Due to high demand, students applying for aviation flight science must apply for the fall semester and complete their applications by the established deadline to be considered for admission into the program. Admission decisions for students applying to the flight science program will be released after each deadline has passed. Students seeking re-admission will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
The aviation flight science application will consist of the following review process and procedures:
- A holistic review, using all sections of the application, including academic transcript(s), extracurricular activities, honors and awards, essays, and any letters of recommendation.
- Students who are not offered admission to aviation flight science but who are admissible to WMU will be offered admission to the university curriculum, our program for students who are still exploring majors. Please note: No major changes will be allowed into aviation flight science at a later date.
- First-year students must apply via the Common App
- Transfer students must apply via the WMU application
A completed application, fee or waiver, and all required transcript(s) must be received by the following dates:
- First-year application deadline: December 15, 2022. Admission decisions will be released in mid-February 2023.
- Transfer application deadline: February 15, 2023. Admission decisions will be released in mid-April 2023.
Information for International Students and English Proficiency
- Admission into the Aviation Flight Science program requires a higher English proficiency score than required for admission into the University. For the official policy and requirements, please click here. Both the FAA and ICAO require all pilots to read, write, speak, and understand the English language. The College of Aviation requires the completion of an English evaluation before an applicant may be considered for a flight training slot. The determination for these slots is normally completed 2 months prior to the start of the next semester and is administered in person at the Battle Creek, MI aviation campus (online evaluations are not available at this time).
- If you have lived in an English-speaking country for at least 4 years, or are a citizen of a country from the WMU exempt country list, then you may request the evaluation be waived. We may ask you to provide additional details and may request a telephone conversation too.
- Additionally, if you are not able to arrive in Battle Creek in time for an evaluation, you may pursue an ICAO English Language Proficiency Test in your own country. You are responsible to pay for this test and sending us official results. The minimum acceptable score to begin flight training at WMU is ICAO Level 4.
- To schedule an evaluation in Battle Creek, click here.
When it's time to take to the skies in Michigan, you'll fly out of Battle Creek's W.K. Kellogg Airport, which boasts the second longest runway in the state and is also home to an Air National Guard base. As your skills increase, you'll grow accustomed to flying into and out of a wide variety of airports, and Michigan skies will help you learn to handle a broad range of temperatures and weather systems.
The aviation flight science program emphasizes intellectual as well as technical competencies. The program is geared toward educating future captains and managers—not just training pilots. In the program, you'll study general education subjects, the basic sciences, aircraft systems, crew concepts, resource management, advanced aerodynamics, professional flight, airline operations, management and administration, global navigation, and international flight. If you wish, you will also have an opportunity to be involved in faculty research projects geared toward moving the industry forward.
The program also features crew concept in the flight training environment, Crew Resource Management—CRM, the use of state-of-the-art simulators and Line Oriented Flight Crew Simulations, computer-based training, and the most advanced flight training equipment with glass cockpit technology including the Avidyne R9 avionics suite and the DFC-100 advanced autopilot.
The College of Aviation's advanced curriculum is designed to effectively train students with no previous flight training and to focus on what the airline industry and aviation regulators regard as the critical components of aviation education. Through this revised curriculum, you move from zero flight experience to degree completion, to employment readiness. Once hired, the only further training required will be for conversion to operating with a specific airline on a specific aircraft. At the College of Aviation, we strive to remain in touch with the changing needs of the aviation industry so that you can get the training and education you need to be a functional and productive part of it.
Click here for information on the requirements to start flight training and to apply for your desired semester.
Initial Flight Training Requirements & Applications
Downloadable forms:
- 2022-23 Undergraduate Catalog Information
- Aviation Flight Science Curriculum
- Flight Fees
- Flight Account Input Form
- Flight Schedule of Availability
- Leave Request Form
- New Course Enrollment Form
- Navigation Log
- Refund Form
- WMU Reduced ATP Direction
- WMU Reduced ATP Form
- Download Post 9/11 GI Bill® Flight Fee Coverage (2022)
- Download Post 9/11 GI Bill® Flight Fee Coverage (2021)
- Download Post 9/11 GI Bill® Flight Fee Coverage (2020)
- Completion of Flight Course Notification 2016
- Student Achievement Data