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June, 2025

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Snow science

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eddiej4.7
Posts: 85 - Karma: 931
Yo,
I’m interested in getting into snow science/avalanche prediction type thing and was wondering if there are any university courses that would help with this sort of thing. I haven’t seen any ‘snow science’ course at any local universities but I thought maybe some other program like geophysics or something would help me get into that industry. I know it also just requires a lot of experience and stuff but was wondering if there was any actual program I could do in uni or outside of it that would help. Does anyone know?
4 years ago
12 0
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PKchu
Posts: 1158 - Karma: 5,943
There's a snow science degree you can get at MSU
4 years ago
20 0
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eddiej4.7
Posts: 85 - Karma: 931
PKchuThere's a snow science degree you can get at MSU


Yeah I’ve heard of that but unfortunately I live in BC so would be really expensive and also far
4 years ago
8 0
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KCoCM
Posts: 963 - Karma: 8,787
sounds like you’re interested in physics
4 years ago
14 0
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hi_vis360
Posts: 5377 - Karma: 55,868
eddiej4.7unfortunately I live in BC


this is a skiing website you can't say this
4 years ago
37 0
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ReturnToMonkey
Posts: 6448 - Karma: 70,211
eddiej4.7Yeah I’ve heard of that but unfortunately I live in BC so would be really expensive and also far


Look more into it, don't give up that easily. The snow science program here is sick. There's options for grants, scholarships, good loans and more. Freshman year my next door neighbor was from BC. It's also not really that far all things considered...
4 years ago
16 0
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SkiPigeon123
Posts: 350 - Karma: 2,964
can you make it snow for us
4 years ago
15 0
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hellahuck
Posts: 13 - Karma: 100
Where are you finding these scholarships? I applied to msu but I’ve only been able to find their general/merit scholarships
ReturnToMonkeyLook more into it, don't give up that easily. The snow science program here is sick. There's options for grants, scholarships, good loans and more. Freshman year my next door neighbor was from BC. It's also not really that far all things considered...
4 years ago
5 0
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ReturnToMonkey
Posts: 6448 - Karma: 70,211
hellahuckWhere are you finding these scholarships? I applied to msu but I’ve only been able to find their general/merit scholarships

Look into scholarships from non-university affiliated sources. A lot of towns have organisations that provide opportunies to earn scholarships through community service and stuff like that. Rotary International is a good example. There's plenty of online resources that will point you in the right direction toward applying to these.
I don't know how reliable or applicable these are but
https://bcscholarships.ca/
https://www.educationplannerbc.ca/plan/finance/scholarship
https://www.montana.edu/international/admissions/scholarships.html
4 years ago
3 0
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ItsSeb
Posts: 106 - Karma: 1,336
This is the true priority
SkiPigeon123can you make it snow for us
4 years ago
5 0
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Knapzach
Posts: 475 - Karma: 5,209
@swervyswerdna
4 years ago
1 0
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swervyswerdna
Posts: 2 - Karma: 81
Yo!

if you’re looking for non-university programs, getting a pro level one course is definitely worth it. It’s much more in depth and snow science focused than the recreational. I would recommend AAI over AIARE. AAI also does a winter forecasting course online as well.

In terms of universities, there aren’t any specific snow science programs, many people will go into either meteorology, GIS (geo-spatial) or geology with a focus in snow.


MSU is probably the best known school but I worked as an Intern for the NASA SnowEx project and found that Boise State and University of Utah all have extremely great grad programs. My mentor for the SnowEx got his masters in geology focusing in snow science at MSU. Another works at Boise State and hires grad students. The exec. Director of CAIC, (Colorado avalanche information center) Ethan Greene, has a PHD in meteorology focusing in snow.


I think it’s an up and coming program for a lot of schools but there isn’t a declared program yet. I think experience is a crucial aspect of it and once I finish undergrad I’m out to gain some by patrolling, combined with a masters I aim to forecast and instruct as well
4 years ago
7 0
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MountainInMyMind
Posts: 352 - Karma: 3,566
hellahuckWhere are you finding these scholarships? I applied to msu but I’ve only been able to find their general/merit scholarships


https://montana.academicworks.com/

apply thru Cat scholarships here, all the departmental scholarships are thru this page. I am on several of the scholarship review committees, so feel free to PM me if you have any questions:)
4 years ago
4 0
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Skibumsmith
Posts: 5474 - Karma: 12,431
You don't need a snow science degree to become an avalanche forecaster. You just need take operations level courses from CAA.

