Professional Aviation
The aviation industry is growing and evolving, and so is the demand for trained aviation professionals. As a student in TCU’s four-year professional aviation degree program, you’ll study in the middle of one of the most powerful aviation hubs in the world, providing you with access to hands-on, real-world training. You’ll build the knowledge to work in the exciting world of modern aviation and pursue a career with airlines, airports, government agencies or aviation service providers. The program offers two concentrations: Aviation Administration (launches fall 2026), which prepares students for leadership roles in airlines, airports and aviation organizations, and Professional Pilot (launches fall 2027), which follows a structured pathway aligned with FAA certification. The Aviation Studies minor also launches in fall 2026. All three programs are pending SACSCOC approval.
Through courses in areas like ethics, regulation and safety, you’ll build a foundation for a range of careers across the industry with the B.S. in professional aviation core curriculum. You’ll choose a concentration in aviation administration or professional piloting for further specialization.
| Professional Aviation Core Curriculum (33 Hours) | |
| AVIA 25113 | Unmanned Aerial Systems |
| AVIA 31333 | Human Factors in Aviation |
| AVIA 34333 | Historical Significance of Aviation |
| AVIA 35333 | Ethics in Aviation |
| AVIA 36333 | Aviation Legislation and Regulation |
| AVIA 37333 | Air Carrier Industry: An Introduction |
| AVIA 44333 | Aviation Safety |
| AVIA 45333 | Aviation Labor Relations |
| AVIA 46333 | Aviation Security and Risk Assessment |
| AVIA 47333 | International Aerospace Issues |
| AVIA 48333 | Aviation Leadership |
In addition to the professional aviation core curriculum, you’ll complete the coursework required to satisfy the aviation administration concentration (pending SACSCOC approval, anticipated for fall 2026), which prepares you for management and leadership roles, or the professional pilot concentration (pending SACSCOC approval, anticipated for fall 2027), which follows a structured pathway aligned with FAA certification.
| Aviation Administration Coursework (42 Hours) |
||
| Course Number | Course Name | Hours |
| AVIA 31443 | Aviation Marketing & Strategic Planning | 3 |
| AVIA 32443 | Aviation Finance | 3 |
| AVIA 34443 | Aviation Supply Chain Management | 3 |
| AVIA 37433 | Air Cargo Operations | 3 |
| AVIA 38333 | Principles of Aviation Administration | 3 |
| AVIA 38433 | Aviation Project Administration | 3 |
| AVIA 39333 | Airport Operations and Administration | 3 |
| AVIA 41313 | Aviation Strategic Management | 3 |
| AVIA 41443 | Business Aviation & General Aviation Administration | 3 |
| AVIA 42333 | Aviation Law | 3 |
| AVIA 42443 | Capstone in Aviation Administration | 3 |
| AVIA 43443 | Air Transportation Economics | 3 |
| AVIA 44443 | Aviation Human Resource Management | 3 |
| AVIA 49333 | Basic Aircraft Incident & Accident Investigation | 3 |
| Professional Pilot Coursework (42 Hours) |
||
| Course Number | Course Name | Hours |
| Private Pilot Certificate | ||
| AVIA 10003 | Theory of Primary Flight I | 3 |
| AVIA 11112 | Primary Flight Training I | 2 |
| AVIA 12223 | Theory of Primary Flight II | 3 |
| AVIA 13332 | Primary Flight Training II | 2 |
| Instrument Rating | ||
| AVIA 20003 | Theory of Instrumental Flight | 3 |
| AVIA 21113 | Instrument Flight Training I | 3 |
| AVIA 23112 | Instrument Flight Training II | 2 |
| Commercial Pilot Certificate | ||
| AVIA 22113 | Theory of Commercial Flight | 3 |
| AVIA 23112 | Commercial Flight Training | 2 |
| Multi-Engine Rating | ||
| AVIA 30001 | Theory of Multi-Engine Flight | 1 |
| AVIA32221 | Multi-Engine Flight Training | 1 |
| Certified Flight Instructor Certificate | ||
| AVIA 40003 | Fundamentals of Flight Instruction | 3 |
| AVIA 41112 | Certified Flight Instructor Training | 2 |
| Non-Flight Courses | ||
| AVIA 32333 | Aircraft Systems | 3 |
| AVIA 41333 | Aviation Weather | 3 |
| AVIA 43333 | Crew Resource Management | 3 |
| AVIA 44433 | Advanced Aircraft Operations | 3 |
The Aviation Studies minor (pending SACSCOC approval, anticipated for fall 2026) provides students with a broad introduction to the field of aviation, including exposure to aviation operations, management, safety, and workforce opportunities. The minor is designed to complement a variety of majors by equipping students with foundational knowledge of the aviation industry and its global impact.
Students pursuing a minor in Aviation Studies complete:
-
- AVIA 37222 (Air Carrier Industry: An Introduction),
- AVIA 34333 (Historical Significance of Aviation),
and choose - Any 12 additional credit hours of AVIA courses