Developed by the American Meteorological Society with NSF and NOAA support, AMS Weather Studies and AMS Ocean Studies are introductory college-level courses for implementation at undergraduate institutions nationwide. These dynamic and highly motivational courses place students in a learning environment where they investigate the atmosphere and world ocean via real-world current environmental data. Most of the environmental data is provided by NOAA websites. Over 360 colleges throughout the United States have offered these courses with more than 70% of these offerings in online or blended learning environments.

Each course consists of a fully-integrated set of printed and online learning materials. AMS Weather Studies and AMS Ocean Studies course packages include a hard-cover, 15-chapter textbook, Investigations Manual with 30 lab-style activities, and course website providing weekly current weather and ocean investigations. The Investigations Manual, online learning activities, and course test banks allow for full integration to a college's e-learning environment.

The courses can be offered in online, blended, and traditional lecture/lab learning environments by experienced science faculty or those new to teaching the subject matter. Collegial assistance from AMS staff and other course users is available to new instructors.