The University of Washington has a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautics that requires 180 credit hours to graduate, but Emby-Riddle Aeronautical University only requires 120 credit hours to receive a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautics. The difference between the two degree requirements is Embry-Riddle only educates pilots along with a few aeronautics certificates in aviation weather, air traffic control and airline dispatch. The University of Washington's aeronautics bachelor's degree covers multiple careers in aeronautics such as pilots, engineers, research and a host of other careers in the aeronautics industry. Other schools, such as Boston University, require anywhere from 120 credits to 136 credits depending on the aeronuatics field in which the student decides to concentrate.
No matter what college or university, the aeronautics student must complete several core course requirements. Most universities require a minimum of 24 credit hours in mathematics, which is approximately six different math courses. The math courses include college algebra, trigonometry and calculus. Math is an important part of a aeronautics career; without this math requirement, you cannot receive an aeronautics degree.
Another prominent requirement for a bachelor's in aeronautics is chemistry and physics. Chemistry helps the aeronautics student understand the makeup of materials used in the industry. Physics allows the student to understand how objects react in time and space. Designing aircraft, space vessels and satellites depends on knowing how the materials will react to outside elements and how the material designs will achieve flight.
No bachelor's degree in aeronautics is complete without the major courses required in the desired field of study. Most of these courses are taken during the third and fourth year of the bachelor's degree. Depending on the aeronautics career chosen, the student will take courses in atmospheric flight mechanics, compressible aerodynamics, aerospace instrumentation, aerospace structures and a host of aerospace laboratory requirements. Different major courses for a pilot concentrate on commercial pilot training, airline pilot training and military pilot training.