BS - Aeronautical Science

What is an Aeronautical Science Degree?

Whether you want to be a professional pilot, airport manager or aviation safety expert, you can get there with a degree in aeronautical science degree from Florida Tech. Here, you'll develop a strong background in aviation and get hands-on experience in modern aeronautical technology and industry best practices.

Our aeronautical science degree program is dynamic and focused. You'll get started right away, taking core courses like Introduction to Aviation Physiology and Aviation Meteorology as a freshman. Guided by highly accomplished faculty who care about your success, you'll hone your strengths and begin specializing as early as sophomore year.

Want to fly? Our fixed-wing and rotary-wing flight training programs will take you higher, giving you the always-in-demand skills it takes to become a professional pilot. Students benefit from year-round flying weather, a state-of-the-art fleet, and ample time in actual aircraft.

Students getting an Aeronautical Science degree may undertake an Air Traffic Control (ATC) concentration. The ATC concentration meets the requirements of the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) program and is FAA approved.

Advantages

Why Florida Tech:

• One of the largest and most respected collegiate aviation programs in the nation
• Benefit from the personal attention of excellent faculty
• Location provides year-round flying conditions
• Recognized as one of the safest flight schools in the U.S.
• 94% of flight training is in actual aircraft, not simulators
• Flight students average 250 - 300 flight hours
• New 12,000 -square-foot flight center
• New and refurbished fleet of Piper aircraft
• Aviation master's and accelerated MBA programs available to graduates
• Strong alumni and employer network

Facilities: The College of Aeronautics faculty and administrative offices, laboratories and academic classrooms are located in George M. Skurla Hall on the main campus in Melbourne, Fla. F.I.T. Aviation LLC conducts flight training at the nearby Melbourne International Airport. Just opened is the new Emil Buehler Flight Center for Aviation Education and Research, home to a 17,600 square-foot hangar and Center for Human Factors research headquarters.

Learning

Clubs and Organizations:

• Collegiate Aviation Business Executives
• Women in Aviation International
• The Falcons Intercollegiate Flight Team
• Alpha Eta Rho

Research: Research interests of professors include human factors, airport management, airport planning and design, and flight training optimization. Professors often involve undergraduate students in their research.

Internships and Cooperative Learning: Because of its long-standing relationships with various airlines and aviation companies, the College of Aeronautics is able to provide students getting an aeronautical science degree with a variety of attractive internship opportunities. Students take internships at nearly every major U.S. airline, shadowing chief pilots or doing work in safety or flight standards and training. The College of Aeronautics has established cooperative relationships with many local companies in order to provide students with enhanced learning experiences both in and outside of the classroom. Companies providing guest speakers, field trip experiences and other opportunities to Florida Tech students include: Avidyne Corporation, Harris Corporation, Kennedy Space Center, Liberty Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, Martin Marietta, Northrop Grumman, and United Space Alliance.

Future Outcomes

Outcomes - Grad School: Because Florida Tech is the forerunner of terminal degrees in aviation, students interested in graduate study often choose to pursue a master's degree or doctorate here. Some have gone on to earn degrees at other renowned graduate schools, while others have entered law school both in the United States and abroad. Typical graduate students study aviation human factors, applied aviation safety, airport development and management, and aviation law and business.

Outcomes - Career and Salary: Aeronautical science degree and other graduates of the College of Aeronautics take jobs as airline pilots, airline managers, airport managers or secure positions within various areas of general and commercial aviation at companies including:

• Birk Hillman Airport Consulting Services
• Federal Department of Transportation
• Flight Safety International
• National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
• Four Star Aviation
• Garrett Aviation
• Department of Homeland Security
• ...and countless international airports

Most get their start by logging hours as flight instructors and quickly move on to begin careers as commercial pilots in the world's top airline companies including:

• Air Tran Airways
• American Eagle Airlines
• American Airlines
• Ameriflight
• Continental Express
• Delta
• JetBlue Airways
• Spirit Airlines Inc.
• United Airlines
• US Airways

Curriculum

Curriculum program plans shown reflect current degree requirements. Previous academic year requirements can be accessed from the catalog page by choosing the appropriate academic year.

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Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Science

This curriculum prepares the graduate for a career in the global aeronautical science and technology industry and government regulatory agencies. The graduate is provided a strong foundation in mathematics, physics, aeronautical sciences, aeronautical technology and the regulated international aviation industry.

Freshman Year

FALL

SPRING

Sophomore Year

FALL

SPRING

Junior Year

FALL 

SPRING

Senior Year

FALL

SPRING

TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED 126

Not all humanities core courses are offered online or every term; check the current schedule of classes for humanities core options.

Air Traffic Control Program

The college offers an air traffic control (ATC) specialization in conjunction with any of its seven bachelor’s degrees. The ATC specialization meets the requirements of the FAA’s Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) program and is FAA-approved.

This program provides graduates with in-depth knowledge of ATC and the aviation industry to ensure graduates possess the requisite knowledge, skills and abilities to succeed in testing and training, and as air traffic controllers.

While no AT–CTI program graduates are guaranteed employment, the FAA considers these graduates to be a valuable hiring source for air traffic control specialist positions nationwide. On successful completion of this program and recommendation from the dean, graduates are further required by the FAA to achieve a passing score on the FAA-administered Air Traffic Selection and Training (AT-SAT) test battery, attend the FAA academy (bypassing the first five weeks) and successfully complete the on-site initial qualification training.

Curriculum

To successfully complete this program in conjunction with a bachelor’s degree from the College of Aeronautics, the following seven named courses (21 credit hours) must be completed either as required courses within a degree, as electives or as a combination of both.