Aviation degree/Non-Aviation degree

[flywithastick]

When I started college I was initially an aero. engineering major, and hated it because there was little room for electives and courses that weren't associated with engineering.

Sure there's room. Either take 21 hrs/sem or stretch out your grad date.

Basically the major was the opposite of "diverse" and "well-rounded."

Engineering is a science program. PC doesn't apply to the laws of thermodynamics (thank goodness!). You'll need to transfer over to the liberal arts college to get a "well rounded" education. In my qualified experience, a BS engineering needs to be about 150+ hrs with some co-op work sessions to prepare an engineering student for industry.

Most courses of study only have about 120-125 total with close to 50% for the major.

Don't believe I ever saw anyone flunk "into" the engineering college. If it was easy, everyone would do it and engineers would be paid about like entry level pilots.

And they expected students to finish 142 credits in four years???

want some cheese with that wine?

Students with 120-credit majors usually don't even finish in four years anymore.

BS Engineering needs to be 5 yrs or maybe 6 with co-op sessions. It took me 4.5 yrs and ended up with about 147 hrs, with one 3 hr elective.

 

[dmspilot00]

Flywithastick,

Stop turning everything into an argument.

Events that have occurred in my life and the decisions I made are not open for debate!

 

[flywithastick]

Flywithastick,

Stop turning everything into an argument.

Events that have occurred in my life and the decisions I made are not open for debate!

Toughen up, Chief. If you don't want to get challenged, don't post comments an Internet bulletin board. You were making characterizations about a degree program you didn't finish. I did and had different viewpoint of the situation.

BTW - reread my comments. I was speaking generally. You do whatever you want.

happy flying!

 

[Bob]

To fly in the Air force you had to be commissioned and to be commissioned required a degree; I have a BBA. Aside from getting me in the Air Force where I received excellent training and experience, and leadership training; the degree has not contributed to my flying career, maybe even hurt it. Most of the aviation directors I've served under were highschool drop outs and felt threatened by college grads; not to mention prior military. The "or equivilent experience" in lieu of college clause was usually included in the hiring requirements they published so they could hire or promote those who posed no threat to their jobs.

But, as has been stated early, have something to fall back on. Additionally, in a corporate environment, an educated individual will better interact with the executives he flies. Some polish and quality communications and social skills will set a good image for your aviation department and enhance your image as a professional.

 

[Q200_FO]

???

I'm just sick and tired of telling people that you shouldn't get an aviation degree just because you need something else to talk about in the cockpit. You don't see accountants or lawyers or doctors try to avoid their field on purpose do you? Sure your time off is your time off but while we're in the cockpit we're at work. A doctor isn't going to purposely avoid medical topics while conversing with colleagues about work just because he wants something else to talk about just so he can remain "well rounded." I like my job and I like talking about it. Doctors, lawyers and other professional occupations have their inner circles with groups and associations just like we do and do you know what they gab about all day, their jobs! I used to work in the medical field so I know that first hand. It just seems to me that a lot of pilots are ashamed of their jobs and it shouldn't be that way.

 

[Herman Bloom]

A) Going to Riddle or the like in no way prepares one for airline training.
B) I went through airline training with a couple of them and they were par for the course.
C) Riddle is NOT considered a good school outside of aviation. Don't even try to argue this one.
D) Don't tell me about Riddle's "connections" either...I went to an ACC school, got a degree in English Lit, and then did an internship (you know, one of those reserved exclusively for those with degrees in aviation from an aviation university) and was hired at the airline where I'm currently employed.
E) Think anybody asked me in my interview how or why I was an intern but had not graduated from Riddle? Nope.
F) Think anybody asked me in my interview about my experience as an English major? Yep.

Don't drink the koolaid.

That said, go where you want to go and major in something that interests you. If that's aviation, well more power to ya.

Fly safe

 

[Typhoon1244]

Re: ???

I'm just sick and tired of telling people that you shouldn't get an aviation degree just because you need something else to talk about in the cockpit.

I've never heard that reason before, but it's pretty silly. The best reason for having a degree in something else is that you have more options if you lose your license or medical for some reason. Or get furloughed.

 

[inline]

"Most of the aviation directors I've served under were highschool drop outs and felt threatened by college grads; not to mention prior military."



"Most of the' aviation directors' were high school dropouts?" Give me a break, who in the hell were you flying for? And that's nonsense about D.O.s feeling "threatened" by college grads and/or prior military. There may be other reasons a D.O. is reluctant to hire college grads and or military pilots; we all know the majors thinks the sun rises and sets on these guys. During hiring activity like we had a few years ago, why in the world would a D.O. hire these guys only to see them leave for the majors after investing thousands of dollars in them? Unless there is a training contract to recoup training costs, the non-college and non-military pilot is a much sounder investment if you're running a smaller airline. And these pilots are just as competant as anyone else.

