Aviation and Aerospace Science (ASC) Major, B.S.

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Department of Aviation and Aerospace Science

College of Health and Applied Sciences

Available Program Format(s): In-Person

About the Program

All students must complete 33 semester hours of General Studies. Some General Studies courses are required by the major, so students would benefit from taking those courses for their General Studies courses. The Aviation and Aerospace Science curriculum guide, available in the AVS Department office, SS 102, lists recommended General Studies courses, each degree program with a recommended course sequence, and AVS policies and procedures. Students should schedule an advising session with an AVS faculty member early in their first semester in the department and each semester thereafter.

Student Outcomes

Demonstrate comprehension of the flight environment, including weather for VFR and IFR ops, airspace operations, navigation and positional awareness, and the variety of digital and physical flight resources and publications. 
Describe and explain aircraft performance, with respect to atmospheric conditions, aircraft capabilities, and resource and risk management including human factors, decision making, and situational awareness. 
Summarize aviation security strategies and implementations applied to airport and airline operations. 
Identify and summarize domain-accepted principles and practices, procedural methods, and industry standards germane to establishing a professional flight foundation.

General Degree Requirements

To earn a degree, students must satisfy all requirements in each of the four areas below, in addition to their individual major requirements.

Program Requirements

A total of 120 semester hours are required for graduation.
A grade of D- or better is required for each course in this program to count toward the bachelor’s degree. Students should note that programs differ in the minimum grade required.
A minor is not required for this program.
A grade of “C-” or better is required in all upper division courses listed as part of the major, whether or not they are AES prefixed courses, including electives. Students should note that programs differ in the minimum grade required. This requirement does not apply to General Studies classes.

General Studies Requirements: 33 credits

Students should consult the General Studies Requirements for a list of courses that fulfill the General Studies Requirements for degree completion.

Written Communication (6 credits)
Oral Communication (3 credits)
Quantitative Literacy (3 credits)
Arts and Humanities (6 credits)
Historical (3 credits)
Natural and Physical Sciences (6 credits)
Social and Behavioral Sciences (6 credits)
Global Diversity (0 or 3 credits**)

** Students will fulfill the global diversity requirement by taking an approved course within one of the following categories: arts and humanities; historical; natural and physical sciences; or social and behavioral sciences.

Multicultural Requirement: 0 or 3 credits

Students should consult the Multicultural Graduation Requirements for a list of courses that fulfill the Multicultural Requirement for degree completion.
Many programs include courses that meet this requirement. Students should consult with their advisor to determine what program courses may fulfill this requirement.

Aerospace Operations Concentration (ASC1): 62 credits

This concentration is designed for those seeking career opportunities in aviation or aerospace operations, systems integration, or logistical planning. This degree also supports careers that integrate commercial venues of aerospace with aviation.

Required Courses: 59 credits

AES 1040 - Introduction to Unmanned Aircraft Systems Credits: 3
or
AES 1050 - Introduction to Space Credits: 3
AES 1100 - Aviation Fundamentals Credits: 4
AES 1400 - Aviation Weather Credits: 3
AES 1710 - Instrument Flight Simulation I Credits: 3
AES 2050 - Aviation and Aerospace History and Development Credits: 3
AES 2200 - Fundamentals of Air Traffic Control Credits: 4
AES 2220 - Flight Dispatch and Load Planning Credits: 3
AES 2607 - Introduction to Aerospace Systems Simulation Credits: 3
AES 2630 - Spacecraft Mission Operations I Credits: 3
AES 3600 - Space Flight Operations I Credits: 3
AES 3850 - Human Factors and Physiology of Flight Credits: 3
AES 3880 - Aviation Security Credits: 3
AES 4200 - Airport Planning and Management I Credits: 3
AES 4601 - Space Flight Operations II Credits: 3
AES 4602 - Aerospace Commercialized Operations Credits: 3
or
AES 4210 - Airport Planning and Management II Credits: 3
AES 3620 - Aerospace Systems Project and Mission Scheduling Credits: 3
or
AES 3630 - Spacecraft Mission Operations II Credits: 3
or
AES 4603 - Aerospace Operations Systems Analysis and Design Credits: 3
AES 4860 - Aviation Safety Credits: 3
or
AES 4870 - Aviation Safety Program Management Credits: 3
AES 4910 - Aviation and Aerospace Strategic Planning Credits: 3
BUS 1950 - Business Communication Credits: 3
or
JMP 2610 - Introduction to Technical Writing Credits: 3

ASC1 Senior Experience: 3 credits

AES 4930 - Professional Flight Standards Seminar Credits: 3
or
JMP 4790 - Senior Seminar Credits: 3

Professional Flight Officer Concentration (ASC2): 78 credits

Professional Flight Officer (ASC2): This concentration is designed for those planning a career as a professional pilot. A student choosing this concentration must have an FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate with an Instrument Rating, and single-engine and multi-engine land rating, OR FAA Flight Instructor Certificate (CFI) OR the FAA Advanced Ground Instructor (AGI) and Instrument Ground Instructor Certificates (IGI) before graduation. (For Lighter-than-Air category, a student must have the Advanced Ground Instructor Certificate.) Before enrolling in this concentration, ensure that you can obtain the appropriate FAA medical certificate. For a list of FAA medical examiners, see http://www.faa.gov/pilots/amelocator/.

