Program overview
You must apply for and be accepted into the Aviation Science program before registering for any classes except AVS 127: Intro to Aviation and AVS 117: Aviation Study and Professionalism (these are open to the public). In addition to the general education required for the associate of applied science degree, the program consists of two distinct types of courses: flight courses and aviation academic courses.
Flight courses
As part of the Aviation Science degree program, our flight courses help you earn the FAA certificates required to begin a career as a pilot. These courses provide individual instruction in aircraft appropriate to the certificates you seek. Training for our flight courses is provided by our flight training partner, Hillsboro Aero Academy. See the PCC catalog for details.
Additional flight training fees apply to these classes. You will register for the flight classes at PCC and will need to pay the flight training fees for that course according to our normal billing procedures. A flight instructor will be assigned to you. Lessons are scheduled based on your availability.
Aviation academic courses
Aviation academic courses are all required for the Aviation Science AAS degree. They are identified with course numbers ending in “7” (e.g. AVS 127).
Our academic courses provide in-depth study in areas our industry advisors identified as especially important for the professional pilot. 100-level courses are held at PCC’s Rock Creek Campus, while the 200-level aviation academic courses are held online. This knowledge will give you a competitive edge when seeking employment as a professional pilot.
Transferring to a four-year college or university
Many pilot positions require applicants to hold a bachelor’s degree. With a PCC Associate of Applied Science degree in Aviation Science, you will be able to transfer credit to some four-year schools. The college that you wish to transfer to has discretion as to which courses and how much credit will be allowed to transfer. The colleges listed below have agreements with PCC to help your credits transfer:
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics (other options available)
- Southern Oregon University, Bachelor of Applied Science in Management
- Oregon Institute of Technology, Bachelor of Applied Science in Technology and Management
You may choose PCC general education and approved elective courses that fulfill the requirements for both PCC’s two-year Aviation Science degrees and a bachelor’s degree at a four-year college. In addition to receiving credit for the FAA pilot certificates earned while attending PCC, these courses provide you with a significant head start on a bachelor’s degree. We encourage you to contact a specific institution for more details on transferring.