Expert: David A. NewMyer - 3/10/2009

Question
Hi i am a junior college student starting by last semester. I would like to become a pilot one day. It seems like most of the universities that include aviation as a major are in the mid-west or east coast. I was wondering if you knew of any universities that are known or even have aviation as a major besides ERAU-prescot
thank you for your time
Brandon

Answer
Hi,

Yes, that is correct, there are few universities in California that offer anything in aviation....and, those that do, do not off anything in aviation flight/professional pilot training.  The reason for this is that a couple of decades ago, the state of California decided to limit its exposure liability and prohibit state universities from offering flight as a degree option....Cal State LA offers an Aviation Administration degree and San Jose State also offers aviation (but not flight).

There is one four year school in Arizona besides ERAU Prescott that offers aviation and that is Arizona State University.  They offer flight training via a contract with Mesa Air Group.  In Washington State, there is Central Washington University....they offer a degree in Flight Technology.  Go to www.cwu.edu for more information.  Also, Walla Walla University  in Walla Walla, Washington offers something in aviation....contact them at www.wwu.edu

The above list of schools is all that I know about....there might be others, but, probably at the community college level.....I had heard there was a program a Lane County Community College in Oregon and there is definitely a program at Mt. San Antonio College, California.

I hope that this information is helpful to you!

Sincerely,

David A. NewMyer, Ph.D., Professor and Chair
Aviation Management and Flight
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
www.aviation.siu.edu