Fixed Wing, Aviation Technology (AAS)
Degree: Associate of Applied Science
Major: Aviation Technology
Emphasis: Fixed Wing
Program Code: 1378
About This Major . . .
The Aviation Technology program with a Fixed Wing emphasis will provide technical certificate for college credit as identified in the Colorado Mesa University mission established by the Colorado Legislature. The goals of the program are: prepare the students for FAA Certification as a Commercial Pilot with an Instrument Rating, and as a Certified Flight Instructor. In addition, the program offers opportunities to enhance knowledge and expertise in the field of aviation by improving technical skills. Successful completion of the Aviation Technology program will also help prepare AAS students for BS programs in Aviation Technology.
Additional requirements for admission to this program:
- Must complete all Developmental Education requirements prior to starting the program.
- Submit a copy of your birth certificate to establish U.S Citizenship.
- Complete a flight physical exam with an FAA-designated Aviation Medical Examiner. Recommend a second class medical certificate minimum. To help locate a qualified doctor go to https://www.faa.gov/pilots/amelocator for a list by city and state.
For more information on what you can do with this major, visit CMU Tech's Programs of Study page.
All CMU/CMU Tech associate graduates are expected to demonstrate proficiency in specialized knowledge/applied learning, quantitative fluency, communication fluency, critical thinking, personal and social responsibility, and information literacy. In addition to these campus‐wide student learning outcomes, graduates of this major will be able to:
- Acquire substantial aeronautical knowledge of Private Pilot, Commercial Pilot and Instrument Flight contained in a FAA Part 141 curriculum. (Specialized Knowledge)
- Demonstrate flight proficiency skills in Private Pilot, Commercial Pilot and Instrument Flight operations contained in a FAA Part 141 curriculum. (Specialized Knowledge)
- Demonstrate strong quantitative literacy skills and the ability to think critically in a demanding environment. (Quantitative Literacy, Critical Thinking)
- Evaluate and implement FAA standards for aviation safety, Aeronautical Decision Making, and accident reporting, including evaluating personal limitations. (Specialized Knowledge, Critical Thinking, Communication Fluency)\ \
- Implementation of the FAA required physiological limitations and best practices in the performance of professional pilot duties. (Specialized Knowledge)
Each section below contains details about the requirements for this program. Select a header to expand the information/requirements for that particular section of the program's requirements.
To print or save an overview of this program's information, including the program description, learning outcomes, requirements, suggested course sequencing (if applicable), and advising and graduation information, scroll to the bottom of the left-hand navigation menu and select "Print Options." This will give you the options to either "Send Page to Printer" or "Download PDF of This Page." The "Download PDF of This Page" option prepares a much more concise presentation of all program information. The PDF is also printable and may be preferable due to its brevity.
Institutional Degree Requirements
The following institutional degree requirements apply to all CMU and CMU Tech Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees. Specific programs may have different requirements that must be met in addition to institutional requirements.
- 60 semester hours minimum.
- Students must complete a minimum of 15 of the final 30 semester hours of credit at CMU/CMU Tech.
- 2.00 cumulative GPA or higher in all CMU/CMU Tech coursework.
- A course may only be used to fulfill one requirement for each degree/certificate.
- No more than six semester hours of independent study courses can be used toward the degree.
- Non-traditional credit, such as advanced placement, credit by examination, credit for prior learning, cooperative education and internships, cannot exceed 20 semester credit hours for an AAS degree.
- Pre-collegiate courses (usually numbered below 100) cannot be used for graduation.
- Capstone exit assessment/projects (e.g., Major Field Achievement Test) requirements are identified under Program-Specific Degree Requirements.
- The Catalog Year determines which program sheet and degree requirements a student must fulfill in order to graduate. Visit with your advisor or academic department to determine which catalog year and program requirements you should follow.
- See “Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees and Certificates” in the catalog for a complete list of graduation requirements.
Specific to this degree:
- 66 semester hours total for the AAS, Aviation Technology - Fixed Wing.
- A minimum of 40 semester hours must be taken at CMU in no fewer than three semesters.
- A cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher must be maintained for all courses taken.
Essential Learning Requirements
(16 semester hours)
See the current catalog for a list of courses that fulfill the requirements below. If a course is an Essential Learning option and a requirement for your major, you must use it to fulfill the major requirement and make a different selection for the Essential Learning requirement.
| Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | ||
| ENGL 111 | English Composition I-GTCO1 | 3 |
| Select one of the following courses: | 3 | |
| English Composition II-GTCO2 | ||
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Speechmaking | ||
| Mathematics | ||
| MATH 108 | Technical Mathematics | 4 |
| Other Essential Learning Core Courses | ||
| GEOL 103 | Weather and Climate-GTSC2 | 3 |
| PSYC 150 | General Psychology-GTSS3 | 3 |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 16 | |
Other Lower Division Requirements
| Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Wellness Requirement | ||
| KINE 100 | Health and Wellness | 1 |
| Select one Activity course | 1 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 2 | |
Program Specific Degree Requirements
(48 semester hours, must be completed with a grade of “C” or better. A cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher must be maintained for all courses taken.)
| Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| AVTN 101 | Private Pilot Ground School | 4 |
| AVTN 102 | Private Pilot Flight (46.5 hrs) 1 | 4 |
| AVTN 111 | Instrument Pilot Ground School | 4 |
| AVTN 112 | Instrument Pilot Flight (39 hrs) 1 | 4 |
| AVTN 105 | Aviation Meteorology | 4 |
| AVTN 140 | Aircraft Systems | 4 |
| AVTN 206 | Crew Resource Management | 1 |
| AVTN 201 | Commercial Pilot Ground School | 2 |
| AVTN 202 | Commercial Pilot Flight I (53 hrs) 1 | 4 |
| AVTN 203 | Commercial Pilot Flight II (68.5 hrs) 1 | 3 |
| AVTN 218 | ATC Procedures | 4 |
| AVTN 205 | Mountain Flying Ground School | 1 |
| AVTN 245 | Aviation Safety | 2 |
| AVTN 247 | Aviation Physiology | 2 |
| Track Courses | ||
| Complete all courses in one of the following tracks | 5 | |
Track 1 - CFI: | ||
| Fundamentals of Instruction | ||
| Flight Instructor Ground School | ||
| Flight Instructor Flight (8.5 hrs) 1 | ||
Track 2 - Multi-Engine: | ||
| Multi-Engine Ground School | ||
| Multi-Engine Flight (12 hrs) 1 | ||
Elective Hours (3) | ||
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 48 | |
- 1
Hours in parenthesis following the course title indicate required flight hours.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Semester Credit Hours | |
| AVTN 101 | Private Pilot Ground School | 4 |
| AVTN 102 | Private Pilot Flight | 4 |
| MATH 108 | Technical Mathematics | 4 |
| GEOL 103 | Weather and Climate-GTSC2 | 3 |
| KINE 100 | Health and Wellness | 1 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| AVTN 111 | Instrument Pilot Ground School | 4 |
| AVTN 112 | Instrument Pilot Flight | 4 |
| AVTN 105 | Aviation Meteorology | 4 |
| AVTN 140 | Aircraft Systems | 4 |
| AVTN 206 | Crew Resource Management | 1 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| AVTN 201 | Commercial Pilot Ground School | 2 |
| AVTN 202 | Commercial Pilot Flight I | 4 |
| AVTN 218 | ATC Procedures | 4 |
| ENGL 111 | English Composition I-GTCO1 | 3 |
| PSYC 150 | General Psychology-GTSS3 | 3 |
| KINA Activity Course | 1 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| AVTN 203 | Commercial Pilot Flight II | 3 |
| AVTN 205 | Mountain Flying Ground School | 1 |
| AVTN 245 | Aviation Safety | 2 |
| AVTN 247 | Aviation Physiology | 2 |
| SPCH 101 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| Complete Track 1 CFI or Track 2 Multi-Engine (Both 5 credits) 1 | ||
| Track 1 CFI | ||
| AVTN 211 | Fundamentals of Instruction | 2 |
| AVTN 212 | Flight Instructor Ground School | 2 |
| AVTN 213 | Flight Instructor Flight | 1 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 66 | |
- 1
Track 2 (5 credits total) - Multi-Engine courses: AVTN 207 - Multi-Engine Ground School (1 credit), AVTN 209 - Multi-Engine Flight (1 credit), and Elective Hours (3 credits).
Advising Process and DegreeWorks
Documentation on the pages related to this program is intended for informational purposes to help determine what courses and associated requirements are needed to earn a degree. The suggested course sequencing outlines how students could finish degree requirements. Some courses are critical to complete in specific semesters, while others may be moved around. Meeting with an academic advisor is essential in planning courses and altering the suggested course sequencing. It is ultimately the student’s responsibility to understand and fulfill the requirements for their intended degree(s).
DegreeWorks is an online degree audit tool available in MAVzone. It is the official record used by the Registrar’s Office to evaluate progress towards a degree and determine eligibility for graduation. Students are responsible for reviewing their DegreeWorks audit on a regular basis and should discuss questions or concerns with their advisor or academic department head. Discrepancies in requirements should be reported to the Registrar’s Office.
Graduation Process
Students must complete the following in the first two months of the semester prior to completing their degree requirements:
- Review their DegreeWorks audit and create a plan that outlines how unmet requirements will be met in the final semester.
- Meet with their advisor and modify their plan as needed. The advisor must approve the final plan.
- Submit the “Intent to Graduate” form to the Registrar’s Office to officially declare the intended graduation date and commencement ceremony plans.
- Register for all needed courses and complete all requirements for each degree sought.
Submission deadlines and commencement details can be found on the Graduation web page.
If a student's petition for graduation is denied, it will be their responsibility to apply for graduation in a subsequent semester. A student's “Intent to Graduate” does not automatically move to a later graduation date.