It is a question I've thought of since that's likely going to be my major in college. Now I'm not trying to start a debate about the degree itself and whether it is necessary for a pilot; nor am I trying to start a debate about the industry, piloting as a career, whether or not flight school students need a plan B, etc. All I want to know is...

What other occupations could an Aeronautical Science degree be used for or would help with?

 

What kind of job could require a B.S. degree? Aero-science degrees are heavily focused on aviation, but they still require pretty strong math and physics skills....right? If you do choose the aero degree, don't take the easy way out and skimp on course work - challenge yourself, you're worth it!

 

A few of my coworkers and I were just talking about this the other night over drinks. All three of us majored in AS, but with different minors and areas of concentration. I think the conclusion we came to (it's a little fuzzy, it was over drinks, remember) was that although an AS degree is certainly not necessary, it has the potential to create a pilot who understands a lot more about how his airplane flies than a fellow with a business (or other) degree.

My only advice is this- don't overpay for that AS degree, and think about maybe getting a second degree sometime down the road in something other than aviation.

Also, here are a few other jobs that friends with AS degrees have:

Line Service
Dispatch
Enterprise Rent-a-Car CSR
....

I guess that's about it. With a degree in AS and no other supporting education (say, a minor in weather or safety) there is very little you can do besides fly, and certainly nothing out there as rewarding.

 

You have the degree and for the most part that is all that matters for most jobs.

 

You can get a lot of good jobs because you have graduated from a four year school. Your not going to be a doctor, or a engineer, but you can arent going to be working for peanuts either if you look for the right job.

 

These 2 factors are the main reasons why I would consider UND over Embry. Embry costs more, even with the large scholarship they gave me. And UND, being a regular university, has more alternatives, though not nearly as much as a state school here in California would. I'm still deciding.

I've also thought about the dispatcher idea. It would be a great way to stay in aviation, but I hear pay isn't that high.
So he paid astronomical amounts of money to learn to fly planes and now he's the 23-year-old who makes $20,000 handing out keys to overpriced and undersized sedans?

 

Enterprise hires college grads to work the desks at their rental offices, so yes. I also had a friend who worked at Dillard's in a mall for 8 months before the minimums at the airlines came down low enough for him to get hired. My AS degree for the first 3 months out of college managed to get me a job pumping gas into the jets I wanted to be flying. Just be prepared not to walk into a job right out of school, especially if you aren't a flight instructor.

 

"What other occupations could an Aeronautical Science degree be used for or would help with?"

Specifically, I can't think of anything outside of being a pilot where AS would be better than a specific focus.

For example, AS might help towards some sort of airport/airline management or ATC job, but why not just major in airport management, as it checks the box just as well?

In general, an AS degree will help you get any sort of job where a degree is required or makes you look better. Back when I finished Riddle, some AS grads decided the flying gig wasn't going to do it for them, and took management jobs at McDonald Douglas that paid a lot better to start.

 

I agreed with what has been said, Im a soon to be AS graduate minoring on Flight Test Simulation. My minor got me a temp job while in school at the Riddle Sim Building troubleshooting and testing the Sims before they are assigned to the students. Minors always open new doors towards a broader career to choose from. BTW; The AS degree is heavily focused on meteorology, math, physics, and towards the area of concentration of your choosing Ex. mine is Airline Pilot- I have to take CRM classes, Advaced Avionics, Flight Techniques Analysis, FMS, International Navigation, Its a long list.

Zeke is right about his statement that it has the potential to create a pilot who understands a lot more about how his airplane flies than a fellow with a business (or other) degree; that is all.


Jobs that friends with AS degree have

Pilot- fixed wing (Airline, Fractional, Air Ambulance, Law Enforcement)
Airline Dispatch
'' '' Scheduling
Aircraft Sales
FSS Briefer

* The overall goal is to obtain a 4 year degree getting out there and picking the right job. ** word to the wise- do your best your first two years, I messed up my 2nd year, and now that Im going on my last is still affecting me.

 

I have an Aeronautical Science degree, and outside of aviation I have delivered pizza and worked line service. You can do anything you want though, just the same way you don't need a Aeronautical Sci. degree to be a pilot.