Aeronautical Science
Freshman level AERS courses will be offered again during the 2023-2024 academic year, and students enrolled at UH Hilo will be able to change their majors to AERS via the Registrar’s Office during the Fall 2023 Semester.
Future incoming students (Fall 2024 and beyond) will be able to declare AERS as their major at the time of application to UH Hilo.
More information will be posted as it becomes available.
Aviation plays a fundamental role in the lives of nearly everyone in the State of Hawaiʻi. The Bachelor of Science Degree in Aeronautical Sciences is an applied degree that will make education more accessible for students interested in applied aviation careers. Aviation produces high quality jobs that will improve the lives of Hawaiʻi’s citizens.
The Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Sciences is being offered provisionally beginning in Fall 2023 according to standard WSCUC accreditation procedures. The degree will offer students two different pathways into commercial aviation, a Commercial Professional Pilot Training concentration and a Commercial Aerial Information Technology concentration. Both concentrations share a common core of commercial aviation courses for the first 3 years, coupled with a final year of specialization.
The concentration in Commercial Professional Pilot Training (CPPT) provides a simple, direct pathway to earn all the FAA licenses and certificates required to pursue a commercial Airline Transport Pilot license and begin a career as a commercial airline pilot. The CPPT concentration is structured as 3 years of university classroom and flight simulator learning, coupled with a final year at a 6-8 month flight school program.
The concentration in Commercial Aerial Information Technology (CAIT) will provide the training and background to attain current FAA licensing for the commercial UAS operations of small drones, as well as preparation for future full integration of large UAS operations into commercial airspace. The CAIT concentration is designed to be coupled with a focus in Data Science, Geography, a STEM field or Computer Science using available electives.
All students must meet the FAA - Pilot Eligibility Requirements to participate in this program.
During July 2020, the UH Hilo Aeronautical Sciences B.S. Degree program received WASC approval to initiate the offering of the degree.
UH Hilo Aeronautical Science students Aislynn Mandaloniz and Nawaakoa Faurot give a tour of the Aeronautical Science Lab, share their passion for aviation, and provide insights into what makes the program at UH Hilo unique.
Start your career in a growing industry as a pilot or drone operator in Hawai‘i - with affordable tuition and the beautiful island environment, there's no better place to begin your journey than at UH Hilo.