Required Courses: 75 credits

AES 1040 - Introduction to Unmanned Aircraft Systems Credits: 3
or
AES 2050 - Aviation and Aerospace History and Development Credits: 3
AES 1100 - Aviation Fundamentals Credits: 4
or FAA Private Pilot Certificate
AES 1400 - Aviation Weather Credits: 3
AES 1500 - Private Pilot Flight Lab Credits: 2
or FAA Private Pilot Certificate
AES 1710 - Instrument Flight Simulation I Credits: 3
or FAA Private Pilot Certificate
AES 2120 - Instrument Fundamentals Credits: 4
or FAA Instrument Rating
AES 2130 - Commercial Flight Operations Credits: 3
or FAA Commercial Certificate
AES 2200 - Fundamentals of Air Traffic Control Credits: 4
AES 2220 - Flight Dispatch and Load Planning Credits: 3
AES 2500 - Instrument Pilot Flight Lab Credits: 2
or FAA Instrument Rating
AES 2710 - Instrument Flight Simulation II Credits: 3
or FAA Instrument Rating
AES 3000 - Aircraft Systems and Propulsion Credits: 3
AES 3520 - Commercial Single-Engine Flight Lab Credits: 2
or FAA Commercial Certificate
AES 3530 - Aerodynamics Credits: 3
AES 3650 - Advanced Flight Technologies Credits: 3
AES 3710 - Multi-Engine Flight Simulation I Credits: 3
or FAA Multi-Engine Rating
AES 3850 - Human Factors and Physiology of Flight Credits: 3
AES 3880 - Aviation Security Credits: 3
AES 4040 - Aircraft Performance Credits: 3
AES 4370 - Advanced Navigation Systems Credits: 3
AES 4500 - Commercial Multi-Engine Flight Lab Credits: 2
or FAA Commercial Multi-Engine Rating
or
AES 4510 - Flight Instructor Flight Lab Credits: 2
or FAA Flight Instructor Certificate
AES 4540 - FAA Instructor Certification-Ground School Credits: 3
or FAA Flight Instructor Certificate
AES 4710 - Turboprop Flight Simulation Credits: 4
or FAA Type Rating
or
AES 4935 - Advanced Commercial Aircraft Systems Credits: 4
or FAA Airline Transport Pilot Certificate
AES 4860 - Aviation Safety Credits: 3
AES 4910 - Aviation and Aerospace Strategic Planning Credits: 3
Required Professional Pilot Documentation

ASC2 Senior Experience: 3 credits

AES 4930 - Professional Flight Standards Seminar Credits: 3

Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) Concentration (ASC3): 69 credits

Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (FAA AT-CTI) (ASC3): The Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative concentration (ASC3), also known as the AT-CTI program, has been designed through a partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in order to provide a foundation for students interested in becoming FAA air traffic control specialists. MSU Denver is one of only 36 higher education institutions across the country designated by the FAA as part of its Collegiate Training Initiative and is an FAA-approved AT-CTI program. Weather, airspace, teamwork in aviation, navigation, and search and rescue are among the fundamentals covered in this course of study.

Required Courses: 39 credits

AES 1100 - Aviation Fundamentals Credits: 4
AES 1400 - Aviation Weather Credits: 3
AES 1710 - Instrument Flight Simulation I Credits: 3
AES 2120 - Instrument Fundamentals Credits: 4
AES 2130 - Commercial Flight Operations Credits: 3
AES 2200 - Fundamentals of Air Traffic Control Credits: 4
AES 2710 - Instrument Flight Simulation II Credits: 3
AES 3880 - Aviation Security Credits: 3
AES 4100 - Advanced Air Traffic Control Credits: 3
AES 4370 - Advanced Navigation Systems Credits: 3
AES 4860 - Aviation Safety Credits: 3
or
AES 4870 - Aviation Safety Program Management Credits: 3
AES 4910 - Aviation and Aerospace Strategic Planning Credits: 3

AES Electives: 27 credits

Select 27 credits in AES electives.

ASC3 Senior Experience: 3 credits

AES 4210 - Airport Planning and Management II Credits: 3 *
or
AES 4930 - Professional Flight Standards Seminar Credits: 3
or
JMP 4790 - Senior Seminar Credits: 3
* Requires completion of AES 4200 Airport Planning and Management I

Summary of Requirements

Aerospace Operations Concentration (ASC1)
General Studies Requirements	33 credits
Multicultural Requirement	0-3 credits
Required Courses	59 credits
Senior Experience	3 credits
Unrestricted Electives	22-25 credits
Professional Flight Officer Concentration (ASC2)
General Studies	33 credits
Multicultural Requirement	0-3 credits
Required Courses	75 credits
Senior Experience	3 credits
Unrestricted Electives	6-9 credits
Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) Concentration (ASC3)
General Studies Requirements	33 credits
Multicultural Requirement	0-3 credits
Required Courses	39 credits
AES Electives	27 credits
Senior Experience	3 credits
Unrestricted Electives	18-21 credits
Total for the Aviation and Aerospace Science Major, B.S.	120 credits

Required courses for the major may also count for General Studies and Multicultural requirements, so the total credits listed may be greater than the number required to complete the degree. Therefore, it is important that you work with your advisor to make sure you are meeting requirements for your degree.