About This Program
Ready to launch a career in aviation that lets you chart your own path? The Aeronautical Studies program lets you explore it all—piloting, air traffic control, airport operations, aviation safety and more. Designed for flexibility, this program gives you the freedom to shape your future in the sky or on the ground. Read more...
Contact Information
Program Delivery
Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries*
Compliance officers
- 4.6% about as fast as the average
- 337,600 number of jobs
- $71,100 potential earnings
Additional Careers
- Aerial applicator/aerial crop duster/agriculture pilot
- Aerial hurricane hunter
- Air force pilot
- Air tour pilot
- Airline and commercial pilot
- Airline operations specialist
- Airline transport pilot
- Airport operations assistant
- Aviation safety officer/analyst
- Cargo operations manager
- Charter/private airline pilot
- Federal law enforcement pilot
- Fixed wing air ambulance captain
- Flight dispatcher (with training/certification)
- Flight operations coordinator
Accreditation
The B.S. degree in Aeronautical Studies is accredited by the Aviation Accreditation Board International, Federal Aviation Administration.
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
Admission Requirements
The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.
First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.
First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.
International Students: All international students must provide proof of proficiency of the English language (unless they meet specific exceptions) through the submission of an English language proficiency test score or by completing English language classes at Kent State’s English as a Second Language Center before entering their program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.
Former Students: Former Kent State students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Kent State may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.
Transfer students: Transfer students must have a minimum 2.250 overall GPA in all college-level coursework for admission to the Aeronautical Studies major.
Transfer students visit the admissions website for transfer students for more information.
Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's Academic Policies.
Students may be required to meet certain criteria to progress in their program. Any progression requirements will be listed on the program's Coursework tab
Roadmap
This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.
Plan of Study Grid | Semester One |
| AERN 15000 | INTRODUCTION TO AERONAUTICS | 3 |
| CAE 12260 | SOLVING PROBLEMS IN AERONAUTICS AND ENGINEERING | 1 |
! | MATH 11010 | ALGEBRA FOR CALCULUS (KMCR) | 3 |
| UC 10001 | FLASHES 101 | 1 |
| Elements of Flight Theory Elective | 3-5 |
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 |
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 17 |
| Semester Two |
| AERN 25250 | ELEMENTS OF AVIATION WEATHER | 3 |
| AERN 25350 | FUNDAMENTALS OF AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL | 2 |
| AERN 25351 | FUNDAMENTALS OF AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL LABORATORY | 1 |
| COMM 15000 | INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION (KADL) | 3 |
! | MATH 11022 | TRIGONOMETRY (KMCR) | 3 |
| Aeronautics (AERN) Elective | 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Semester Three |
! | PHY 13001 | GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS I (KBS) | 4 |
! | PHY 13021 | GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS LABORATORY I (KBS) (KLAB) | 1 |
| Aeronautics (AERN) Elective | 3 |
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 |
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 14 |
| Semester Four |
| AERN 25100 | INTRODUCTION TO AVIATION MANAGEMENT | 3 |
! | PHY 13012 | COLLEGE PHYSICS II (KBS) | 2 |
| Aeronautics (AERN) Elective | 3 |
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 |
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 14 |
| Semester Five |
| AERN 35020 | AIRCRAFT PROPULSION SYSTEMS | 3 |
| AERN 35040 | AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS I | 3 |
| Aeronautics (AERN) Elective | 3 |
| Aeronautics (AERN) or Engineering (ENGR) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) | 3 |
| Kent Core Requirement | 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Semester Six |
| AERN 30000 | PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN AERONAUTICS | 1 |
| AERN 35341 | AIR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS | 3 |
| AERN 45030 | AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS II | 3 |
| AERN 45130 | PHYSIOLOGY AND HUMAN FACTORS IN AVIATION | 3 |
| Aeronautics (AERN) Elective | 3 |
| Aeronautics (AERN) or Engineering (ENGR) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) | 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 16 |
| Semester Seven |
| AERN 45099
| AERONAUTICAL STUDIES CAPSTONE (ELR)
or AERONAUTICS AND ENGINEERING INTERNSHIP/COOPERATIVE EDUCATION (ELR) (WIC) | 3 |
| AERN 45150 | APPLIED FLIGHT DYNAMICS I | 3 |
| AERN 45250 | AVIATION LAW | 3 |
| Aeronautics (AERN) Elective | 3 |
| Aeronautics (AERN) or Engineering (ENGR) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) | 3 |
| | Credit Hours | 15 |
| Semester Eight |
| AERN 45135 | AVIATION SAFETY THEORY | 3 |
| AERN 45791 | AVIATION SECURITY AND POLICY SEMINAR (WIC) | 3 |
| General Electives | 8 |
| | Credit Hours | 14 |
| | Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 120 |
University Requirements
All students in a bachelor's degree program at Kent State University must complete the following university requirements for graduation.
NOTE: University requirements may be fulfilled in this program by specific course requirements. Please see Program Requirements for details.
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:
- Explain the physics of flight, aerodynamics and the effects of the atmosphere.
- Describe the operation of aircraft systems and how they integrate.
- Demonstrate the process of air traffic control and describe the components of the National Airspace System.
- Investigate physiological and human factors as they relate to aviation safety.
- Accomplish successful academic work in aviation and associated academic disciplines in preparation for professional work in the aviation industry.
The educational goals of the program are the following:
- Exhibit the qualities of excellence, integrity, leadership, management and professionalism within their area of professional specialization in aviation.
- Demonstrate a professional commitment to safety and contribute to the safety culture within their area of professional specialization in aviation.
- Demonstrate the ability to improve aerospace for generations to come through experiential learning, creativity and innovation within their area of professional specialization in aviation.
- Manifest the college’s core values in the areas of collaboration, compassion, inclusiveness, innovation, integrity, respect and perseverance within their area of professional specialization in aviation.
Full Description
The Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Studies prepares students for entry-level technological positions in aviation and related areas. Although focused on a broad foundation of aeronautically-related subjects, the program provides a significant number of electives that allow students to explore other areas of interest or earn a minor in a particular area of study.
The mission of the Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Studies is to prepare students for a broad range of professional careers in aviation by equipping graduates with more than foundational knowledge of aviation, as well as specialized knowledge from associated disciplines.
The major is well suited for the following students:
- Transfer students with military credits;
- Professional flight experience, certificates and/or ratings; and
- Students who love the field of aviation but wish to seek a more entrepreneurial pathway into the field.