Earn Your Associate’s Degree While Training to Become a Commercial Airline Pilot
Earn Your Operations Management Technology A.S. Degree!
Epic Flight Academy and Daytona State College (DSC) have signed an articulation agreement. This allows Epic’s flight school students to transfer your flight training hours to DSC for college credit. Some major airlines require pilots to have a college degree. Therefore, this partnership provides Epic students with a unique opportunity to simultaneously complete flight training and take classes at Daytona State College. In other words, you can complete an A.S. degree and ultimately a Bachelor’s degree if you so choose. If your aviation career goals include becoming an airline pilot, we highly recommend taking advantage of this unique program. For full details, please read these frequently asked questions.
If many airlines don’t require a college degree, why would I pursue one?
This is a great question, and the one we hear most frequently. Airlines assign points on different qualities you bring to the application process. For example, they review the number of hours logged as PIC, type ratings, and even college degrees. However, even if an airline does not require a college degree, we are eager to provide you with this opportunity for an obvious reason – your medical certification. We encourage a healthy lifestyle (no smoking, limited or no alcohol use, healthy diet, regular exercise, etc.). However, we have sadly known too many pilots who for one reason or another were unable to pass their required medical. Ultimately, this prevents them from flying as a commercial pilot.
If you put in the time and effort to earn a college degree while attending Epic, you are investing in your future job security. We hope you never have to give up flying. There are many great reasons to earn a college degree. For instance, getting to transfer your flight training as college credit is one reason. However, we believe this is an important opportunity for our students.
What degree will I earn at Daytona State College?
Epic Flight Academy student pilots can earn an A.S. degree in Operations Management Technology.
How long does it take to earn this Associates degree?
Depending on your availability for classes, this degree should take no longer than two years. In fact, it will take less if you have more time to devote to it. Many classes last only 8 weeks, and all can be taken online. Therefore, you have many opportunities to complete this degree in a short period of time.
Can this A.S. be applied towards a Bachelor’s degree?
Yes, students who complete the A.S. in Operations Management Technology are eligible to enroll in DSC’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management program. Of course, your A.S. degree can be transferred to other colleges as well.
How are the EFA flight training credits earned and transferred to DSC?
Daytona State College recognizes your completion of the following Epic FAA-approved courses (equivalent to 750 to 950 hours of training) to be equal to 23 college credit hours of BCT2990 (vocational). Or, for those whose training exceeds 950 hours, they will receive 27 college credit hours.
- Private Pilot License
- Instrument Pilot
- Commercial Single-Engine
- Flight Instructor
- Flight Instructor Instrument
- Commercial Multi-Engine
- Multi-Engine Flight Instructor
- Certified Flight Instructor at EFA (hours of instruction added to coursework to equal 700 hours total time if needed)
When will these credits be transferred to Daytona State College?
As soon as you successfully complete 24 credit hours at Daytona State College in the Operations Management program, Epic provides verification of your flight training hours and FAA certifications to DSC. DSC then awards you 23 credit hours under “BCT 2990 Technical Training” towards your academic program. Upon successful completion of the remaining 13 credit hours (for a total of 60 credit hours), you have earned your A.S. degree. At that point, you can continue at DSC to earn your Bachelor of Applied Science degree.
Can I be enrolled at DSC while I’m enrolled at EFA?
Yes, that is the ideal approach for domestic (U.S.) students. It typically takes 1 to 2 years to complete A.S. degree. Flight training courses also take about 1 to 2 years. Therefore, you can enroll at DSC and take classes in the Operations Management program while flight training at Epic. Our flight training program is ideal for this plan. (Note: International students need to complete their flight training before beginning their studies at DSC.)
What if I have transferred in some of my flight training to Epic? Will that still count?
Yes, because Epic and the FAA certify you for each level of completion, DSC accepts our transcripts. We verify you have met all FAA course requirements.
Do other flight schools offer this program with DSC?
No, Epic Flight Academy is proud to be the only flight school working exclusively with Daytona State College to offer this program.
Is there a cost to attend Daytona State College?
Yes, as with all colleges, you pay tuition to attend DSC for the classes you take to earn your A.S. degree. For those courses, you may apply for any type of financial aid available to other DSC students. (Note: You are not eligible for student aid to cover the cost of your flight training. You will pay that directly to EFA.)
What is the cost to attend Daytona State College?
DSC offers affordable tuition. Tuitions varies for Florida residents and non-residents. (Note: There is NO application fee to apply to DSC for domestic students. There is an application fee of $50 for international students.)
When is the best time to enroll at DSC to participate in this program?
Immediately! Regardless of how much flight training you have completed, you should begin your A.S. in Operations Management as soon as possible. International flight students need to complete their flight training program, return home to obtain an F-1 visa, and return to enroll at DSC.
