What is an aviation management degree?

The aviation management degree provides a comprehensive background in aviation studies, management, and business to prepare students for careers such as airline operation, air transportation, airport management, airport consulting, aircraft manufacturing, sales, and aviation insurance.

This degree is available as either a flight or non-flight major. Whether you want to be an airline manager, airport manager, or air commerce expert, an aviation management degree from Florida Tech develops a strong background in aviation with experience in modern aviation technology and best business practices.

Specialize in Air Traffic Control

In addition to the option of flight training, the aviation management degree program offers another option to graduate with a specialization in Air Traffic Control (ATC). The ATC specialization meets the requirements of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) program and is FAA-approved. Graduates of the program are often eligible to bypass the Air Traffic Basics Course at the FAA Academy. The program gives you 21 credit hours of focused coursework in areas such as aerodynamics, meteorology, and safety.

Gain a Competitive Edge

Florida Tech’s College of Aeronautics has been consistently recognized as offering one of the best university-based aviation programs in the country. All students seeking an aviation management degree, both flight and non-flight majors, take a private pilot knowledge course and an aviation weather course their first year to expand their knowledge of the aviation industry.

Second- and third-year students learn about the FAA, air traffic, and the national airspace system, as well as the fundamentals of aircraft flight dynamics. In addition, students may fly the desktop simulator in the Basic Aviation Training Device (BAT-D) computer Lab.

In their final years at Florida Tech, students complete advanced course work in air transportation management and atmospheric dynamics, and meet recruiters from major airlines at university career fairs.

Studying aviation at an aviation management university like Florida Tech affords you the benefits of a larger school (such as world-class faculty members and high-quality course curriculum) in a close-knit academic community offering small class sizes and one-on-one time with professors.

Learn from Aviation Experts

Florida Tech’s faculty members are highly experienced experts in all aspects of aviation; many are experienced pilots. Our aviation management university boasts faculty who are experts in at least one other area such as aviation law, safety, avionics, or environmental science. Our experts also include airport consulting, design, and management; airline or general aviation management; and aviation human factors, meteorology, and air traffic control.

Florida Tech’s College of Aeronautics professors boast comprehensive backgrounds in aviation studies, management, and business. Their experience translates to a robust curriculum and hands-on opportunities applicable to careers in air transportation, air commerce, airport planning, airport management, and aircraft sales and aviation insurance.

Comprehensive High-Tech Facilities

Florida Tech’s combination of first-rate computer labs and modern learning tools truly sets the school apart from every other leading aviation management university. Students find most of their degree-related courses meeting in Skurla Hall—a building designed to look like a B2 bomber from above. Skurla Hall includes classrooms, computer labs for airport design and planning and the BAT-D lab. In the BAT-D lab, aviation students can fly desktop simulators under the supervision of a flight instructor. Skurla Hall is also where the ATC lab is located.

Florida Tech continues to expand its reputation as a world-class aviation management university. Aviation management majors are regular competitors in the National Intercollegiate Flight Competition and have won the safety award more than any other competing university.

Accreditation

The Aviation Management and Aviation Management—Flight majors are both accredited by the Aviation Accreditation Board International. Additionally, Florida Tech has been designated as a core team university for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Center of Excellence (COE) for General Aviation. The center focuses its research and testing efforts on safety, accessibility, and sustainability to enhance the future of general aviation.

Located in the Heart of Florida’s High-tech Corridor

Florida Tech is the perfect place for a BS in Aviation Management. The 130-acre campus is located on the Space Coast (so named because of the presence of NASA and the Kennedy Space Center on Cape Canaveral just north of us), minutes away from the Indian River Lagoon, the most diverse estuary in North America. Plus, if you like to fly, we have over 300 days of ideal flying weather each year. Aviation majors especially appreciate that Melbourne is home to an international commercial airport that is just a ten-minute drive from campus.

The area has the fifth largest high-tech workforce in the country, with more than 5,000 high-tech corporations and government and military organizations located nearby. This workforce also provides an abundance of internship and employment opportunities.

