Sjsu
12-21-2008, 04:48 PM
#4
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2007
Position: A320 CA
Posts: 1,530
I'm a Grad...Fire away.
For Starters, they don't have a "Professional Pilot Program," its a one-size fits all Aviation Degree with a couple of optional concentrations. There used to be an A&P program and an Aviation Maintenance degree but that got shut down. Because of Insurance, the State of California will not allow a flight program like Embry Riddle. What you do get is a Student/Alumni Flying club with STEEPLY discounted rates on 152/172's (When I got my Private in 1999, I paid $32/Hr wet for the Plane and $15/Hr for my CFI) and CFI's not allowed to charge more than $25/hr per club bylaws (None of these are included in your tuition). All your flying is extracurricular and has no bearing on your degree, although Private Pilot and Instrument Ground courses are offered with college credit. This is very much a "Do it Yourself" program, you study the books and get the flying done on the outside.
As for the Degree, it is well-rounded, and heavy on Business (you will get at least a Business Minor and probably a Science Minor as well). Heavy on the flight engineer side of things and very systems oriented. You could probably even double-major in Business if you stay an extra year. Be forewarned, there has been a lot of turnover in the faculty over the last decade, but rumor is the Department is getting its act together. I had some fantastic Prof's that gave great advice, and I'm sure I wouldn't be driving Heavy's today if it wasn't for them...but most of them left the department about 4 years ago.
On the plus side, in state tuition is DIRT CHEAP, and the Football Team is no longer an embarrassment. It is also a REAL State School with brand-new dorms and a great Greek System. Aviation students get Priority Parking on campus (A BIG DEAL) because you need to go between the two campuses all day. Also, if you become a club CFI, you keep ALL THE MONEY, as in the Club takes $0 for instruction. If you're interested in going Air Force, Air Force ROTC is also on campus.
For Starters, they don't have a "Professional Pilot Program," its a one-size fits all Aviation Degree with a couple of optional concentrations. There used to be an A&P program and an Aviation Maintenance degree but that got shut down. Because of Insurance, the State of California will not allow a flight program like Embry Riddle. What you do get is a Student/Alumni Flying club with STEEPLY discounted rates on 152/172's (When I got my Private in 1999, I paid $32/Hr wet for the Plane and $15/Hr for my CFI) and CFI's not allowed to charge more than $25/hr per club bylaws (None of these are included in your tuition). All your flying is extracurricular and has no bearing on your degree, although Private Pilot and Instrument Ground courses are offered with college credit. This is very much a "Do it Yourself" program, you study the books and get the flying done on the outside.
As for the Degree, it is well-rounded, and heavy on Business (you will get at least a Business Minor and probably a Science Minor as well). Heavy on the flight engineer side of things and very systems oriented. You could probably even double-major in Business if you stay an extra year. Be forewarned, there has been a lot of turnover in the faculty over the last decade, but rumor is the Department is getting its act together. I had some fantastic Prof's that gave great advice, and I'm sure I wouldn't be driving Heavy's today if it wasn't for them...but most of them left the department about 4 years ago.
On the plus side, in state tuition is DIRT CHEAP, and the Football Team is no longer an embarrassment. It is also a REAL State School with brand-new dorms and a great Greek System. Aviation students get Priority Parking on campus (A BIG DEAL) because you need to go between the two campuses all day. Also, if you become a club CFI, you keep ALL THE MONEY, as in the Club takes $0 for instruction. If you're interested in going Air Force, Air Force ROTC is also on campus.
Last edited by blastoff; 12-21-2008 at 05:12 PM.