https://www.avalancheassociation.ca/page/Level_1
https://www.avalancheassociation.ca/page/Level_2
https://www.avalancheassociation.ca/page/Level_3
4 years ago
3 0
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eddiej4.7
Posts: 85 - Karma: 931
Thanks! I’ll look into those programs for sure
swervyswerdnaYo!

if you’re looking for non-university programs, getting a pro level one course is definitely worth it. It’s much more in depth and snow science focused than the recreational. I would recommend AAI over AIARE. AAI also does a winter forecasting course online as well.

In terms of universities, there aren’t any specific snow science programs, many people will go into either meteorology, GIS (geo-spatial) or geology with a focus in snow.


MSU is probably the best known school but I worked as an Intern for the NASA SnowEx project and found that Boise State and University of Utah all have extremely great grad programs. My mentor for the SnowEx got his masters in geology focusing in snow science at MSU. Another works at Boise State and hires grad students. The exec. Director of CAIC, (Colorado avalanche information center) Ethan Greene, has a PHD in meteorology focusing in snow.


I think it’s an up and coming program for a lot of schools but there isn’t a declared program yet. I think experience is a crucial aspect of it and once I finish undergrad I’m out to gain some by patrolling, combined with a masters I aim to forecast and instruct as well
4 years ago
2 0
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eddiej4.7
Posts: 85 - Karma: 931
SkibumsmithYou don't need a snow science degree to become an avalanche forecaster. You just need take operations level courses from CAA.

https://www.avalancheassociation.ca/page/Level_1
https://www.avalancheassociation.ca/page/Level_2
https://www.avalancheassociation.ca/page/Level_3


Thanks man! I’m definitely going to take those courses just wasn’t sure if a degree of some sort would help
4 years ago
1 0
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Skibumsmith
Posts: 5474 - Karma: 12,431
swervyswerdnaYo!

if you’re looking for non-university programs, getting a pro level one course is definitely worth it. It’s much more in depth and snow science focused than the recreational. I would recommend AAI over AIARE. AAI also does a winter forecasting course online as well.

In terms of universities, there aren’t any specific snow science programs, many people will go into either meteorology, GIS (geo-spatial) or geology with a focus in snow.


MSU is probably the best known school but I worked as an Intern for the NASA SnowEx project and found that Boise State and University of Utah all have extremely great grad programs. My mentor for the SnowEx got his masters in geology focusing in snow science at MSU. Another works at Boise State and hires grad students. The exec. Director of CAIC, (Colorado avalanche information center) Ethan Greene, has a PHD in meteorology focusing in snow.


I think it’s an up and coming program for a lot of schools but there isn’t a declared program yet. I think experience is a crucial aspect of it and once I finish undergrad I’m out to gain some by patrolling, combined with a masters I aim to forecast and instruct as well


Who do you plan on forecasting for that you need a masters degree?
4 years ago
0 0
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deadhead420
Posts: 2164 - Karma: 18,944
KCoCMsounds like you’re interested in physics


exactly, avalanches are just a massive statics problem. you're basically just guessing if net force will add up to zero in the end. cuz if it isn't zero, you have an acceleration... and a problem
4 years ago
1 0
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Jems
Posts: 7782 - Karma: 101,825
PKchuThere's a snow science degree you can get at MSU

i am fully convinced this degree isn’t very useful
4 years ago
6 0
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swervyswerdna
Posts: 2 - Karma: 81
eddiej4.7Thanks man! I’m definitely going to take those courses just wasn’t sure if a degree of some sort would help


Colorado Avalanche Information Center or Flathead Avalanche Center.
I guess I should’ve said a masters isn’t necessary but it definitely helps. Plus I’m a nerd and like school.
4 years ago
3 0
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SFBv420.0
Posts: 2539 - Karma: 3,126
i took a semester long snow science course thru the u o u meteorological program
basically a 4 hour once a week evening class and field days on fridays
which extended into gmd, sitzmark molly g's happy hour and discussions
I costs about the same as my weekend 3 day avvy 2 course
with 10x the time on snow and pits/field work every week
very little to no companion rescue nor any certs because it wasnt part of and didnt include the aaire, aaa pay to play curriculum
just snow science
well worth my time and monies
4 years ago
4 0
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