Bachelor of Science (BS) in Aeronautical Science
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Program Overview
Both concentrations of the program will share identical curriculum during the first 3 years of the program. This will ensure that all graduates have the necessary background to pilot commercial aircraft within the National Airspace System governed by the FAA. The common curriculum includes fourteen courses including six 1 credit hour flight simulation labs along with eight 3 credit hour courses in safety, weather, navigation, aviation operations and resources, and career development.
The 4th year of aerial information technology will consist of required courses in remote sensing, geographical information systems (GIS), UAS flight and technology, and four electives directed toward advanced remote sensing and GIS, data collection and interpretation. Students in this concentration have an option to obtain a subject certificate in Data Science, minor in other STEM fields, or obtain a double major in Geography.
All students must meet the FAA - Pilot Eligibility Requirements to participate in this program. In addition students, must sign a pre-enrollment ackowledgement of flight training and other program requirements.
This is a sample academic plan for students entering on the 2023-2024 catalog. Students should meet with an academic advisor prior to registration to formulate their own plan.
AERS Courses
See the UH Hilo Catalog for full listing of AERS courses.
- AERS 101 Elem Private Pilot Ops (1)
- AERS 102 Instrument Pilot Ops (1)
- AERS 152 Introduction to UAS (3)
- AERS 220 Elem Multi-Eng Operations (1)
- AERS 221 Elem Multi-Eng Ops II (1)
- AERS 250 Aviation Safety (3)
- AERS 251 Aviation Weather (3)
- AERS 260 Aircraft Systems & Instruments (3)
- AERS 340 Advanced Simulated Maneuvers (1)
- AERS 352 UAS Mission Plans & Simulation (3)
- AERS 354 UAS Robotics (3)
- AERS 355 Domestic & International Nav (3)
- AERS 370 Prep for Single/Multi Eng Flt (1)
- AERS 387 Crew Resource Management (3)
- AERS 452 UAS Flight (3)
- AERS 471 Airline Operations (3)
- AERS 472 Pilot Professional Development (3)
- AERS 473 Leadership as a Pilot (3)
Recommended 4-Year Map
Year 1: Fall Semester
| Course | Credit |
|---|---|
| AERS 101 Elem Private Pilot Ops | 1 |
| GE FGA, FGB or FGC: Global Multicul I | 3 |
| GE DA, DH, or DL: Arts, Hum, Lit I | 3 |
| ENG 100 Composition I (3) (GE FW: Written Communication) | 3 |
| MATH 140 Precalc:Trig/Analytic Geometry (3) or MATH 140X Precalculus (4) (GE FQ: Quantitative Reasoning) | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Credits | 16 |
Year 1: Spring Semester
| Course | Credit |
|---|---|
| AERS 102 Instrument Pilot Ops II | 1 |
| GE DS: Social Science I | 3 |
| GE GLA: Lang Arts | 3 |
| GE DB: Biol Sci | 3 |
| GE DA, DH, or DL: Arts, Hum, Lit II | 3 |
| GE FGA, FGB or FGC: Global Multicul II | 3 |
| Credits | 16 |
Year 2: Fall Semester
| Course | Credit |
|---|---|
| AERS 220 Elem Multi-Eng Operations | 1 |
| AERS 250 Aviation Safety | 3 |
| GEOG 201 Interp Geog Data (3) | 3 |
| PHYS 151 College Physics I (3) or PHYS 170 Gen Phys I: Mechanics (4) | 3 |
| PHYS 151L College Physics I Lab (1) or PHYS 170L Gen Phys I Lab (1) | 1 |
| WI Elective | 1 |
| Credits | 14 |
Year 2: Spring Semester
| Course | Credit |
|---|---|
| AERS 221 Elem Multi-Eng Ops II | 1 |
| AERS 251 Aviation Weather | 3 |
| GE HPP: Hawaiʻi Pan-Pacific | 3 |
| CHEM 151 Elementary Survey of Chemistry (3) or CHEM 161 General Chemistry I (3) | 3 |
| CHEM 151L Elementary Survey of Chem Lab (1) or CHEM 161L General Chemistry I Lab (1) | 1 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Credits | 14 |
Year 3: Fall Semester
| Course | Credit |
|---|---|
| AERS 340 Advanced Simulated Maneuvers | 1 |
| AERS 260 Aircraft Systems & Instruments | 3 |
| AERS 355 Domestic & International Nav | 3 |
| AERS 387 Crew Resource Management | 3 |
| GE DS: SOCIAL SCIENCE II | 3 |
| WI Elective | 3 |
| Credits | 16 |
Year 3: Spring Semester
| Course | Credit |
|---|---|
| AERS 370 Prep for Single/Multi Eng Flt | 1 |
| AERS 471 Airline Operations | 3 |
| AERS 472 Pilot Professional Development | 3 |
| AERS 473 Leadership as a Pilot | 3 |
| Upper Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 1 |
| Credits | 14 |
Year 4: Fall Semester
| Course | Credit |
|---|---|
| AERS 152 Introduction to UAS | 3 |
| GEOG 470 Remote Sensing/Air Photo | 3 |
| AERS 354 UAS Robotics | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Credits | 15 |
Year 4: Spring Semester
| Course | Credit |
|---|---|
| AERS 352 UAS Mission Plans & Simulation | 3 |
| AERS 452 UAS Flight | 3 |
| GEOG 480 Geog Info Sys & Visualization | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Credits | 15 |
Total Credits: 120
Recommended electives: CS 171 Data Science Fundamentals in R (3) , CS 172 Python for Data Analysis (3) , MATH 271 Applied Statistics with R (3) .