Aviation Flight Science Degree

Looking for state-of-the-art training in the skies and world-class facilities as well as resume-worthy internship experiences that will lead to a lifetime of career opportunities? An aviation flight science degree at Western is right for you.

Move from zero flight experience to degree completion and career-readiness. Fly out of the Battle Creek Executive Airport at Kellogg Field at one of the nation’s top flight schools. Begin your training in the private pilot course on the second-longest runway in the state and the third-busiest airport in Michigan. Test your skills as a student at one of our partner airlines.

Request additional info about our aviation flight science bachelor’s degree.

Where can a bachelor’s degree in aviation flight science take me?

An aviation flight science degree from Western can take you around the globe through the largest, most well-known airlines, airports and aviation companies in existence. You could join fellow Western Michigan University graduates flying passengers and goods across the world.  

An aviation student's campus tour

Video of An Aviation Student's Campus Tour

  

What will I learn in the aviation flight science program?

We're educating future captains and managers—not just training pilots. In our aviation flight science program, you'll study general education subjects, the basic sciences, aircraft systems, crew concepts and resource management. You’ll also dive into advanced aerodynamics, professional flight, airline operations, management and administration, global navigation and international flight. If you wish, you will also have an opportunity to get involved in faculty research projects geared toward moving the industry forward. The opportunities are endless.

The mission of the Aviation Flight Science Program (AFSJ) is to provide industry with a professional aviator that serves as a responsible leader within an organization. Graduates will exhibit high levels of technical skill, leadership ability and global awareness that will make them effective problem solvers in a diverse and safety-oriented aviation industry.

This curriculum prepares students for a career in aviation as a professional pilot. It emphasizes intellectual as well as technical competencies and is geared toward educating captains, not just training pilots. Flight training and prerequisite course work ensures that students learn essentials that are required by the commercial airline industry. Concepts emphasized include Crew Resource Management (CRM), Line Oriented Flight Training (LOFT), international flight, airline regulations, profitability, management, and administration. Equipment includes a modern fleet of single- and multi-engine aircraft and state­ of-the-art Training Devices which provide exposure to current Electronic Flight Instrumentation Systems (EFIS) and Flight Management Systems (FMS). Graduates of this curriculum earn their Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Commercial Pilot Certificate with Instrument and Multi-engine Land ratings.

Are there scholarships available for aviation flight science students?

Yes, a number of scholarships are available for students enrolled at the College of Aviation. Students are encouraged to apply for all scholarships that match their interests, career goals, and financial or academic needs.

  • Western is a world-class training environment. The aircraft we have almost spoil us with all their capabilities. Western also has a lot of connections with basically every major airline you could think of, so getting a job when I graduate ... will be a lot easier.

    Evin Cooper, aviation flight science major (from Monroe, Michigan)

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