Bachelor's Degree Avionics Program
Why Avionics?
If you have questions about the Avionics Program, please click on the following:
As aircraft systems become more electronically complex, there is a critical need for advanced training in avionics, the advanced electronic systems that perform a range of functions including engine controls, flight controls, navigation, and more. Employers are looking for avionics technicians trained in the fundamentals of avionics theory, with a heavy emphasis on avionics troubleshooting skills, plus hands-on aircraft experience, an FCC license, and aircraft electronics certifications. The WLAC avionics program was designed to meet this demand.
Since 1974, WLAC has assisted thousands of students to obtain their Airframe and/or Powerplant (A and P) licenses, the two FAA certificates required to become an aviation maintenance technician. Located adjacent to LAX, WLAC enjoys a strong connection to the aviation industry, including partnerships with The Boeing Company, Southwest Airlines, FedEx, Supernal, and more. These employers approached WLAC seeking to partner in the development of an avionics bachelor's degree program to address shortages of trained personnel.
In June 2023, the Bachelor of Science in Aviation Maintenance Technology: Avionics was granted full approval by the State Chancellor’s Office. The first cohort will launch in Fall 2024.
Career opportunities in avionics include roles in avionics testing and troubleshooting, airline technical support, and production test manufacturing. Job prospects and wages are excellent, with annual mean wages reaching $90,000 per year, and 6 percent job growth predicted in over the next ten years in California (source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
The Bachelor of Science in Aviation Maintenance Technology: Avionics is designed to meet a critical demand for highly skilled technicians capable of troubleshooting complex aircraft, spacecraft and satellite systems by applying high-level critical and analytical skills. As technological advances increase the need for interdisciplinary collaboration, avionics technicians must also have the ability to communicate and organize sophisticated ideas in order to improve safety and maintenance reliability and lead programs and personnel.
As holders of a baccalaureate degree, graduates will possess the critical thinking, communication and leadership skills to become managers, reliability engineers, business owners, and other mid-level professionals. Graduates will also be certified Airframe and Power Plant mechanics by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and licensed avionics technicians by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) and National Center for Aerospace & Transportation Technologies (NCATT) in order to perform the necessary repairs and operational tests on all general and commercial airplanes.
The upper-division avionics curriculum is planned sequentially to be completed in one year. Courses are open only to students accepted into the Avionics Program who have completed all CSU or IGETC General Education Breadth Requirements for certification (~35 units) and all aviation maintenance technology prerequisites.
Cost
The enrollment fee for the upper-division bachelor’s degree program courses is $130 per unit (for California residents).
An estimated total cost of the program (tuition) for California residents is approximately $5,200* for enrollment fees. Book fees and student health fees are extra.
Financial Aid
Financial Aid is available for qualifying students and may be used to offset these additional costs. 98% of our students receive State, Federal, or private financial aid, or participate in the Board of Governors' Fee Waiver Program. For more information, contact the WLAC Financial Aid Office via email at @email, by telephone at (310) 287-4532, LIVE CHAT or in-person Student Services Building (SSB) 210 2nd Floor. For more info visit their website at: https://www.wlac.edu/financial-aid
We highly encourage everyone to apply for FAFSA or the California Dream Act before applying to the Avionics program regardless of the acceptance. For more information, visit the FAFSA website or CA Dream Act.
Eligibility to Apply:
All Avionics applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria to apply:
To be eligible to apply to the program, prospective students must have an active LACCD ID number and show proof of completion of prerequisite coursework.
A New student is an individual that has NEVER applied to any of the LACCD campuses. If you meet this definition you are required to complete a college application. If you are an individual that has previously applied or attended any of the LACCD campuses even if for one course and/or while in high school you are NOT considered a new student but considered a RETURNING STUDENT.
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Completion of 2025-2026 WLAC GE Plan or equivalent AND
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Completion of MATH 246 or equivalent
*Unofficial transcripts from all colleges attended must be uploaded at the time of application submission.
Prospective students with significant progress toward completion of general education prerequisites are encouraged to apply.
AMT prerequisite preparation can be demonstrated the following ways:
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Completion of the WLAC AMT program (AMT 001 – AMT 020)
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Completion of another Part-147-approved Aircraft Maintenance Technician School (AMTS)
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A current valid A&P license
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Military Experience
Application Process
Students may only apply during the active application cycle in the Spring and Summer for the following Fall semester for the Avionics program.
