Masters degrees?

[C172Guy]

I was just wondering, how many of you professional pilots have masters degrees? If you have one, what is it in, and how much use have you gotten from it?

 

[chperplt]

Well, I am proud to say that I just turned in my thesis, and with any luck I will have my Masters in aviation safety and aviation management in just a few short weeks.

As far as how much use I've gotten from it... Not that much yet, but I decided to get the degree for the future if I lose my medical. The degree will allow me the work in the safety or investigation areas of aviation. As for practical uses now, I guess I have a better understanding of the types of events that make up the chain of events leading to an accident, and hopefully through my education will be able to spot it and break it before it happens to me..

Overall, it was a relatively easy degree to obtain. I spent the last year as a full time student and full time line pilot and was able to manage just fine. I would suggest anyone interested in a masters to seriously consider it!

 

[LittleDeuce]

ERAU

I got my Masters from Embry-Riddle CCE at night.

I did a dual specialization in Aviation Human Factors, and Aviation/Aerospace Management. I completed my GRP on AQP. Overall it was a good experiance and although not totally necessary, it did open some doors for me.

I personally feel it is a great way to show some motivation at an interview! What a great way to pass the time while on reserve!

You cannot loose, you will learn a lot and help further your career.

Enroll now!

 

[bobbysamd]

Masters degree

You can always benefit from more education and training, and it's nice to have a piece of paper to show for it. I'd do it for these reasons alone. Door-opening is an important added benefit, too, but . . .

All the major airlines want to see is a Bachelor's degree in something, anything legitimate, from an accredited college or university. I don't believe you gain an advantage during hiring with a Master's. The advantage you gain is for yourself in terms of education and training, and a great fallback plan if aviation goes south for you.

If I had it to do over again, I would have gone for another B.S., in Aeronautical Science, to acquire that knowledge, and to go with my B.S.B.A.

Good luck with school.

 

[C172Guy]

Cool. Hey chperplt, where did you get that degree? I would probably be interested in something like that in the future.

 

[JayDub]

I found my MAS in Aviation and Aerospace Mgt. from ERAU to be an absolute detriment in corporate aviation. Absolutely everyone was under the (wrong) impression that airlines would be tripping over themselves to get to me. However, I totally agree with bobbysamd, it was totally worth it for what it gave me personally. I would do it all over again, no matter the consequences.

 

[hawkerjet]

Even " whores " get paid for their services.

 

[hawkerjet]

Even " whores " get paid for their services. Sorry, wrong thread. This was suppose to be in response to the free pilot services thread.

 

[flydog]

Thats ok Dude. Let mw know how those whores work out for you

 

[skydiverdriver]

Excelsior has a masters degree program too. I don't know much about it, as I only earned by BS there, but they are a good school to work with. Check out excelsior.edu. Perhaps I should do this with my free time. Cheers.

 

[KlingonLRDRVR]

I have a Juris Doctorate and played attorney for 6 years and missed flying so much I left a very sucessful partnership to fly boxes. At least the boxes don't complain too much or want to sue everything in sight. I am glad I have something outside of Aviation I can fall back on. I don't knock the aviation masters programs which are great to stay in aviation should you loose your medical when aviation times are good. If times are tough like now it is not only pilots in the aviation field that find thier jobs in jeopardy. During slow times I will speculate there are a lot of aviation masters degrees looking to stay in the airline industry which may not be hiring anyone during the tough times. My recommendation is if you have an aviation degree and still want a masters get something that interests you outside of aviation. If you look at airline websites they advertise for general masters degrees such as a MBA's ect... With the aviation undergrad they should still favor you in hiring, all things being equal. Leaving your options open to the most possibilities appears to be the wise decision in my humble opinion. Bottom line its your decision. Live life to the fullest. I'll stop rambling. Two years ago I was charging $125.00 per hour now I'm down to $0.02 but having a blast.

KlingonLRDRVR

 

[swc12nap1]

My impression based on this forum is that a Master's Degree would not necessarily help you get the job compared to other people who have just bachelor's degrees. But assuming that you are the recruiter for the airline, and you are interviewing tens of applicants who have approximately equal flight hours, would it not make sense that a person who has just the same flight hours like the rest and has a Master's degree might stand out in the crowd?

 

[pipers]

I am working on my masters right now in Economics. While the school doesn't have a aviation program, their letting me do it with a transportation emphasis on aviation. I am working on my thesis with a study on Asian Economic Development and Airlines. I don't really expect it to help me too much when it comes to hiring, but it is interesting and it is always something that I've wanted to do.

 

[Bill Mostellar]

Masters in Management, Thesis on Statistical Analysis and Quality Contol.

