Aviation, A.S.

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Program Code: V.AVI.AS

Graduation requirement: 64 credit hours

Students planning to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in aviation can earn certifications to enter the commercial aviation industry through the Associate in Science degree. This program is designed to allow students to attain certifications in private pilot, private pilot with instrument rating, commercial pilot, and commercial multiengine offered in a sequential manner. Graduates, upon the completion of a bachelor’s degree and FAA flight time requirements, may enter the workforce as commercial cargo or passenger pilots.

Flight training is offered at the University of Illinois Willard Airport in Savoy, Illinois.

Students should plan their transfer programs with a Parkland academic success advisor and the catalog of the four-year college or university they plan to attend.

Program Notes

This is a selective admissions program-students must be admitted into the program before taking AVI courses. See the selective admissions page for more information regarding admission, progression, and graduation.
FYE 101 - Strategies for College Success is highly recommended during the first semester of the program.

Procedure for selective admissions scoring

The following criteria must be met prior to applying.
- Students must have a cumulative college GPA of 2.75 or higher. Cumulative high school GPA is evaluated instead if the student has not yet taken any college coursework.
- Attain college-level reading, English, and mathematics placement. To be admitted into the Aviation program, students must score a minimum of 30 on the ALEKS math placement exam (see the Assessment Center for information about placement testing).
- For students who are non-native speakers of English, establish English proficiency prior to applying. English proficiency is demonstrated through the Internet-based (iBt) Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A minimum TOEFL score of 85 (with listening score: min. 22; speaking score: min. 26) is required.
- Possess a Class 3 or higher medical examination by an FAA-approved physician. For assistance in locating an approved physician, consult faa.gov/pilots/amelocator/.
- For all non-U.S. citizens, obtain Transportation Security Administration (TSA) authorization through the TSA Alien Flight Student Program.
Additional points will be awarded to the following applicants:
- Students who are degree-seeking in aviation
- Students who are admitted to the Pathway to Illinois program
- Students who have a private pilot certificate

Applicants who meet minimum criteria are assigned a selective admissions score. Students who meet the minimum admissions score or higher are conditionally admitted pending program space availability.

Conditionally admitted students who are not permitted to enroll in aviation classes due to limited space may choose to enroll in general education or other Parkland courses while awaiting a seat in aviation. Students who choose not to enroll at Parkland and return in a subsequent semester for aviation are required to start the selective admissions process over.

Other Notes of Importance

Students must purchase their own aviation headset.
Students must provide their own transportation to Willard Airport.
Students interested in the Parkland Pathway to Illinois (Aviation) must first apply directly to the Pathway program. For information and application form, consult go.illinois.edu/parkland.
Parkland College tuition waivers and/or some scholarship awards that cover tuition and fees do not include additional course fees (flight instruction fees) charged for aviation (AVI) courses.
FAA knowledge tests are required for Private Pilot, Instrument Rating, Commercial Pilot, Flight Instructor Airplane, and Flight Instructor Instrument certification; an additional fee is paid at the time of examination.
General Education Core Curriculum requirements for the Associate in Science (A.S.) degree do not fully satisfy the IAI General Education Core Curriculum (GECC) requirements. Additional courses to complete the GECC may be taken at Parkland or after transferring. Contact Academic Advising for guidance on GECC completion.
Recommended courses are designed to facilitate completion of the A.S. degree and transfer into a four-year college or university with junior standing. Students are advised to follow the recommendations.
Students who enter the program with a FAA private pilot certificate will need to enroll in ALV 120 and ALV 121 . Upon successful completion of these courses, the student will receive credit for AVI 101 and AVI 120 and may proceed to the next flight course.
Completion of the A.S. (Aviation) degree and 30 or more qualifying aviation course credit hours are required for the R-ATP certificate. This includes completing ESC 101 at Parkland College. Courses not taken from another part 141 FAA approved program will not be accepted. Any other courses that are taken at a part 141 FAA approved program will be reviewed for acceptance toward Parkland’s R-ATP requirements. All students interested in the R-ATP certificate should meet with the director prior to graduation to verify that certificate requirements have been met.
Students entering the A.S. (Aviation) degree program with pilot certificates already completed should meet with the director to determine eligibility for the R-ATP certificate.

Graduation Requirements

General Education Core Courses (32 credit hours)

Note: One course taken in Humanities, Fine Arts, or Social/Behavioral Sciences must be a Non-Western culture course.

Communications: 3 courses (9 credit hours)

Take all three:

COM 103 - Introduction to Public Speaking (IAI C2 900)
ENG 101 - Composition I (IAI C1 900) - Grade of C or higher required
ENG 102 - Composition II (IAI C1 901R) - Grade of C or higher required

Social/Behavioral Sciences: 2 courses (6 credit hours)

Take courses from two different subjects.
Choose from the
Social/Behavioral Sciences GECC course list

Humanities and Fine Arts: 2 courses (6 credit hours)

Take one course from Humanities and one course from Fine Arts.
Choose from the
Humanities and Fine Arts GECC course list

Mathematics: 1 course (3 credit hours)

Choose from the
Mathematics GECC course list

Physical and Life Sciences: 2 courses (8 credit hours)

ESC 101 - Introduction to Weather 4 credit hours
Choose one Life Sciences course from the
Physical and Life Sciences GECC course list

Additional Math and Science Courses (6 credit hours)

Take:

one additional mathematics course (MAT)
one additional physical or life sciences course (AST, BIO, CHE, ESC, PHY, or SCI)

Any transfer-focused course in these subjects will meet the requirements, even if it is not on the GECC list above. Transfer-focused courses have an even middle number, such as BIO 100 or MAT 124.