Aviation Major: What It Includes, Classes and Careers

An Aviation major covers flying, airport and airline operations, and aviation management. Aviation programs include professional pilot training, aviation management, air traffic and airport operations.

An Aviation major includes coursework in aerodynamics and aircraft systems, aviation weather, federal aviation regulations, flight training, and airport and airline management and more. You build skills such as aircraft operation, navigation, decision-making, and communication. Programs often include flight training. Typical degrees: certificate, associate and bachelor's degrees.

Typical courses include aerodynamics and aircraft systems, aviation weather, federal aviation regulations, flight training, airport and airline management, and aviation safety. Exact course names and requirements vary by college, and most degrees also include general education courses.

It depends on the level. Aviation is offered as certificate, associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral awards at U.S. colleges; certificates take from a few months to about two years, an associate degree usually takes about two years of full-time study, a bachelor’s degree usually takes about four years of full-time study, a master’s degree usually takes one to two years after a bachelor’s, and a doctoral or professional degree takes several more years beyond that. Part-time study takes longer.

Certificate, associate and bachelor's degrees. In the latest federal data, 83 colleges reported certificate awards, 97 colleges reported associate awards, 98 colleges reported bachelor’s awards, 21 colleges reported master’s awards, and 6 colleges reported doctoral awards.

Career paths connected to aviation include commercial pilot, airline pilot, air traffic controller, airfield operations specialist, flight attendant, and aircraft mechanic. Some roles need additional training, experience, certification or a license.

Examples include commercial pilot (typical training: 1–2 years of flight training), airline pilot (typical training: Years of flight training and hours), air traffic controller (typical training: FAA Academy plus 2–4 years on the job), airfield operations specialist (typical training: A year or more of training), flight attendant (typical training: 3–8 weeks of airline training), and aircraft mechanic (typical training: 18–30 months).

Aviation majors build skills such as aircraft operation, navigation, decision-making, communication, and safety management.

Good pairings include Business (prepares you for airline and airport management) and Occupational Safety (adds safety management expertise).

Often, yes. Programs commonly include flight training. Ask each college how its program arranges hands-on work.

It can be a good fit if you are interested in the work it leads to, such as commercial pilot, airline pilot, and air traffic controller, and enjoy subjects like aerodynamics and aircraft systems and aviation weather. No major guarantees a job, so compare the coursework, the careers and the education each career requires before deciding.

How hard it feels depends on your strengths. Core coursework includes aerodynamics and aircraft systems, aviation weather, and federal aviation regulations; if those subjects interest you, the major is likely to feel more manageable. Reviewing a college’s course list and talking to current students helps you judge.

200 U.S. colleges reported awarding degrees or certificates in this field in the latest federal (IPEDS) data. Programs can have different names at different schools.

Florida (15), California (14), Texas (11), Illinois (9), and North Carolina (7), based on the colleges that reported awards in this field.

187 of the colleges that offer aviation also report offering at least one program entirely online, though not necessarily this one. Use the college search with this major and “Offers fully online programs”, then confirm with the school.

Aviation covers flying, airport and airline operations, and aviation management. Supply Chain Management studies how products are sourced, made, stored and delivered to customers. Aviation leads to careers such as commercial pilot and airline pilot, while Supply Chain Management leads to careers such as logistics manager and logistics coordinator.

Aviation covers flying, airport and airline operations, and aviation management. Logistics and Distribution focuses on moving and storing goods efficiently through warehouses and transportation networks. Aviation leads to careers such as commercial pilot and airline pilot, while Logistics and Distribution leads to careers such as logistics coordinator and logistics manager.

Yes. Short online career training can help you understand a specific job and build practical knowledge alongside your classes. It does not replace your degree or any required license.

No. Career Education Institute is not a college and does not award degrees. It offers short, non-credit online trainings about jobs connected to aviation, such as Commercial Pilot Training.