Online Aviation Master's Degree Programs Guide

The sky is the limit—or in fact, maybe you can go beyond it with an online aviation master’s degree. People from many backgrounds can upgrade their skills and credentials in aviation, aeronautics, and space science with the convenient and fascinating online degrees available. Whether you are a pilot or other aviation professional or looking to transition to a job in this growing industry, getting an online aviation master’s offers you choice, convenience, and—best of all—the skills you need to specialize in various lofty professions.

Online aviation master’s degree programs can help you handle the business aspects of commercial flight, manage military aviation programs, work with unmanned and autonomous systems (UAS), focus on logistics, policy and law, training, risk management, sustainability, and more. Some programs offer leadership training for professional pilots, while others qualify you to work in the space industry. Online master’s programs in aviation don’t prepare you to get your pilot’s license, but some can help you broaden your job prospects if you are already licensed. If you want to command a high salary in aviation, with the duties that accompany it, then getting your online aviation master’s degree can prepare you for a satisfying career.

ARTICLE NAVIGATION:

• Career Paths
• How to Choose an Aviation Master’s Degree Online
• Types of Aviation Master’s Degrees
• Accreditation for Online Aviation Master’s Degree Programs
• Curriculum, Admission, and Costs
• Potential Salaries

While you may dream of flying the wide-open skies, many other roles exist within an expanding aviation industry. It is important to realize that online aviation master’s degree programs are not designed to prepare you for your pilot’s license—which requires many hours of training flight time on specific aircraft. However, pilots who want to increase their leadership responsibilities in the industry may opt for a master’s degree. In addition, many people choose to enter the aviation industry from other careers, applying business or scientific knowledge to the skills they will gain in an aviation master’s program.

Here are some of the various jobs that online aviation master’s graduates may prepare for:

• Airline manager or corporate officer
• Air traffic controller
• Unmanned or autonomous systems engineer
• Aerospace program manager
• Federal safety inspector

With the wide range of online aviation master’s degree options available, aviation graduates can prepare for jobs in business operations, engineering, operations, education, safety, regulatory issues, manufacturing, and air traffic control. However, some positions require additional certification or licensure, with these being some of the more common types:

• Certified Aviation Manager (CAM): The National Business Aviation Association offers this program specifically for those looking to manage flight departments and business aircraft operations.
• Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA): The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) offers this test, which is particularly required to become an air traffic controller.
• Pilot and Flight Instructor Qualifications: The FAA maintains standards for different types of pilot licenses and flight instructor certifications. Check with your master’s program to determine if you will need to acquire licensure or certification before, during, or after your program for your desired professional position.
• UAS / Drone Operations: For students who want to work in the growing drone and UAS industry, the FAA correspondingly offers drone pilots certification and drone use regulations.

Resources:

• NBAA - Certified Aviation Manager
• US Department of Transportation - Air Traffic Skills Assessment
• FAA - Practical Test Standards
• FAA - Drones

As with any life decision, when choosing a program in aviation, you need to do some self-exploration. Accordingly, consider what skills you have and what you enjoy. Identify your goals for a career in space, aeronautics, commercial aviation, military, or government regulation of the skies. If you need more clarity on your goals, in that case, consider a more general online aviation master’s degree and gain a broad range of skills or choose a specialization in consultation with your academic advisor once you enroll.

Online aviation master’s degrees cater to different aspects of the industry, so it is a good idea to explore the possible career paths as you choose your program. For instance, if you are most interested in crewless vehicles and space, then explore careers related to drone operations and satellite technology.

On the other hand, if you are a pilot and would like to train others to fly, consider a program in aviation education. There are essential careers in safety, cybersecurity, and in joining the U.S. Space Force. The aviation transportation and cargo logistics business is also wide open, and policy and enforcement also offer careers. See below for more ideas about career trajectories to help you consider the best online aviation master’s degree for your interests and aspirations.

The most common types of degrees are the Master of Science in Aeronautics or the Master of Aviation Science. Within those overall programs, you will often have the option to specialize in areas including:

• Aviation Safety Systems
• Aviation Management
• Space Studies
• Aviation Cybersecurity
• Unmanned Aircraft System Operation
• Air Traffic Management
• Aviation Education

You can complete your online aviation master’s degree online without coming to campus to attend classes. Because educational technology is so advanced and these degrees concentrate on aviation knowledge and professional issues, you can complete your aviation management master’s degree online through synchronous (live) video sessions or asynchronous study. The degrees are designed for working adults, and most will take two to three years or longer to complete. However, some online aviation master’s degrees have the option to study full-time and complete your master’s in just one year.

Degree-granting schools in the U.S. need institutional accreditation, which, above all, examines the quality and operations of the college as a whole. The U.S. Department of Education oversees the institutional accreditation agencies. In light of this, all the online aviation master’s degree programs in our database have institutional accreditation and high academic quality.

Some master’s programs and aviation departments may also have programmatic accreditation. Programmatic accreditation specifically examines the courses, training, and knowledge required for a particular industry. In aviation, for example, the Aviation Accreditation Board International is the programmatic accreditor for specific programs. Because some aviation master’s programs are MBAs, these programs may be accredited by one of the business accreditors like the AACSB or the ACBSP. If the program has an engineering component, it may be accredited by the ABET.

Resources:

• US Department of Education - Accreditation
• AABInternational - Accreditation
• AACSB
• Accreditation Council of Business Schools and Programs
• ABET

There is indeed a wide range of curricula for online aviation master’s degree programs. The following is a small sampling of courses you might take:

• Aircraft Design
• Remote Sensing Satellites
• Airport Operations
• Aviation Law
• Advanced Aviation Teaching & Learning Strategies
• Safety Management Systems & UAS Cybersecurity
• Air Cargo & Logistics Management
• Best Practices for Aviation & Aerospace Sustainability
• International Management and Aviation Policy

Admission requirements for online aviation master’s degrees may include the following:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
• GPA of 2.75 or higher, with provisional admission for those with lower GPAs
• Official college transcripts

Some schools may request recommendation letters or a statement of purpose, but this is less common in aviation programs. Schools that require previous experience as a pilot or in the aviation industry may require proof of licensure or documentation of work experience. In addition, those who are not native speakers of English will need to submit evidence of English language proficiency.

The average total tuition and fees for the online aviation master’s degree are $21,547. The most expensive cost for in-state students is $30,495, while the most affordable is $12,073.

While there are multiple paths to explore as you consider online aviation master’s degrees, many command a strong salary. The following are all aviation occupations with average yearly salaries of more than $100,000:

Salary should not be your only concern as you consider the area of aerospace that you pursue, especially since you may be eligible for higher-than-average compensation once you have your online aviation master’s degree. Consider areas of growth, such as unmanned vehicle systems management, safety, and business careers. If you love being part of a flight program, many areas need qualified experts to help in operations, training, management, and more.

Many careers in the aviation profession show healthy job growth, but consider staying on top of the latest developments in this fast-changing science to give yourself the best shot at continuing to be a valued employee. Getting your master’s in aviation is one way to learn up-to-date industry technology and practices.

Working in the global aviation industry could require lots of travel in your career, depending on your position. You also may need to relocate, primarily if you pursue a military aviation career. Many jobs are near major airports or military installations, so you will likely need to be near a city for most aviation positions.

Resources:

• BLS - Occupational Outlook Handbook
• Payscale
• Indeed
• Glassdoor

Getting your online aviation master’s degree is a terrific way to supercharge your career in the aerospace industry. For that reason, discover a career path and specialty that will take you as high as you want in aviation by completing a convenient online master’s in aviation.