Online Graduate Programs in Weather and Climate Risk and Data Analytics

Become a Leader in Weather and Climate Risk

Program Overview

Join us remotely and earn a graduate-level certificate or M.S. degree in Weather and Climate Risk and Data Analytics from the University of Illinois! Take the next steps in your professional journey and advance your applied expertise in atmospheric sciences to solve industry problems, through learning how to use Python and R to:

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. The programs are fully online, which precludes the need for an extended absence from a current position and/or familial responsibilities, and otherwise maximizes learning flexibility.

Collaborate in online courses and an innovative capstone research project with world-renowned faculty in the Department of Climate, Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences (and industry professional mentors, too, for the capstone project!).

Not yet ready to commit to a full M.S. program? That’s totally understandable! Our graduate-level certificate in Weather and Climate Risk and Data Analytics is a 12-credit program and provides an ideal bridge into the 32-credit hour online master’s degree, should students desire to continue on for an advanced graduate degree.

The field of atmospheric sciences is very diverse and can lead to many different career paths. Our program in Weather Climate Risk and Data Analytics will provide you with advanced knowledge and critical skills needed to lead in the field. It’s customized for working professionals, allowing you to complete it in two years, or take it at a slower pace to fit your schedule, without interrupting your career.

Certificate

12 credit hours

Master's Degree

32 credit hours

Courses

Certificate Program

The graduate-level certificate in Weather and Climate Risk and Data Analytics is a 12-credit program in which students 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’s Program

The 32-credit hour M.S. in Weather and Climate Risk and Data Analytics 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.

100%
Online

Accelerate
Your Career

Learn from
Award-Winning Faculty

Gain
High-Demand
Skills

Personalized Program
Advising

Program Tuition and Fees

The tuition rate for the 2025-2026 academic year is $775 (USD) per credit hour for both the certificate and master’s program courses. Rates in future academic years are subject to review by the Illinois Board of Trustees. The rate is the same for in-state, out-of-state and international students.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of our program have rewarding careers working at state and federal government agencies, consulting firms, insurance and reinsurance companies, large corporations, non-profit organizations, and in higher education.

Some specific career paths available are:

Industries and Applications

risk assessment
insurance/re-insurance
data analytic and data science applications
client-specific weather and climate modeling
big data management and curation
agriculture
energy
air quality
subseasonal-to-seasonal prediction
education

Example Job Titles

Skills You Will Gain

Through our program, you will learn how to:

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

Department of Climate, Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences