CWU starts program in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE - Central Washington University expanded its four-year aviation degree options at Big Bend Community College.

Students can now receive a Bachelor of Science degree in flight officer specialization, aviation maintenance management specialization and commercial pilot specialization, in addition to aviation management.

"This is an incredible opportunity for our state institutions to share resources and pursue a collaborative vision to offer Washington students the highest quality education we can provide," stated Central's Aviation Department Chair and Associate Professor Amy Hoover.

Central Washington University

spokesperson Teri Olin said while the degrees are not new, the option to pursue them at Big Bend is new.

"We have actually extended them over to CWU-Moses Lake, because the Ellensburg campus is full," Olin said.

In the past, Big Bend students who wanted flight specialization had to travel to Ellensburg, she said.

"Now they can just stay where they already are," Olin said.

The partnership between Big Bend and Central allows a student to receive flight or mechanics training at the community college, and then directly transfer to the university's program, according to Central.