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Aviation

Degree: BS, BA

Campus: Columbus

College: Engineering

To be considered for this major, freshmen applying to the Columbus campus are strongly encouraged to submit their complete admission application by November 1. 

Aviation is a combination of many opportunities. A first thought of aviation might be of flying as a pilot in a commercial aircraft, but aviation is a global organization that also needs well-organized managers and professional pilots to design, manage and operate the national and international aviation systems of the future. Aviation at Ohio State was started in 1917 and has produced many successful pilots and aviation managers. 

Aviation is a high-technology, rapidly changing, competitive business operating in a global arena. Educated, professional managers are needed in over 50 career areas in the aviation industry. Transportation, economics and logistics, flight operations, and flight support are some of the many other positions that make up the exciting and challenging field of aviation.

Prospective students interested in pursuing engineering at Ohio State must indicate their engineering major of interest on their application. Applicants are reviewed holistically by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

Some engineering majors have available capacity and can direct enroll students into the major without an additional application process. Other engineering majors have a pre-major component and require an additional application process.

To learn about admission to specific engineering majors, visit: https://engineering.osu.edu/undergraduate/future-students/admissions

Every student in aviation must take eight aviation core courses:

  • Introduction to the Aviation Industry, Aviation 2000
  • The Private Pilot Fundamentals, Aviation 2100
  • Aviation Communication, Aviation 2200
  • Aircraft Performance and Weather, Aviation 2300
  • Aviation Management and Marketing, Aviation 3000
  • Aviation Regulations, Aviation 3200 
  • Aviation Human Factors and Safety, Aviation 3300
  • Aviation Capstone, Aviation 4500 

If entering Fisher, the student will have additional finance, management, marketing, economics and administration courses.

Beyond the aviation core, students are free to choose aviation and technical electives to complement their specific interests. Aviation electives include the full range of flight education, air transportation analysis and airport management. The aviation curriculum actively involves industry experts and professionals who regularly lecture and present their expertise.  

Students work with Engineering Career Services to find both paid internships and co-op jobs across the United States and around the world. About 75% of engineering students participate in a co-op or internship before they graduate. 

For every pilot in every aircraft there are at least 10 other aviation professionals each contributing their expertise to the successful planning and operation of a flight. These professionals include airport managers, flight instructors, fixed base operators, air traffic controllers, government consultants and members of regulatory bodies. Graduates of the aviation program may find careers at airlines and in fields such as corporate aviation, cargo aviation, flight support and planning, aviation support systems, and air transportation management.

The aviation industry also has many opportunities in research and development. Work is continually being done to analyze aviation and to determine what can be done to make it safer, to manage it more efficiently, and to develop new products and techniques.

The aviation undergraduate curriculum is designed to give a student the foundation upon which careers can be made designing, managing and operating tomorrow’s national and international aviation systems. 

Aviation is a high-technology, competitive industry, operating in a highly regulated structure. In order to provide the aviation student with an ability to deal with complex technical problems, the curriculum contains engineering science and analysis components. The foundation for the curriculum is the engineering freshman program. Students are encouraged to contact the department for additional information.

Each student admitted to the program will be assigned an adviser who can provide personal guidance.

The bachelor’s program is designed for students interested in an aviation program containing a strong engineering science and analysis component.