Aviation Science
A degree in Aviation Science from Mt. San Jacinto College was designed to prepare students without any prior aviation knowledge to become professional pilots. Our structured program strictly follows the ground school training requirements from the Federal Aviation Administration along with many additional courses taught by instructors with extensive real-world aviation experience in order to provide training above and beyond minimum licensing standards.
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Career options are versatile. Opportunities exist as:
- certified flight instructors at flight schools;
- corporate pilots for executive transport;
- pilots for government agencies, law enforcement and emergency transport;
- technicians and managers for flight line operations and logistics; and
- pilots to meet the current hiring demand for commuter and airline operations.
It takes between 18 and 24 months to complete an Associates of Science degree in Aviation Science. Although MSJC only provides the ground or classroom training requirements towards FAA pilot certification, a student seeking a career as a professional pilot would progress through the Aviation Science training curriculum in order to prepare for FAA written examinations. The program offers ground school for Private Pilot, Instrument Pilot, Commercial Pilot, and Certified Flight Instructor requirements. In order to be eligible for FAA pilot certification, the student applicant must successfully pass the FAA written examination as well as demonstrate proficiency in flight training.
Actual flight training is beyond MSJC’s purview and will need to be accomplished separately from the Aviation Science program in order to earn pilot certificates. Students will need to source, fund, and attend a flight training course at any reputable Part 61 or Part 141 flight school. Once the commercial pilot certificate has been earned, the student is able to fly, for hire, with commuter or charter companies in order to build experience needed for airline opportunities. Commercial pilot certificate holders may also choose to undergo additional training to become a certified flight instructor.
Contact Information
Stanley Harriman, Ph.D.
Aviation Science
Program Coordinator
Email: sharriman@msjc.edu