the flexibility of the semester projects, which could be tailored to my specific interests or current job. This made the coursework highly applicable, allowing me to build a portfolio of projects that align with my career goals. Whether preparing for a professional role or pursuing graduate research, these projects serve as an excellent foundation for future work.”
Daniel Bose Spring 2023 - Certificate Graduate
"The Weather and Climate Risks and Data Analytics program provided me with the combination of learning computer skills (e.g. R and Python) which are vitally important to any career in the sciences and the atmospheric science knowledge to focus my career. The course, Data Science in the Geosciences, brought me from very inexperienced to proficient at Python. I was concerned, with this being my first time going to school online, that the online experience of the program would be a heightened difficulty, but Dr. Klees provided a useful lab every week to give it an in-class feel, and she offered a lot of time out of class so that I never felt isolated. I believe that this program at UIUC was the perfect way for me to jump start my career."