Aeronautical Science - Professional Pilot

Bachelor of Science Degree

Farmingdale State College’s Department of Aviation offers the premier collegiate aviation program on Long Island, and in the region. The professional pilot program is currently accredited by the Aviation Accreditation Board International through February, 2028. The degree program provides training for entry-level pilot positions within the air transportation industry. Opportunities also exist in Federal/State Government, Corporate/ Business Aviation sectors and the United States Military.

A grade of “C” or better is required in all AVN courses (including electives) for graduation from the Professional Pilot Program. Students who are unable to obtain a minimum grade of “C” after the second attempt in any AVN class must obtain permission from the Chairperson of the department to remain in the program. This will apply for each course that needs to be retaken for the third time.

Flight training students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 and must be in Good Academic standing at the completion of each semester or they may be removed from their flight training schedule.

Please refer to the Safety and Technical Standards in the front section of the College catalog.

Program Educational Goals:

Graduates will possess the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes to competently and ethically function as professional pilots in the aviation industry.

Our goal is to:

Be a premier collegiate aviation program providing access to a high-quality, affordable education leveraging our location in complex airspace and all-weather conditions.
Produce graduates that possess the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes to competently and ethically function as professional pilots in all segments of aviation.
Provide a flight training environment that develops the skills needed to build and promote a culture of safety.
Maintain a low student-to-faculty ratio for a diverse student body.

The Pro-Pilot Program prepares the student with the following Certificates and Ratings:

Private Pilot Certificate
Instrument Rating
Commercial Pilot Certificate
Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) Certificate or Multi Engine Rating

In addition, the student will have the option to complete the following Certificates and Ratings:

Multi Engine Instructor
Airline Transport Pilot Certificate
Certified Flight Instructor Instrument (CFII) Certificate

Students pursuing flight training in their program must hold a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd class FAA Medical Certificate prior to starting flight training. The Department of Aviation strongly recommends students obtain a First Class Medical prior to enrolling in the Professional-Pilot Program. A listing of FAA medical examiners can be obtained on the Federal Aviation Administration website at https://designee.faa.gov/designeeLocator.

Students may elect to fly during the summer.

Flight Training Costs: Flight training fees and related equipment and publications are in addition to college tuition and fees. Flight fees must be paid each semester regardless of scheduled flight time.

Admission to Farmingdale State College - State University of New York is based on the qualifications of the applicant without regard to age, sex, marital or military status, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, disability or sexual orientation.

Aviation | Dr. Ramon Gonzalez | gonzalro@farmingdale.edu | 934-420-2308

Fall 2026

Subject to revision

College Requirement	(1 credit)
FYE 101 First Year Experience*	1

Liberal Arts and Sciences	(61 credits)
EGL 101 Composition I: College Writing (GE)	3
EGL 102 Composition II: Writing About Literature	3
ECO 156 Principles of Economics (Macro) (GE)	3
ECO 157 Principles of Economics (Micro) (GE)	3
Oral Communication - 200 level or higher (GE)	3
US History and Civic Engagement/World History and Global Awareness (GE)	3
MTH 129 Precalculus (GE)	4
MTH 130 Calculus I with Applications	4
World Languages (GE)	3
Humanities (GE)	3
The Arts (GE)	3
PHY 135 College Physics I (GE)	4
PHY 136 College Physics II	4
PSY 101 Intro to Psychology	3
PSY 331 Industrial/Organizational Psychology	3
Liberal Arts & Sciences Electives	12

Required: Aeronautical Science - Lecture	(55-57 credits)
AVN 101 Aviation Industry: A History Perspective	3
AVN 104 Private Pilot Ground	3
AVN 201 Safety Ethics	3
AVN 202 Aviation Meteorology	3
AVN 208 Instrument Pilot Ground	3
AVN 211 Commercial Pilot Ground	3
AVN 300 Government in Aviation	3
AVN 309 Certified Flight Instructor-Ground	3
AVN 320 Air Carrier Flight Operations	3
AVN 321 Physiology of Flight	3
AVN 322 Advanced Aircraft Systems	3
AVN 325 Safety of Flight	3
AVN 400 Aviation Law	3
AVN 421 Gas Turbine Engines	3
AVN 422 Aerodynamics and Aircraft Performance	3
AVN 423 Crew Resource Management	3
AVN 424 Advanced Avionics and Cockpit Automation	3
AVN 447 Capstone Professional Pilot Seminar	3
AVN Aviation Electives* (RATP students see advisor for approved course listing)	1-3

Required: Aeronautical Science - Flight Training	(5 credits)
AVN 105 Private Pilot – Flight to Solo	1
AVN 106 Private Pilot – Flight to Certificate	1
AVN 209 Instrument Pilot – Flight	1
AVN 212 Commercial Pilot – Flight	1
AVN 310 Certified Flight Instructor or AVN 410 Commercial Multi Engine Pilot Rating	1

Curriculum Summary

*FYE 101 First Year Experience is required for all first time full time students.

Degree Type: BS
Total Required Credits: 121-124

Please refer to the General Education, Applied Learning, and Writing Intensive requirement sections of the College Catalog and consult with your advisor to ensure that graduation requirements are satisfied.

As a part of the SUNY General Education Framework, all first-time full time Freshman at Farmingdale State College (FSC) beginning Fall 2023, are required to develop knowledge and skills in Diversity: Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice (DEISJ). Students will be able to fulfill this requirement at FSC by taking a specially designated DEISJ course that has been developed by faculty and approved by the DEISJ Review Board. DEISJ-approved courses may meet other General Education Knowledge and Skills areas and/or core competencies and thus be dually designated. DEISJ-approved courses may also earn other special designations such as those for Applied Learning or Writing Intensive.

Notes:
1. Students entering the program with a Private Pilot’s certificate must enroll in AVN 112 Private Pilot Proficiency. Students with any flight experience may also be required to enroll in AVN 112 at the discretion of the Chief Flight Instructor. Students must complete all required flight certificates and ratings above the Private Pilot Certificate at the Farmingdale State College (FSC) Flight Center in order to graduate with a FSC Professional Pilot Degree.
2. Flight Courses must be completed within a year from the date a student registers. Within this time frame a student must either 1) Successfully complete the course and be issued a grade, OR 2) Withdraw from the course, due to the following extenuating circumstances: Active Military Obligations, Medical conditions requiring removal from active flight status for a duration of 60 consecutive days or more. If neither of the above occurs, a failing grade will be assigned.
3. All ground courses (AVN 104, 208, 211, 309) require successful completion of an FAA administered exam at the end of the course. The FAA exam can only be taken after receipt of a written endorsement from the course instructor. This instructor endorsement is given to those students who demonstrate sufficient understanding of the subject matter by achieving an average of 80% or better for all of the course exams during the semester. Two consecutive failures of the FAA knowledge examination will result in removal from the Professional Pilot program. Students who fail a ground course will be removed from the Professional Pilot program and from flight training under Part 141 and cannot be endorsed by the College for reduced aeronautical experience under the FAA Letter of Authority (LOA) to Farmingdale State College.
4. Students seeking the R-ATP MUST take a recommended course approved on our current LOA.  Please see an academic advisor for the most recent approved course listing. 5. Failure of three consecutive stage checks will also result in removal from the Professional Pilot program.