Unfortunately, my MS got me off the flightline in the AF. My first CC made O-6 by pawning me off to the wing to set up a TQM program (aarrgghh!).

I don't use the degree much, but I certainly enjoy using the information.

 

[Mr. Irrelevant]

MSF; Masters of Science in Finance. Used some of the knowledge in my old desk job and a little to help out my current employer. Nice to have to fall back on. Regardless of the field of study, if it is a program that pushes the students, has good professors, you'll walk away a better person after completing it. Some of the classes were ballbusters but fantastic learning experiences. Met some great people in the program I was in who are now good friends of mine.


Mr. I.


P.S. A number of morons in each program keep the boring topics in class interesting

 

[Vladimir Lenin]

Masters in Economics
shoulda done physics or chem i.e. something useful, because Kato ain't calling

 

[bobbysamd]

Master's

[A]ssuming that you are the recruiter for the airline, and you are interviewing tens of applicants who have approximately equal flight hours, would it not make sense that a person who has just the same flight hours like the rest and has a Master's degree might stand out in the crowd?

Not necessarily. The difference-breaker may be a four-year degree v. no degree. A Master's won't help much; in fact, I've heard that a Master's is a turn-off to some recruiters because they don't like pilots with too much education, and all that too much education might imply.

All you really need is a four-year degree, from an accredited school, of course. The best major, i.e. Aeronautical Science v. something else, is a long-running subject of conjecture.

 

[e=mc2]

MS in Chemical Engineering and an MBA.
Used to use them a lot, now it is soley for idiot identification.

 

[46Driver]

Just about finished with a Masters in International Relations - area of concentration is National Security. If we (ACA) get bought out by MESA, I am sure I will be using it......

 

[EngineOut]

I remember watching some video on Delta Airlines' pilots a few years back and, when explaining the selection process, a HR rep for the airline stated that points are awarded to candidates based on qualifications. Some of the ones that stood out in my head were 2 "points" for an undergrad degree, 4 points for landing an airplane on an aircraft carrier (at night, in poor weather), and 6 points for a graduate degree.

If the video and my recollection are accurate. it would seem that Delta values a graduate degree during the pilot selection.

 

[msw]

Got a Masters Degree in Public Administration over 20 years ago. Seemed like a good idea at the time. Never seemed to matter to any employer.

 

[Eagleflip]

Did the Masters thing with USC a while back and it made me understand life--and lots of situations--with a broader view. It was well worth the time, but expensive.

Better yet, I have a question for Bobbysamd and KlingonLRDRVR.

Are there credible Law Schools that offer night, correspondence or on-line degrees?

 

[dmspilot00]

Well, I am proud to say that I just turned in my thesis, and with any luck I will have my Masters in aviation safety and aviation management in just a few short weeks.

Just curious...what was your thesis on? How long was it? What school did you go to? Thanks!

 

[bobbysamd]

Night law schools

I, personally, have never heard of online law schools. It's probably not feasable, given how law students seemingly spend most of their lives in the law library and how class participation is important. You'll know what I mean if you ever saw "The Paper Chase."

I am 99.995% sure that most law schools have night programs. Western New England College School of Law in Springfield, Mass. has had a night program for years. My wife is a former WNEC law librarian and she most certainly will vouch for the program!

I had an acquaintance who attended Western State University College of Law in Orange County, California. He attended full-time thirty years ago, but the school has part time programs. The place did the job for him.

Just as is preached about other forms of higher education, be sure that the law school you select is accredited, not only by the normal accrediting bodies but by the American Bar Association. ABA accreditation is important so that your J.D. is recognized in all fifty states. Western State was not ABA-accredited when my acquaintance attended. Its grads could only practice in California. That was fine for my acquaintance because he lives in California and had no plans to leave. WNEC Law School is fully accredited, by the ABA and others.

My wife has pointed out as I type this that a great many law schools now offer electives in aviation law.

Hope that helps.

 

[flywithastick]

MS in Chemical Engineering and an MBA.
Used to use them a lot, now it is soley for idiot identification.

I'm just a mechanical engr, but I believe it spelled solely.

MBA is the only masters that'll pay ($$) off in most instances. Others may make you smarter or qualified for a job (teacher, NASA, etc), but not much economic advantage.

Note - this comment is from a non aviation perspective. I wouldn't think it'd buy anything in aviation.

my 2¢

Vladimir Lenin
Masters in Economics

So, how about those Keynesians?! My dad did a Masters of Econ. Sure seemed like a lot of work to get the degree and just retire. Guess he just wanted the challenge. *Lots* of those whacky differential equations and such. Now *those* will make you go blind!

Lots of work, but like they say - you just don't see too many rich economists.

 

[daviator]

Having a MBA helped me. Delta, when hiring, gives preferential treatment if you have one. Daviator