About David A. NewMyer Expertise Can advise people thinking about beginning and aviation career and espcially those thinking about an aviation university program. Can also help with aviation scholarship questions. I am particularly strong in questions related to starting a flight career, choosing a university flight or aviation management program, aviation internships and aviation scholarships. Also, I can assist with questions about airport management and planning careers and oveall aviation industry employment questions.
Experience
Past/Present Clients Prepared In addition to aviation education, I work at a major university, I have worked as an airport planner preparing airport system plans, airport master plan and environmental assessment reports for the Chicago area in general and for several
individual Illinois airports.
Question Hello! I am currently a student in BCIT's Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Maintenance Program. I have heard that BCIT and Embry-Riddle University have worked out the program that once I finished my program in BCIT I can transfer most of the credit to either the Bachelor of science/ Associate Professional Aeronautics, or Bachelor of science/ associate of Technical Management. My question is, what is the difference between the two programs that ERAU offers. Also, what kind of a career difference, interms of treatment, salary, jobs, are we talking about between the AME diploma that i can get from BCIT, and to the two degrees in ERAU. Since Im am not planing to wranch aircraft for the rest of my life, I would really like to hear your opinion and advise can offer. Thank you for your time.
Answer Hi, Will:
Thank you for your question....I am sorry for the delay, I was out of town.
The bottom line is that you need to ask Embry Riddle what the EXACT degree requirements are for each degree program that you list. That is, how many Embry Riddle courses will you have to take to achieve either degree? The number of courses will give you an idea of how long it will take you to complete either degree. And, what will the content of those courses be like? That will give you some of the answer you are looking for with regard to what the difference is between the two degrees (in terms of what they offer). As I understand it, the BS in Professional Aeronautics is more aviation-oriented in its coursework while the B. S. in Technical Management is more oriented to general business management and supervision.
Once you know the exact differences between the two degrees in terms of content, then, you can ask potential employers what they think of the content as it would impact you being hired. Also, you can decide if you would want a more aviation content for your BS degree work or a more management/supervision content. In other words, what sort of work do you want to do later: More of an aviation content or more of a business/supervision content?
Finally, in terms of the average salaries and types of jobs offered to those hired from each program, Embry Riddle should have some figures on that for you.
Here at the university where I work, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, those with a BS degree and the AME (A and P license here in the USA) are starting anywhere from $45,000 to $60,000 a year....the higher salaries are especially offered at the aviation manufacturers. (and, they are not necessarily using our graduates to turn wrenches....you are right about that....they are working in such areas as product support, technical writing, etc).
I hope that this information is of help to you. Please follow up with another question if you need anything else.
Good luck!
David A. NewMyer, Ph.D., Professor and Chair
Aviation Management and Flight
Southern Illinois University Carbondale http://www.aviation.siu.edu