 

[bart]

The school you attend is of utmost importance and the degree secondary. You can have a doctorate from Dave's All-Night Drive-In University and it won't mean squat, while a BA from a well-known university might open doors for you. All in all I have found that it is the people that you go to school with and stay in contact with that are the most helpful when the job hunt cranks up.

Aside from that, it is what you do and how you apply yourself once out of school that really matters. University is a demarcation from formal learning to informal learning, not an arrival (as in ERAU grads being ready to fly jets and/or run an airline). An ERAU degree or similar aviation program might help you if the interviewer or boss went to school there, but that is highly unlikely outside of aviation. I even know two corporate flight depts that round file ERAU resumes as a practice, and that is based on their prior experience with know-it-all graduates that explained to them in interviews how they would run their flight department WHEN they were hired.

My advice is go the best school you can get into, regardless of whether they have an aviation program or not. If you believe in the "have a back-up" you want a school that people have heard of outside of the state you live in. If it is known nationally, so much the better.

 

[VADriver]

Get a Non aviation degree. Soo many ERAU guys reluctantly admit thier alma mater.....

No matter what you do..get good grades so you have more choices...

Then read the Millionaire Next Door.....(makes me feel good for getting C's)

 

[English]

Do what I did and get TWO useless degrees...one in aviation and one in Music. Wait, take it further...make it Music performance on the Oboe.

Nah, just kidding, they aren't useless. In fact, the music degree has helped me on almost every job interview I've had. Flying and non-flying. There are alot of pilots that are frustrated musicians on the weekends.

 

[MarineGrunt]

FWIW, the only thing my aviation degree has gotten me is, $70,000 in debt, a job that pays less than $15k/yr and an 11x13" piece of paper (that didn't even come with a frame) that does a really good job of covering up a dent in the wall of my apartment! Sometimes it sucks when you love to fly!

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

Do what I did and get TWO useless degrees...one in aviation and one in Music. Wait, take it further...make it Music performance on the Oboe.

Nah, just kidding, they aren't useless. In fact, the music degree has helped me on almost every job interview I've had. Flying and non-flying. There are alot of pilots that are frustrated musicians on the weekends.

Did you go to band camp?

 

[English]

Didn't you know my name was Michelle??

It was the flute, not the oboe.

 

[TurboS7]

I started out with a Mechanical Technology degree with a Aviation Maintenance minor. I did all the flying Part 91 on the side and instructed my way through college. When I couldn't get through Calculus dropped the major and majored in the minor. I came out with 4 years of college and my Airframe and Powerplant. I didn't get the degree. Having the maintenance background to fall back on has been a real plus and has kept the family fed along the way. It also is an oppurtunity after 60 to move to some little podunk airport manage it and do annuals and such and live in a little trailer on the airport. In the winter I could stoke the stove and tell flying stories to all that come by. My opinion if you are going to survive in aviation you need to dive in and be in it all the way one way or the other.

 

[Typhoon1244]

It was the flute, not the oboe.

Yeah, oboes are for girls that really get around...

(I dated a bassoonist once. I gotta tell ya...)

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

I'm thinkin' piccolo player is the way to go.

 

[Skyboss]

I think it all depends on what you want to do. Aviation Degrees have of late become more desirable. The biggest stumbling block is HR personnel not understanding that individuals with a specific aviation degree are better prepared to walk right in to the position with minimal training. Particularly positions such as Station Managers, Airport Managers, Airport Engineers, Avionics Techs and the like. It reduces the learning curve. Personally, I'd rather hire someone right out of ERAU, UND or SIU in my field, rather than spend 6-8 weeks training someone who just has a non-specific degree. To each their own though.

 

[English]

Does Hugh Jorgan have piccolo envy?

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

Well, maybe it's bassoon envy, but a piccolo trickster might make the oboe seem a little more bassoonesque.

oh yeah, get a degree...any degree.

 

[J.C.Airborne]

I agree with you, a non-aviation degree not only shows that you've diversified your interests, but also serves as a cushion during lean times.
Plus, can you really have a "college experience" while having to fly legally? (8 hour/.04 rule comes to mind here)

let me assure you we manage....and we take the .o4 and 8 hour rule (here its 12 hour rule) very seriously.

 

[J.C.Airborne]

Think practical for a minute... when the airlines start requiring an aviation specific degree, then look at getting one. Until then, I believe you're foolish to not diversify. Getting furloughed as a pilot at some point in your career is fairly probable. You like to work? Then have a backup plan. ERAU, UND or the other "aviation colleges" don't publish their back-up plans, do they? You gonna get hired at ExxonMobil with an aviation mgmt degree? How about GM? IBM? Merck? think about it.

Get a degree in business, engineering or anything in the medical field from an accredited school.

