Department website: http://admissions.wvutech.edu/academics/majors/aviation-management
Degree Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management
Nature of the Program
The Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management (BSAM) program will prepare graduates for employment in the aviation industry with emphasis on positions at regional airlines, including line pilots, instructor pilots, check airmen, and managerial roles. The degree allows students to obtain rigorous flight training in conjunction with the personal and intellectual growth afforded by a college program. These outcomes are achieved through successful completion of a solid foundation in business and management classes, in-depth aviation coursework, and the university's comprehensive general education foundation (GEF).
Students complete the academic component of the program through WVU Tech; the program can be completed online. The flight training component for the BSAM program is conducted by off-campus training providers, including JAX Aero Flight School at the Jacksonville Executive Airport (KCRG) in Jacksonville, Florida. You can contact JAX Aero for information about their flight training packages for WVU Tech students.
Airline hiring standards and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations require professional pilots to have significant flight experience prior to employment. The BSAM program allows students to receive flight training early in the program and subsequently build additional flight experience as instructor pilots while completing the remainder of the flight degree online. Although not required, it is possible for BSAM students to complete 1500 flight hours by graduation. Please see curriculum for specific requirements for degree completion.
The program also awards credit for additional Federal Aviation Administration pilot certificates and ratings.
Program Contact Information
Dawn Surbaugh, Program Coordinator
West Virginia University Institute of Technology
Interdisciplinary Science Building, Room 112
Beckley, WV 25801
(304) 929-1685
Administration
Program Coordinator
- Dawn Surbaugh
Admissions
In addition to the normal WVU Tech admissions requirements students in the aviation management degree program (BSAM) must have a Federal Aviation Administration First or Second class medical certificate to qualify for flight training. For more information on FAA medical requirements please go to: https://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/medical_certification/.
Common disqualifying conditions as defined by the Federal Aviation Administration are:
- Angina pectoris
- Bipolar disease
- Cardiac valve replacement
- Coronary heart disease that has been treated or, if untreated, that has been symptomatic or clinically significant
- Diabetes mellitus requiring hypoglycemic medications
- Disturbance of consciousness without satisfactory explanation of cause
- Epilepsy
- Heart replacement
- Myocardial infarction
- Permanent cardiac pacemaker
- Personality disorder that is severe enough to have repeatedly manifested itself by overt acts
- Psychosis
- Substance abuse
- Substance dependence
- Transient loss of control of nervous system function(s) without satisfactory explanation of cause.
*Please contact the BS Aviation Management department for specific details about the following courses: AVIA 101, AVIA 201, AVIA 231, AVIA 241, and AVIA 281.
General Education Foundations
Please use this link to view a list of courses that meet each GEF requirement.
NOTE: Some major requirements will fulfill specific GEF requirements. Please see the curriculum requirements listed below for details on which GEFs you will need to select.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Foundations | ||
| F1 - Composition & Rhetoric | 3-6 | |
| Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research | ||
or ENGL 103 | Accelerated Academic Writing | |
| F2A/F2B - Science & Technology | 4-6 | |
| F3 - Math & Quantitative Reasoning | 3-4 | |
| F4 - Society & Connections | 3 | |
| F5 - Human Inquiry & the Past | 3 | |
| F6 - The Arts & Creativity | 3 | |
| F7 - Global Studies & Diversity | 3 | |
| F8 - Focus (may be satisfied by completion of a minor, double major, or dual degree) | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 31-37 | |
Please note that not all of the GEF courses are offered at all campuses. Students should consult with their advisor or academic department regarding the GEF course offerings available at their campus.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| University Requirements | 39 | |
| Program Requirements | 15 | |
| Aviation Management Major Requirements | 66 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
University Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Foundations (GEF) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 (31-37 Credits) | ||
| Outstanding GEF Requirements 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 | 36 | |
| General Electives | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 39 | |
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BCOR 350 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
| BCOR 370 | Principles of Management | 3 |
| MANG 330 | Human Resource Management Fundamentals | 3 |
| MANG 350 | Leadership In Business | 3 |
| MANG 422 | Organizational Behavior | 3 |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
Aviation Management Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| A overall GPA of 2.0 is required in the following major courses. | ||
| AVIA 101 | Private Pilot | 3 |
| AVIA 181 | Professional Field Experience | 3 |
| AVIA 201 | Instrument Rating | 4 |
| AVIA 231 | Commercial Pilot | 4 |
| AVIA 241 | Multi-Engine Rating | 2 |
| AVIA 281 | Professional Field Experience 2 | 8 |
| AVIA 380 | Aviation Weather | 3 |
| AVIA 382 | Aerodynamic and Aircraft Performance | 3 |
| AVIA 383 | Aircraft Systems | 3 |
| AVIA 385 | Air Traffic Control and Airspace | 3 |
| AVIA 480 | Human Factors in Flight | 3 |
| AVIA 484 | Aviation Safety | 3 |
| AVIA 486 | Aviation Management and Leadership | 3 |
| or AVIA 351 | Crew Resource Management | |
| AVIA 489 | Aviation Law | 3 |
| Restricted AVIA Electives | 12 | |
| Principles of Aviation Instruction | ||
| Initial Flight Instructor | ||
| Instrument Flight Instructor | ||
| Advanced Flight Instructor | ||
| ATP/Turbine Aircraft Operations | ||
| Professional Field Experience 3 | ||
| Air Transportation | ||
| Aviation Economics | ||
| Aviation Security | ||
| Aviation Stories: Aviation and the Humanities | ||
| Restricted Electives (ACCT, AVIA, BCOR, ECON, MANG, MKTG at 300-400 level), AVIA 150, BUSA 101 * | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 66 | |
- *
Students pursing a minor in Business Administration, Human Resource Management, or Marketing are not required to complete the Restricted Electives.
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| AVIA 101 | 3 | AVIA 201 | 4 |
| AVIA 181 | 3 | AVIA 231 | 4 |
| AVIA 241 | 2 | AVIA 281 | 3 |
| AVIA 281 | 1 | AVIA 385 | 3 |
| AVIA 383 | 3 | ENGL 102 (GEF 1) | 3 |
| ENGL 101 (GEF 1) | 3 | ||
| 15 | 17 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| AVIA 281 | 4 | AVIA 380 | 3 |
| AVIA 382 | 3 | AVIA 484 | 3 |
| Restricted AVIA Elective | 6 | Restricted AVIA Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | ||
| GEF 2 | 3 | ||
| 13 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| AVIA 480 | 3 | BCOR 350 | 3 |
| BCOR 370 | 3 | Restricted Elective | 3 |
| GEF 2 | 3 | GEF 5 | 3 |
| GEF 3 | 3 | GEF 6 | 3 |
| GEF 4 | 3 | GEF 7 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| AVIA 489 | 3 | AVIA 486 | 3 |
| MANG 330 | 3 | MANG 422 | 3 |
| MANG 350 | 3 | Restricted AVIA Elective | 3 |
| GEF 8 | 3 | Restricted Elective | 3 |
| GEF 8 | 3 | GEF 8 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total credit hours: 120 | |||
Major Learning Outcomes
Aviation Management
- Graduates will obtain the FAA certifications as outlined in the program in a timely manner.
- Graduates will have a cumulative pass rate on FAA practical tests (flight tests) of 80% or above. Individual students will repeat no more than two FAA practical tests during the course of the program.
- Graduates will develop a thorough knowledge of aeronautical theories, practices, regulations, and procedures.
- Graduates will develop the ability to think critically and communicate effectively.