SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) — The Bobcats are about to learn in the skies as Texas State University will offer a new aviation science degree program through a partnership with Coast Flight Training, the city of San Marcos and Texas Aviation Partners, according to a news release from the university.
The new program, designed in response to the growing demand for commercial pilots in the country, will be a bachelor of applied arts and science with a major in aviation science, according to the announcement.
Students will learn how to fly and have the opportunity to pursue careers as airline, commercial or professional pilots, according to the release.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that “demand for commercial pilots will increase by more than 5,600 jobs nationwide” over the next decade, an increase of more than 4 percent. According to the university, there will be approximately 16,800 commercial pilot openings each year as pilots retire.
One of the partners, CoastFlight, is an FAA-regulated flight school based at San Marcos Regional Airport, according to its website, where TX State students enrolled in the program will now receive their training, the university said.
“Texas State University is proud to partner with Coast Flight Training, Texas Aviation Partners, the City of San Marcos and San Marcos Regional Airport to address the national pilot shortage by providing students with this exciting new opportunity,” Texas State University President Kelly Damphousse said in a statement.
More information about degrees and program admissions is available online here.
