Apr 28, 2024  
Catalog/Handbook 2023-2024 
    
Catalog/Handbook 2023-2024

Aerospace Sciences (Professional Pilot), BS


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Program: S6200

The Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Sciences degree program at Polk State College is designed to provide a holistic, operational study of the U.S. and international aerospace systems. The advanced skills and information gained through this program prepare the student for a professional career in commercial aviation or aerospace administration. The degree incorporates Safety Management Systems (SMS) concepts into each course, allowing for the development and application of information regarding safety factors and risks that are naturally present in the aerospace environment. Each student participates in a common program core before specializing in either a Professional Pilot or Aerospace Administration concentration, both of which culminate in a Capstone Course that encourages implementation of theoretical mastery of the degree content in an operational context.

The Polk State College Aerospace Sciences Program website provides information about flight-training requirements and costs. Flight-training costs are paid directly to the College.

Admission Criteria:

Admission to this program requires an Associate in Science (AS) or Associate of Arts (AA) degree (or the equivalent) from a regionally accredited school or college, and at least a 2.0 grade point average on a 4.0-point scale. If the student’s associate degree is from a non-regionally accredited institution, but is nationally accredited, the degree qualifies for admission, but a course-by-course evaluation is done according to Polk State College’s transfer practices and policies.

A student who elects to pursue the Professional Pilot Concentration must also have earned the following Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ratings:

  • US FAA Private Pilot (Airplane Single-Engine Land)
  • Instrument Rating (Single-Engine or Multi-Engine)
  • Commercial Pilot (Single-Engine Land or Multi-Engine Land)

These ratings can be earned in the Polk State College Associate in Science in Professional Pilot Science degree program. Alternatively, the student may have earned these ratings through any FAA-approved provider.

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs):
Upon successful completion of the program, the graduate is able to:
Required Program Core
PLO 1: Integrate professionalism in all aspects of involvement in the aerospace environment.
PLO 2: Demonstrate effective written, digital, and oral communication.
PLO 3: Employ critical-thinking skills in professional and academic activities.
PLO 4: Evaluate and implement safety management system concepts in all aspects of the aerospace environment.
PLO 5: Formulate and execute a safety plan of action in the workplace.
PLO 6: Facilitate team-process skills when working with others.
PLO 7: Integrate and apply pertinent national and international rules, regulations, and guidance regarding the aerospace industry.
Professional Pilot Concentration
PLO 1: Integrate basic and advanced concepts of aircraft operations to manage risk.
PLO 2: Operate aircraft systems in various categories of transport aircraft.
PLO 3: Compare traditional and modern avionics systems and procedures.

General Education Requirements (36 Credits Required)


Note: A student who has completed an Associate of Arts (AA) degree at a public Florida college has met the General Education requirements. A student who has completed an AA degree outside of Florida, or who has earned an Associate in Science (AS) or Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree but has General Education courses that vary from the requirements below, should consult with an academic advisor to determine if acceptable substitutions may satisfy some or all of Polk State’s General Education requirements.

Pursuant to Florida Statute Section 1007.25(3) and State Board of Education Rule 6A.14.0303, a student must complete at least one course from a list of courses that are common to all state colleges and universities for each of the General Education subject areas: Communications, Mathematics, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences. The options outlined below ensure that each student who earns a degree at Polk State meets this statewide requirement.

Mathematics (Two Courses) (6 Credits Required)


Natural Sciences (9 Credits Required)


Program Requirements


AS Student

 
Technical Credits from AS Degree* 42
General Education Credits from most AS Degrees 18
Additional General Education Credits 18

***OR***

 

AA Student

 
Elective Credits from AA Degree 24
General Education Credits from AA Degree 36
Additional Technical Credits in Related Field* 18

 

Lower-Division Technical Credits


An Associate of Arts student, or a student who does not have an Associate in Science in Aerospace Administration, must select courses from the following options to obtain the 18 lower-division Technical Credits:

Total Credits for the Bachelor of Science Degree: 120


Civic Literacy Competency


Pursuant to Rule 6A-10.02413 of the Florida Administrative Code, effective in the Fall 2022 Semester, competency in civic literacy is a requirement for all students receiving an Associate in Arts or baccalaureate degree. Competency in civic literacy must be demonstrated through one of the two options listed below:

Option 1:

   AND

  • Successful completion of the Florida Civic Literacy Examination with a score of 60% or better.

Option 2:

Completion of one of the following assessments with the score indicated:

  • The Advanced Placement (AP) Exam in Government and Politics: United States with a score of three or better.
  • The Advanced Placement (AP) Exam in United States History with a score of four or better.
  • The College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) American Government Exam with a score of 50 or better.
  • The Florida Civic Literacy Examination with a score of 60% or better.

Note: All approved accelerated credit is listed in Credit-By-Exam Equivalencies. The Credit-by-Exam section of the Florida State Articulation Committee website provides further details.

Graduation Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree Program


  • Complete 120 credits as outlined above.
  • Earn an overall cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher.
  • Hold an FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate with Multi-Engine and Instrument ratings.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language through any of the following means: completion of two years of high school instruction in the same foreign language, completion of a college-level course at the Elementary-2 level (or higher) in a foreign language or in American Sign Language (ASL) (e.g., SPN 1131 First-Year Spanish II, FRE 1131 First Year French II, or ASL 1150 American Sign Language II), achievement of a minimum score on a foreign language proficiency exam approved by the Registrar’s Office, achievement of a score of three or higher on the Advanced Placement exam in a foreign language, or completion of a high school diploma from a foreign country where the student studied in a language other than English.
  • Complete at least 25 percent (i.e., 30 credit hours) of the program courses at Polk State College.
  • Complete at least 25 percent of the upper-division courses required for the baccalaureate program at Polk State College, including the Capstone Course.

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