Online master's degree programs in aviation

• Aviation
• Aerospace Engineering
• more

Few businesses are as complex as aviation. Aircrafts themselves are technological marvels. Careers in aviation require multi-talented individuals. While coordinating the flow of traffic through airports requires precise logistical orchestration, handling the needs and concerns of millions of travelers demands great customer service skills.

Against the backdrop of this complexity, the aviation industry is expected to continue to grow, and companies must perpetually meet the ongoing challenge of keeping air travel safe and secure. Properly trained aviation specialists can take advantage of the career opportunities that accompany these challenges. Online graduate degree programs in aerospace engineering, aviation or aviation technology could help you prepare for this type of career.

Online master's degree programs in aviation and aerospace engineering: What to expect

Just as careers in aviation can vary greatly, so can the degrees related to aviation and aerospace engineering. The following are some examples of advanced degree programs:

• Online master's degree programs in aviation can give you a broad understanding of the aviation business. In these programs, you will learn essential skills related to the maintenance of aircrafts and facilities, air traffic logistics and airport operations.


• Graduate degree programs in aerospace engineering imparts knowledge on the science of designing aircrafts. These programs intend to augment students' engineering and science backgrounds with adequate training in aerodynamics, propulsion, aerospace structure and computational fluid dynamics, among others.


• Aviation technology master's degrees offer a deeper understanding of general aviation technology. Classes include aviation safety and aviation meteorology, a course dedicated to the study of the potential impact of weather and atmosphere on aircraft operations.

Careers for graduates with online master's degrees in aviation and aerospace engineering

According to Federal Aviation Administration estimates, some 229,149 aircrafts flew a total of 23,330,000 hours in 2009. Air travel is expected to grow steadily in the years ahead and cross the one billion passenger threshold in 2023. In short, this is a big, growing industry, enhancing the prospects for careers associated within aviation.

While it is easy to think of aviation careers in terms of the high-profile job of pilots, there are plenty of behind-the-scenes jobs which offer advancement opportunities: maintenance and inspection, aircraft design, air traffic control, airport operations and airline management. Below are some examples of careers in aviation, along with the mean annual salaries according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data as of May 2009.

• Airfield operations specialists earned a mean annual salary of $43,250
• Aircraft mechanics and service technicians earned a mean annual salary of $52,970
• Aerospace engineers earned a mean annual salary of $96,270
• Aerospace engineering and operations technicians earned a mean annual salary of $59,820

If you are looking for an appropriate type of aviation work, or if you want to explore more about aviation degrees in general, WorldWideLearn.com's Guide to College Majors in Aviation Science is a great place to start your search. On the site, you will also find the Guide to Master's Degrees to boost your education even further. Comprehensive guides to online master's degree programs in aviation and graduate degree programs in aerospace engineering can help you specialize in a particular field of aviation.

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