Aerospace Sciences (Professional Pilot), BS

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Program: S6200

The Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Sciences 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.

Admission Criteria:

Admission to this program requires an AS or 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’s 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
PLO1: Integrate professionalism in all aspects of their involvement in the aerospace environment.
PLO2: Demonstrate effective communications in written, digital, and oral forms.
PLO3: Employ critical-thinking skills in their professional and academic activities.
PLO4: Evaluate and implement safety management system concepts in all aspects of the aerospace environment.
PLO5: Formulate and execute a safety plan of action in the workplace.
PLO6: Facilitate team-process skills in their work with others.
PLO7: Integrate and apply pertinent national and international rules, regulations, and guidance to the aerospace industry.
Professional Pilot Concentration
PLO8: Integrate basic and advanced concepts of aircraft operations to manage risk.
PLO9: Operate aircraft systems in various categories of transport aircraft.
PLO10: Compare traditional and modern avionics systems and procedures.

General Education Requirements (36 Credits Required)

Note: A student who has completed an 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 AS or 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 SBE 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.

Communications (6 Credits Required)

Mathematics (Two Courses) (6 Credits Required)

MAC 1105 - College Algebra
MAC 1114 - Trigonometry *
MAC 1140 - Precalculus Algebra *
MAC 1147 - Precalculus Algebra/Trigonometry *
MAC 2233 - Applied Calculus I
MAC 2311 - Calculus I
MAC 2312 - Calculus II
STA 2023 - Introduction to Probability and Statistics (Recommended for Aerospace Administration Concentration)
*A student who takes MAC 1147 cannot take MAC 1114 and/or MAC 1140. A student who takes MAC 1114 and/or MAC 11410 cannot take MAC 1147.

Humanities (9 Credits Required)

And one of the following:

Social Sciences (6 Credits Required)

Natural Sciences (9 Credits Required)

Health and Wellness (Choose One)

Biological and Physical Sciences (7 Credits Required)

One course must be from List A; the other can be from List A or B. One of the two courses must have a lab component.

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-Level Technical Credits

*An AA student or non-aerospace AS student must select the following courses as lower-level technical credits:

ASC 1010 - Foundations of Air Transportation OR
AVM 1010 - Aviation Management
GEB 2214 - Business Communications OR
ENC 2210 - Introduction to Technical and Professional Writing
All of the following courses:
ASC 1210 - Aviation Meteorology and Automation Management
ASC 1310 - US and International Aviation Operations
ASC 2870 - Safety Management Systems and Operational Risk Management
And choose one of the following:
ASC 2473 - Human Factors and Resource Management
AVM 1022 - Flight Operations
AVM 2410 - Airport Management

Upper-Division Core Courses (21 Credits Required)

Specialization Requirements (12 Credits Required)

Electives (6 Credits Required)

Capstone Course

ASC 4950 - Capstone Experience: Professional Pilot

Total Credits for BS Degree: 120

Graduation Requirements for the BS 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 minimum scores on a foreign language proficiency exam approved by the Registrar’s Office, achievement of a score of three (3) 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 (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.