Regarding the aviation degree in engineering - I assume you're talking about aerospace engineering. If that's absolutely what you have to have - fine. Good luck. If you want to work in the aerospace field (unless highly specialized) you can get hired with a mechanical engr degree. So when the particular project you're working on get's cut - as happens frequently - you can take your ME degree and go to work in engineering & contruction, manufacturing, semiconductors, energy, etc, etc.

After rereading the post above from abatista, I got the impression that their point was to get some aviation information or education in an engineering program. About the only thing similar between any accredited engr program and an "aviation degree" would be History 101, Economics 101, English 101... From there on, the engr coursework is almost totally analytical - calculus, physics, chemistry, mechanisms, controls, materials, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, design. Nothing in any engr curriculum I'm familiar with would come close to how to running a flying business, managing a group of pilots, aviation regulations or similar.

I will be the first to say that i am a Commercial Aviation and Air Traffic Control major at UND. Although i will recieve an "aeronautical" degree as some have suggested i believe the degree itself is being misrepresented. It is a Bachelors degree which can be used in a variety of different fields. Just because it says bachelors degree of aeronautics on it doesnt mean i wont be able to find a job non-aviation related. Its a degree just like any other and thats all employers care about.

 

[Metro752]

let me assure you we manage....and we take the .o4 and 8 hour rule (here its 12 hour rule) very seriously.

they call me chuckles

I will be the first to say that i am a Commercial Aviation and Air Traffic Control major at UND. Although i will recieve an "aeronautical" degree as some have suggested i believe the degree itself is being misrepresented. It is a Bachelors degree which can be used in a variety of different fields. Just because it says bachelors degree of aeronautics on it doesnt mean i wont be able to find a job non-aviation related. Its a degree just like any other and thats all employers care about.

bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, wong

 

[smellthejeta]

I will be the first to say that i am a Commercial Aviation and Air Traffic Control major at UND. Although i will recieve an "aeronautical" degree as some have suggested i believe the degree itself is being misrepresented. It is a Bachelors degree which can be used in a variety of different fields. Just because it says bachelors degree of aeronautics on it doesnt mean i wont be able to find a job non-aviation related. Its a degree just like any other and thats all employers care about.

Really? The jobs that I tend to look at require a specific degree. Very very few are as basic as "BA/BS required."

Edited to add: Good job to JC for digging up a 2.5 year old thread

 

[J.C.Airborne]

Having a degree in Aviation is clearly an advantage. I came out of the number one aviation school in the country (Embry-Riddle),quote]

Thats debatable....

 

[J.C.Airborne]

The school you attend is of utmost importance and the degree secondary. You can have a doctorate from Dave's All-Night Drive-In University and it won't mean squat, while a BA from a well-known university might open doors for you. All in all I have found that it is the people that you go to school with and stay in contact with that are the most helpful when the job hunt cranks up.

Aside from that, it is what you do and how you apply yourself once out of school that really matters. University is a demarcation from formal learning to informal learning, not an arrival (as in ERAU grads being ready to fly jets and/or run an airline). An ERAU degree or similar aviation program might help you if the interviewer or boss went to school there, but that is highly unlikely outside of aviation. I even know two corporate flight depts that round file ERAU resumes as a practice, and that is based on their prior experience with know-it-all graduates that explained to them in interviews how they would run their flight department WHEN they were hired.

My advice is go the best school you can get into, regardless of whether they have an aviation program or not. If you believe in the "have a back-up" you want a school that people have heard of outside of the state you live in. If it is known nationally, so much the better.

the school you get your degree from doesnt mean ********************. its just the degree. Let me tell you about a stanford graduate who got her masters from harvard...now makes 40k a year and another college dropout making in upwards of 100k a year with no student loans. i agree a college education is neccesary and prudent, but if your trying to say the prestige of the school matters one bit...your wrong..and thats the facts.

 

[J.C.Airborne]

Really? The jobs that I tend to look at require a specific degree. Very very few are as basic as "BA/BS required."

Edited to add: Good job to JC for digging up a 2.5 year old thread

actually i didnt dig it up..it was on the front page when i got to it.

 

[Metro752]

YEZ YES


THATS THEs FACTS JACKS

IT DOESNT MEan (star star star star star star star star)

 

[J.C.Airborne]

YEZ YES


THATS THEs FACTS JACKS

IT DOESNT MEan (star star star star star star star star)

im confused...what point are you trying to make in this post?

 

[UndauntedFlyer]

I know a bright guy who got his B.S. degree in electrical engineering while he learned to fly. He worked as a CFI for a while, flew charter too and then got a job at a major. So then he was furloughed and decided to go to law school. When he graduated he started his legal career as a patent lawyer making big money and was also recalled to the airline. He worked both jobs and after a few years he quit the airline. He now earns over $1,500,000 per year and owns a Falcon 10 that he uses in his legal work. If his degree had been in aviation management or whatever such degree he would not be where he is today nor would he have even had the opportunity.

Aviation degees may limit your opportunities in the future.