DeVoe School of Business at Indiana Wesleyan University–National and Global is pleased to announce the development of two new undergraduate programs: Associate of Science with a Professional Pilot major and a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management.
Despite the recent economic downturn related to COVID-19, the Boeing’s Pilot and Technician Outlook (2020-2039) projects that 763,000 new civil aviation pilots will be necessary by 2039. Currently, flight training is only available in three paths:
Flight schools are often expensive and students have limited options to fund their training. They also complete their training having earned pilot certificates but often no formal degree.
Starting in Indiana, Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) is partnering with select flight schools to offer local flight training in conjunction with a flexible online degree program, so students can simultaneously earn an associate or bachelor’s degree and their flight ratings. In these programs, students take classes online while dedicating several hours each week to flight training at a local flight school. During the program, students will earn the following ratings:
Flight training courses are scheduled early in the degree program in both programs’ structures. This allows students time to build flight hours and seek out flight instructor jobs while they complete the remaining courses online. The flight training portions of the program require multiple hours be set aside four to five days per week for in-person training.
This rigorous program aims to develop competent pilots who are prepared for professional pilot jobs. The bachelor’s program also equips students to take on administration jobs in the aviation industry by incorporating business courses like Human Factors and Automation, Aviation Safety & Management, and US & Global Aviation Operations.
“Air travel connects families and friends, takes people to memorable destinations, and gives people the opportunity to build relationships with people in different locations,” said Joe Childs, director of aviation programs at IWU–National & Global. “And flight enables people to take the gospel to places our feet would never be able to go.”
Because of IWU’s unique flight school partnership model, students can utilize financial aid to help cover the costs associated with flight training, and they can also transfer in previously earned credit or pilot certificates using IWU’s transfer policy.
IWU is currently partnered with two flight schools in Indiana: Sweet Aviation in Fort Wayne and Jeff Air Pilot Services in Greenwood. Jeff Air will also offer services in Marion, Indiana, at Marion Municipal Airport (McKinney Field) with support services provided by the airport’s Fixed Base Operator (FBO), Air Marion.
The professional pilot and aviation management programs start in June 2021. Most students can complete the associate program in two years and the bachelor’s program in four years.