Florida Tech is just over the causeway from the Atlantic Ocean with its 72 miles of beautiful beaches, and a short trip to the Florida Keys or the Orlando theme parks. We also have a rich campus life that includes a wide range of intramural and collegiate sports, clubs, and social activities.

Build Lasting Professional Relationships through Campus Organizations

Beyond the classroom, aviation management degree students build leadership and professional experience through exciting internships and participation in academic organizations like Collegiate Aviation Business Executives, a student chapter of American Association of Airport Executives, the Falcons Intercollegiate Flight Team, Women in Aviation, student government, and over 100 other campus-wide student organizations.

The Falcons Precision Flight Team student organization takes part in both ground and flight competitions regionally and nationally. The team participates in highly competitive events and holds numerous gatherings on campus to promote aviation safety.

Women in Aviation, an organization made up of both women and men, is dedicated to the advancement of women in aeronautics. WIA takes part in networking activities and lectures to help promote women in all fields and help them obtain aviation management internships and career opportunities.

Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI) Accredited

Florida Tech's Aviation Management and Aviation Management - Flight programs are accredited by the Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI) until 2027.

Visit the College of Aeronautics Accreditation and Memberships page to learn more about the following Student Achievement Data:

• Program learning objectives/outcomes
• Program assessment measures employed
• Graduation rate
• Rates and types of employment of graduates

Peerless Study and Internship Opportunities

Internship opportunities abound, with Florida Tech aviation management degree students completing internships with virtually every major US airline and hundreds of airports and consulting companies. These aviation management internships provide students with valuable experience with airlines such as:

• American Airlines
• JetBlue Airlines
• Southwest Airlines

Aviation management internships at airlines like these are an excellent way to not only gain real-world experience within all aspects of an airline, but to establish contacts with the professionals who may be interested in hiring you after college.

Advanced Simulations and Specialized Programs

Many aviation students take part in various advanced simulations during their time at Florida Tech. Among these advanced simulations is a semester-long exercise in running a simulated airport. Aviation management courses include computer labs for airport design and planning, and the aforementioned BAT-D lab where students can fly desktop simulators.

Aviation management careers are among the most challenging, interesting, and exciting jobs available for those with an undergraduate degree in aviation management. A BS in Aviation Management opens the door to career possibilities both flight and non-flight related. And our College of Aeronautics is ranked as one of the safest flight schools in the US.

Get Recruited Upon Graduation

Employers seek out graduates with an aviation management degree from Florida Tech including top airlines and organizations such as:

• American Airlines
• Delta
• Department of Homeland Security
• FAA
• Flight Safety International
• JetBlue Airways
• National Transportation Safety Board
• United Airlines
• Various international airports

Career Outlook

The Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the US Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), provides information about specific jobs including median annual pay, working conditions and job outlook, among other things. The handbook has information on related aviation management careers including airport terminal controller, air traffic controller, airport manager and coordinator, airfield operation specialist, aviation support manager, and more.

Aviation management careers will likely offer even greater opportunity if the job candidate has a Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Management with a concentration in Air Traffic Control. At Florida Tech, courses in aircraft systems development, air traffic control, airspace management, information support systems, and aviation planning ensure that graduates are qualified to work in a career in the aviation industry with a solid foundation in best practices applicable to the air traffic industry and aviation management.

Other Career Options

Careers can range from airline manager to airfield operation manager. For those seeking aviation management careers without first attaining a graduate degree, jobs include:

• Airline manager
• Airport manager
• Airport security manager
• Air traffic controller
• Systems management
• Business management
• Freight and cargo management
• Airfield operator

Aviation management careers include work with organizations such as:

• Federal Department of Transportation
• Flight Safety International
• National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
• Four Star Aviation
• Garrett Aviation
• Department of Homeland Security
• International airports around the world

Graduate and Doctoral Programs

After receiving an aviation management degree, many students go to graduate school at Florida Tech or at other prestigious universities for advanced degrees in aviation human factors, airport development, and aviation law.