Aviation

Policies

Admission to Major. Coordinator for Admission to Major, the College of Education Adviser, 117 Armstrong Hall. All students must submit an unofficial transcript or DARS report (available at the Campus Hub).

Students must meet the following requirements:

• a minimum of 32 earned semester credit hours.
• a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75
• a minimum of C+ in AVIA 150 (Private Pilot Ground course)
• An English language proficiency level as described below:
• TOEFL iBT minimum score of 84 with a minimum speaking score of 24  OR
• TOEFL iBT speaking score of 24 or better AND a TOEFL iBT listening score of 24 or better OR
• TOEFL PBT listening score of 57 or better OR
• IELTS overall score of 6.5 with an IELTS minimum speaking score of 6.5 and IELTS minimum listening score of 6.5 OR
• Successful completion of the highest level of the Intensive English Program (IEP) at Minnesota State University, Mankato, with a B+ average or better and at least a B in each course.

Students may only enroll in 1xx and 2xx-level aviation coursework prior to admission to the major.

Flight Training. Flight costs are determined on an hourly basis for aircraft and flight instruction. To obtain FAA certificates, it requires FAA exams which may require an additional fee. Students seeking admission to flight training must be examined by an FAA-designated Aviation Medical Examiner and have an FAA medical certificate and student pilot certificate before the start of flight training. Applicants intending to seek a Commercial Pilot Certificate must have 20/20 vision in each eye, or be correctable to 20/20. Medical examinations should be done far enough in advance of flight training to allow any potential problems or questions to be resolved. We recommend obtaining the 1st class FAA medical certificate.

The FAA requires any pilot’s license applicant to speak, read, write and understand the English language. Flight students whose home language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency.  The English language proficiency required to begin any flight lab is outlined below:

• TOEFL iBT minimum score of 84 with a minimum speaking score of 24  OR
• TOEFL iBT speaking score of 24 or better AND a TOEFL iBT listening score of 24 or better OR
• TOEFL PBT listening score of 57 or better OR
• IELTS overall score of 6.5 with an IELTS minimum speaking score of 6.5 and IELTS minimum listening score of 6.5 OR
• Successful completion of the highest level of the Intensive English Program (IEP) at Minnesota State University, Mankato, with a B+ average or better and at least a B in each course.

In addition, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requires U.S. citizen flight students to present a government-issued photo identification document such as a driver’s license and an original passport or original (raised seal) birth certificate for U.S. citizenship verification. International flight students must comply with TSA requirements for a security threat assessment as specified in the Alien Flight Student Program. Generally, this process requires approximately 30 days to complete. Refer to www.flightschoolcandidates.gov for details.

Transfer of college credit and credit for certificates and/or ratings. The Minnesota State Mankato, Department of Aviation bases its flight education philosophy on a four-year university degree. Consequently, students who have obtained flight certificates/ratings without earned college credit may not have satisfied the academic and flight requirements for the aviation major. Students must demonstrate that they have received the full breadth and depth of knowledge, skills, abilities, and attitudes consistent with an education received at Minnesota State Mankato. Once enrolled at Minnesota State Mankato, students are expected to complete all subsequent flight training within Minnesota State Mankato’s aviation program.

Transfer credits. To satisfy aviation curriculum requirements, students with pilot certificates and ratings earned with college credit through an Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI) accredited university may transfer those credits without demonstration of proficiency. College credits obtained through a non-AABI accredited institution shall be reviewed by the Department of Aviation to ensure the issuing institution follows policies and practices consistent with AABI accreditation standards. In the event credits do not transfer, students may be required to follow Examination for Credit procedures.

Prior Experience. Students entering Minnesota State Mankato with completed FAA certificates must register for and complete the applicable ground course for that flight lab. Prior experience will be evaluated through an oral and flight examination. Successful completion of the evaluation will be annotated on a Credit by Examination form giving credit for that particular flight lab. The student is responsible for the aircraft rental required for the evaluation.

GPA Policy. Admission to College of Education, 2.5 cumulative GPA.

P/N Grading Policy. Only elective and general education courses may be taken P/N, unless offered P/N only.