The deadline for the Avionics application is August 01st.
Program application: Bachelor of Science in AMT: Avionics Program Application
Have unofficial transcripts from all institutions attended as well as documentation related to AMT experience ready to upload as part of the application.
Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) is granted for AMT 001 – AMT 020 by submitting a CPL petition with evidence of:
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Completion of another Part-147-approved Aircraft Maintenance Technician School (AMTS) OR
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A current valid A&P license OR
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Military Experience
Instructions can be found here: https://www.wlac.edu/academics/credit-for-prior-learning
*Current or past WLAC AMT students, skip this step.
All official transcripts from U.S. colleges and universities outside the LACCD must be sent directly to the Office of Admissions and Records from the institution of origin before requesting an evaluation and scheduling an appointment with a counselor.
You can request transcripts in one of two ways:
1. Electronically via Parchment.com, OR
2. By regular mail. If your school does not use Parchment, the transcript must be mailed by your previous institution directly to Admission and Records at
By mailing to the address below:
West Los Angeles College
Attn: Admissions and Records Office
9000 Overland Ave
Culver City, CA 90230
Important notes:
• To be an eligible applicant to the Avionics program, official transcripts must be on file by August 30th, 2025.
• Transcripts issued directly to the student or another party, even in a sealed envelope, will not be accepted.
• Once WLAC receives your official transcript, please allow 15 business days for processing.
• Check your student email for verification. If you did not receive an email notification to your student email confirming your transcripts have been received, please visit https://www.wlac.edu/admissions/admissions-live-chat
Students must make an appointment with a counselor to determine that they have met general education prerequisites and to develop a Comprehensive Student Educational Plan.
To make an appointment with the Counseling Department, please click on the link Counseling Appointments or email Ronnie Felder at @email.
Important notes:
Make sure you have official transcripts of all schools attended on file in Admissions and Records, or at least bring unofficial transcripts to your counseling appointment.
Provisional program acceptance may be offered to students whose application materials indicate eligibility. Full program acceptance is dependent upon acceptance of CPL petition (if applicable), submission of official transcripts, and Comprehensive Student Educational Plan on file.
Upper Division Course Sequence
Fall Semester will consist of one 8-week session (second eight weeks). Two 3-unit courses will be offered during each session.
Session 2 - Fall Semester
- AVIATEK 340 - Avionics Standard Practices (3 Units)
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ENGLISH 410 - Technical Writing (3 Upper Division GE Units)**
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Prerequisite: ENGLC1000 - Academic Reading and Writing OR ENGLISH101Y - College Reading and Composition I Plus 2-Hour Lab (take during 1st eight weeks of Fall).
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The Winter Session is 5 weeks long, and one 3-unit upper-division course will be offered.
Winter Intersession
- CHICANO 505 - Chicana/o/x Art, Literature, and Film (3 Upper Division GE Units)
- PSYCH 13 - Social Psychology (3 Units) - prerequisite for PSYCH BUS 342*
The Spring Semester will consist of two 8-week sessions offering one 3-unit course and one 4-unit course.
Session 1 - Spring Semester
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AVIATEK 310 - Aircraft Electronic Circuits (4 Units)
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AVIATEK 315 - Aircraft Digital Circuits (3 units)
Session 2 - Spring Semester
- AVIATEK 320 – Aviation Electronic Communications (4 Units)
- AVIATEK 325 - Aviation Data Communications (3 Units)
Summer Session is 8 weeks, offering two 3-unit courses.
- AVIATEK 345 - Avionics Circuit Repair (3 Units)
- AVIATEK 350 – Aircraft Navigation Systems (3 Units)
The Fall Semester will consist of two 8-week sessions. Two 3-unit courses will be offered during the first session, and two 3-unit courses plus a 2-unit course will be offered during the second session.
Session 1 - Fall Semester
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AVIATEK 355 - Aircraft Pulse Systems (3 Units)
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AVIATEK 360 – Aircraft Radar Systems (3 Units)
Session 2 - Fall Semester
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AVIATEK 365 – Avionics General Regulations (2 Units)
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PSYCH BUS 342 - Industrial and Organizational Psychology (3 Upper Division GE Units)*
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Prerequisite: PSYCH 13 - Social Psychology (take during winter or first eight weeks of Fall).
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