Aviation Management (BS)

Why Earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Aviation Management at Indiana State?

The Aviation Management program at Indiana State helps you build the knowledge base and administrative and organizational skill sets needed to manage airports, air fleets, and air traffic operations in a variety of private and commercial settings.

Learn the Ins and Outs of Airport Management

Indiana State’s Department of Aviation Technology offers a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management for students interested in an administrative career in the competitive aviation industry. The program’s coursework provides technical and managerial skills for ground-based aviation professions.

Flight training is not required for the Aviation Management BS. However, to have a better understanding of the aviation industry, students are encouraged to obtain a Federal Aviation Administration Private Pilot Certificate and to pass the Federal Aviation Administration Remote Pilot Certificate examination.

Learn from Our Excellent Faculty

Indiana State's instructors are highly talented leaders in the aviation industry. With small class sizes and considerable aviation experience themselves, our faculty train students in all areas of aviation management based on their own industry experience. Your professors will also encourage you to interact with other students and industry professionals through activities in Alpha Eta Rho, the American Association of Airport Executives, Women in Aviation International, and other aviation-oriented activities

Explore Aviation in Our Campus Labs

Indiana State provides state-of-the-art facilities for all majors in the Department of Aviation Technology. This includes flight simulators, a specialized aviation laboratory, an Unmanned Systems Mobile Laboratory, and flight classes at the Flight Academy at the Terre Haute Regional Airport.

While flight experience is not required for the aviation management major, students are encouraged to take flight classes to have a better understanding of the aviation industry. The Academy maintains a fleet of advanced Diamond aircraft, including DA-20’s, DA-40’s, and a DA-42. Students are required to obtain an FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate with an Instrument Rating and a Multi-Engine Land Rating. Students may be awarded an R-ATP certificate when they accumulate 1,000 hours of flight time.

What You'll Learn in the Aviation Management Program

The BS in aviation management includes studies in air traffic operations, airport operations, crew resource management, air carrier operations, aviation law, aviation safety management, aviation security and emergency planning, and other responsibilities of aviation ground managers.

All aviation management majors must pass each class in their major with a C grade or higher. You are required to choose a minor from accounting, business administration, business analytics, communications, entrepreneurships, financial services, management information systems, public administration, and unmanned systems, among others.

Transfer Credit

Indiana State University accepts credit from regionally accredited colleges and universities within the United States, and from selected schools located outside the United States. Credit also may be granted for military training and experience. Previously earned college credit can be applied toward completion of the program per Indiana State's transfer guidelines.

Transfer Guidelines

Career Possibilities for Aviation Management Majors

Many of our graduates work with the Federal Aviation Administration, in branches of the U.S. military, as aircraft dispatchers, or in commercial careers in airport management, airport consulting, airline management, airport operations, air traffic control, and related occupations.

A smiling Black male student with black hair stands outside on campus with green, shady trees and sunshine in the background. He wears a grey shirt with STATE on it in light blue.

Learning How Airports Work

At Indiana State, aviation management and unmanned systems alumnus Chris Barlow, ’20, completed an internship with the Indianapolis Airport Authority [IAA]. From human resources to marketing to finance, Barlow saw a side of airport management that passengers never get to witness. This internship led to his full-time position as an operations assistant, and now as a public safety officer, at IAA.

Read Chris Barlow’s story.