It is clear that all of the people who have a bachelor's of science or a master's degree in meteorology or atmospheric science feel that the MSU degree is not worth anything. It is also clear that there are people who have the MSU degree that feel that they deserve the same rank because they have worked just as hard, if not harder than others.
The bottom line is this, it doesn't matter how much passion you have, an individual who is interested in law but didn't go to law school, despite how much they may have read, or gathered regarding the law and how it is practiced, can not practice law without passing the bar exam. Get the point?
What would it take for the AMS to issue a test to all graduates, whether they are a bachelor's, master's holder from anywhere, including MSU. It is simple, if you pass the test, you are a meteorologist. If you don't, you are always welcome to try again. It could contain some general physics, mathematics, weather analysis, forecasting, climatology, etc. Then all of this whining would stop.
I have a Bachelor's degree in Atmospheric Science form the University at Albany, a very challenging program. Some would even say that it is of Master's degree caliber. I am not going to brag, I could pass a general meteorology test, and I would welcome anyone else who could pass it to be given the same title-a meteorologist. If you can't pass it, even if you have received your Ph.D, (of course, it would be a piece of cake for a Doctor), then you can take it again, but until you do, call yourself, just a weathercaster.
This is just an idea, most likely not a practical one. But certainly something to think about, instead of jumping down each other's throats.
Josh Linker
KGAN-TV Meteorologist