Aviation degree/Non-Aviation degree

[208starcheck]

That is a very good question. Very few people I know thought that far ahead. I personally went with the finance degree and started flying. I felt I needed to diversify in case something happened that ended my flying carreer. I've seen many guys get fired or decide it's not what they thought is was going to be. I now know two guys that have been injured and were forced to look for another line of work.

I hasn't hurt me. In fact most of the guys I know never got the degree and they are doing fine. Of course they can't make it to the major if the option ever arose.

It's a decision everyone has to make for themselves but at least your thinking about it.

It's all about the hours
good luck

 

[TXCAP4228]

People ask themselves the same questions even outside the aviation industry. I may have mentioned it before, my degree is political science, my boss' is Forrestry Managment (yikes!). Needless to say, I'm in the business world and not in professional aviation, but the paralel holds true.

I got a degree in something I really liked. Just because it wasn't Finance or Business Management didn't prevent me from being competitive for the job I have.

One other thing. Even notwithstanding that you would have something to fall back on, you are a more welll rounded person to branch out into other fields. I would argue that it even makes you a better pilot.

 

[bobbysamd]

Accreditation

Just in case no one has said it, make sure your degree is from an institution accredited by one of the six accrediting bodies recognized by the Department of Education. E.g., the North Central Association, Southern Association, New England Association, etc.

 

[Typhoon1244]

B.A. Geography, University of Tennessee-Knoxville.

(Hey, somebody had to...)

 

[DoinTime]

quote:
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Making friends (this sounds gay, but the more friends you have in the aviation biz... the better)
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Sure, it's nice to have lots of pilot friends. But I am VERY happy I have many other friends outside aviation. It keeps things different, and allows you to have different experiences with people outside your own career field. I have friends in business, nursing, art, finance, biology, and many other areas. It is nice to go out with them and talk about things unrelated to flying. Having a heterogenous mixture of career interests is a very cool thing in a group of friends.

I think people spend too much time focusing on what they can do to "make it" as fast as possible in the industry. I am guilty of this, so I speak first hand from the experience. I wish I would have spent more time making friend outside aviation and broadening my knowledge of things outside "flying talk." Someday you'll be cruising at 41,000 feet and will need to talk about something else than flying. I know a lot of people who can't talk about anything else BUT flying.

People just need to figure out what they enjoy, and do that. Obviously we all enjoy flying. But if you enjoy something else as well, then maybe that would be a good degree program. I wish I would have gone into Business or Graphic Design. Hindsight is 20/20.

I think the definition of 'friend' in this case should be more like 'contacts.' I went to a large aviation university and graduated with a class of over 200 other pilots. I wasn't friends with all of them but there are 30+ that I keep in regular contact with that have jobs at nearly every regional/national airline in this country. These friends would bust their a$$ to help me out if I were looking for work and I would do the same for them. Its great to have friends outside of aviation, and I have many, but the only thing they will do for you when you are out of work is help you find a job that you don't want. Everyone who has been around the block a few times knows that in this business its not what you know but who you know.

I would have a never finished a degree program that wasn't aviation based. I'm certain that my resume looks better to any employer with a BS in aeronautical science than 48 credits of a liberal arts degree. Most employers are just like the airline in that they just want to see a degree, regardless of its nature. My sister has a degree in geography. She manages a psychiatric clinic. Go figure.

Do what's best for yourself.

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

Major in something that interests you. Nobody gives a squat about an aviation or technical degree for that matter. Enjoy your major and do WELL in it. Enjoy flying and stay in contact with everyone you fly with. Have fun and good luck.

 

[Since 1926]

Having a degree in Aviation is clearly an advantage. I came out of the number one aviation school in the country (Embry-Riddle), and was already prepared to fly jets. But it's important that you attend a top notch aviation school if you plan on an aviation degree. I've met some people who major in aviation at some no-name school and have no clue on how a turbine engine even works. Obviously Embry-Riddle can't provide you with 2000 hours of jet time while you go to school there. But what they can do is prepare you with the knowledge portion. Classes in advanced aerodynamics, turbine engines, turbine aircraft operations / jet transport systems, and so on. After having been through two groundschools on two different aircraft (one turboprop and one jet) at a part 121 airline, and a jet type rating with zero turbine experience, I can tell you that the knowledge attained from a good four-year aviation degree is priceless. I say that looking back on things after being out in the field for a while. Not only did the knowledge attained put me miles ahead in groundschool and checkrides, it helps me that much more on a regular basis where I have to troubleshoot a system or component during daily flight operations.

 

[kmunnpilot1]

Best of Both Worlds!

I just graduated from a university with a BS in Aviation Management AND Business Administration. I feel it was very beneficial to double major. I received training on how the business community operates as well as the aviation industry. Now, if I were to lose my medical, I always have my business degree to rely on. The only portion lacking from my training was a good knowledge base in turbine engine theory.

 

[MDPilot]

FlyChicaga,

I haven't laughed so hard all day!!! Keep it up!

 

[flywithastick]

Having a degree in Aviation is clearly an advantage

What's your backup plan? What if there's another terrorist attack and another 10,000 pilots hit the streets? What about a major (wrath of God, 1930's style) economic downturn?

As we like to discuss on these boards - suppose all things are equal - it's you and the guy from State with the finance degree interviewing for the job at Citibank. who they gonna hire, the guy with the BBA finance or the guy with the B(A?) in aviation?

If there's any doubt, you need to wake up from this dream and go put on some coffee.