What if I have already completed all of the above flight training? Can I still enroll in this program at DSC to earn my A.S.?
Absolutely! We recognize the need for pilots to earn a college degree, which is why we have formed this partnership. For instance, you can enroll in your DSC courses, and as soon as you complete the 37 credit hours, DSC accepts your flight training credits from Epic. Most importantly, be sure to work with Epic as early as possible to make sure your credits will be transferable.
When do classes begin at Daytona State College?
New classes begin TWICE each semester in the 8-week A and B sessions of the Spring and Fall semesters. Also, there are several start dates during the Summer semester. Therefore, you have many options for starting class. Check DSC’s Academic Calendar for exact dates!
Can you provide more details about the Operations Management A.S. degree?
Students need to take courses in the following areas: (Remember, one class is typically equal to 3 credits.)
- General Education (15 credits)
- Communications (6 credits)
- Mathematics (3 credits)
- Social Sciences (3 credits)
- Humanities (3 credits)
- Accounting or Financing Elective (3 credits)
- Business Elective (3 credits)
- Office Elective (1 credit)
This totals 37 credit hours. Add to this your 23 credit hours from Flight Training (aka: “Program Specific Courses”) to total 60 credit hours. This is equivalent to your Associate’s Degree. Complete details about the program and the college policies and procedures are available in the College Catalog and can be viewed online at DSC’s website.
Why should I consider this academic pathway with Epic Flight Academy and Daytona State College?
First of all, the pilot shortage is severe, and we know that major U.S. airlines require pilots to not only have logged thousands of hours in the cockpit, but also to have earned a college degree. This program offers flight training, an opportunity to work at Epic as a Certified Flight Instructor to build hours, and coursework at an accredited state college. Finally, the two schools are located in close proximity to one another – just 13 miles apart.
What does an overview of this plan really look like in terms of practicality and scheduling?
At any point during (or after) your flight training at Epic, you should enroll at DSC. Ideally, you will enroll at DSC when you begin your Private Pilot course at Epic. However, you can enroll at DSC at any point. Students take flight training at Epic while taking Operations Management courses at Daytona State. When you have completed the coursework at Epic and logged sufficient hours as a Certified Flight Instructor, (CFI) you will be eligible for the 23 credit hours. DSC awards these to you as soon as you complete 24 credit hours of the Operations Management Technology A.S. degree program. After that, you will complete an additional 13 credit hours at DSC to reach the 60 credit hours needed for your A.S. degree.
Once you have earned your A.S., we hope you will continue to be employed at Epic as a CFI and continue on at Daytona State College to earn your Bachelor’s degree. By the time you complete your Bachelor’s degree, you should easily meet the FAA minimum requirement of 1,500 flight hours. This makes you an ideal candidate to be employed by a major U.S. airline. This entire process should take no longer than 4 years to complete. For an overview of Daytona State College, visit their online viewbook.
What content is taught in the Operations Management program?
DSC describes all courses covered in the Operations Management Technology A.S. degree program online. Also, they include sample timelines.
Can VA benefits be applied at Daytona State College?
Yes, DSC is an approved institution for veterans. Full details are available online.
Can foreign students be enrolled in this program?
Yes, but tyou must meet specific requirements. Epic’s international flight students take their flight training under the M-1 visa. To take classes at Daytona State College, students would have to change to an F-1 visa status. If you are an M-1 student, you cannot change to F or H status while you are in the United States. If you would like to attend DSC as an F-1 student, you will need to complete your training at Epic, leave the United States, apply to an SEVP-certified school (Daytona State College), and receive a new Form I-20. You will also need to apply for a new visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate, if applicable. Always remember to prepare well for your visa interview.
If you are a foreign flight student and would like to enroll at Daytona State College, please contact Beth Hoodiman, admissions representative. at DSC. Please note that all F-1 students must be enrolled at DSC as full-time students taking 12 credit hours per semester with at least 9 of those credit hours being taken on the Daytona campus. More details for international students can be found online.
What steps should I take once I’ve decided to enroll in this college program?
Please advise Dr. Cindy Lovell, Director of Education at Epic Flight Academy. She will help facilitate your enrollment. [Note: Prior to your Epic credits transferring to DSC, you will need to secure a copy of your transcript from Epic and schedule a meeting with DSC. Contact Max Nagiel at DSC.]
Please note: Students enrolled full-time in any college or university may elect the University Program flight training schedule. University status requires student availability for four days per calendar week Monday through Sunday for four consecutive hours each day between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Students are also required to complete a minimum of 16 days of training each month.
More questions? Contact us!