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Aeronautical Studies - B.S.

The Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Studies program prepares students for a successful career in the aviation industry. With a focus on practical training and hands-on experience, you'll gain the skills needed to succeed as a pilot, air traffic controller, aircraft mechanic or any other aviation-related role. Our state-of-the-art facilities and experienced faculty provide the perfect learning environment, while internships and co-op programs offer real-world experience.

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Program Information

Program Description

Full Description

The Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Studies major 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 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.

Students may apply early to the M.S. degree in Aviation Management and Logistics and double count 9 credit hours of graduate courses toward both degree programs. See the Combined Bachelor's/Master's Degree Program policy in the University Catalog for more information.

Admissions

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 English language proficiency unless they meet specific exceptions. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Transfer Students: Students who have attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school must apply as undergraduate transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer 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.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog.

Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the Coursework tab.

Transfer students must have a minimum 2.250 overall GPA in all college-level coursework for admission to the Aeronautical Studies major.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Apply knowledge of math, science and the applied sciences to aviation-related disciplines.
  2. Analyze and interpret data.
  3. Understand and master the fundamental concepts and skills of airplane flight.
  4. Communicate effectively through written and oral means.
  5. Recognize the need and develop the cognitive abilities to engage in life-long learning by successfully contending with changing technologies, regulatory policies and procedures, market forces and the highly dynamic operational environment of commercial flight and professional aviation.
  6. Understand contemporary issues that affect aviation.
  7. Use the techniques, skills and modern technology necessary for professional practice.
  8. Understand the national and international aviation environment.
  9. Apply pertinent knowledge in identifying and solving problems.
  10. Know and understand the technical details involved in the effective management of employees and operational systems in professional aviation.
Coursework
On This Page

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
AERN 15000INTRODUCTION TO AERONAUTICS 3
AERN 15745NON-PILOT ELEMENTS OF FLIGHT THEORY 3
AERN 25100INTRODUCTION TO AVIATION MANAGEMENT 3
AERN 25250ELEMENTS OF AVIATION WEATHER 3
AERN 25350FUNDAMENTALS OF AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL 2
AERN 25351FUNDAMENTALS OF AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL LABORATORY 1
AERN 30000PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN AERONAUTICS 1
AERN 35020AIRCRAFT PROPULSION SYSTEMS 3
AERN 35040AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS I 3
AERN 35150AIRCRAFT STRUCTURES 3
AERN 35341AIR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS 3
AERN 45030AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS II 3
AERN 45099AERONAUTICAL STUDIES CAPSTONE (ELR) 3
or CAE 45092 AERONAUTICS AND ENGINEERING INTERNSHIP/COOPERATIVE EDUCATION (ELR) (WIC)
AERN 45130PHYSIOLOGY AND HUMAN FACTORS OF FLIGHT 3
AERN 45135AVIATION SAFETY THEORY 3
AERN 45150APPLIED FLIGHT DYNAMICS I 3
AERN 45250AVIATION LAW 3
AERN 45791AVIATION SECURITY AND POLICY SEMINAR (WIC) 13
ENGR 20002MATERIALS AND PROCESSES 3
Aeronautics (AERN) Electives18
Aeronautics (AERN) or Engineering (ENGR) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level)3
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
COMM 15000INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION (KADL) 3
MATH 11010ALGEBRA FOR CALCULUS (KMCR) 3
MATH 11022TRIGONOMETRY (KMCR) 3
PHY 13001GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS I (KBS) 4
PHY 13012COLLEGE PHYSICS II (KBS) 2
PHY 13021GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS LABORATORY I (KBS) (KLAB) 1
UC 10001FLASHES 101 1
Kent Core Composition6
Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (minimum one course from each)9
Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines)6
General Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credits hour, including 39 upper-division credit hours)9
Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
1

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

Graduation Requirements

Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.000 2.000
Roadmap

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
AERN 15000 INTRODUCTION TO AERONAUTICS 3
AERN 15745 NON-PILOT ELEMENTS OF FLIGHT THEORY 3
!MATH 11010 ALGEBRA FOR CALCULUS (KMCR) 3
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
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
ENGR 20002 MATERIALS AND PROCESSES 3
!MATH 11022 TRIGONOMETRY (KMCR) 3
 Credit Hours15
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 Hours14
Semester Four
AERN 25100 INTRODUCTION TO AVIATION MANAGEMENT 3
AERN 35150 AIRCRAFT STRUCTURES 3
!PHY 13012 COLLEGE PHYSICS II (KBS) 2
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours14
Semester Five
AERN 35020 AIRCRAFT PROPULSION SYSTEMS 3
AERN 35040 AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS I 3
Aeronautics (AERN) Electives 6
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
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 OF FLIGHT 3
Aeronautics (AERN) Elective 3
Aeronautics (AERN) or Engineering (ENGR) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Seven
AERN 45099
or CAE 45092
 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) Electives 6
 Credit Hours15
Semester Eight
AERN 45135 AVIATION SAFETY THEORY 3
AERN 45791 AVIATION SECURITY AND POLICY SEMINAR (WIC) 3
General Electives 9
 Credit Hours15
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
Program Delivery
  • Delivery:
    • Mostly online
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus
Accreditation

The B.S. degree in Aeronautical Studies is accredited by the Aviation Accreditation Board International, Federal Aviation Administration.

Student Achievement Data

Program Educational Goals

With the guidance of both the Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Kent State University and the College of Aeronautics and Engineering assesses our program’s educational goals every two years. Our Program Educational Goals are as follows:

  • Graduates will exhibit the qualities of excellence, integrity, leadership, management, and professionalism within their area of professional specialization in aviation.
  • Graduates will demonstrate a professional commitment to safety and contribute to the safety culture within their area of professional specialization in aviation.
  • Graduates will demonstrate the ability to improve aerospace for generations to come through experiential learning, creativity, and innovation within their area of professional specialization in aviation.
  • Graduates will 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.

Several methods to gather both direct and indirect assessment data over the course of each academic year are utilized. Data is gathered to improve student's learning and strengthen our relationships with industry. Some methods used include:

  • Surveys (Graduating Senior, Alumni, and Employer Surveys)
  • Capstone Projects
  • Aeronautics Advisory Committee Feedback
  • Degree Program Review
  • Faculty Assessment and Discussion of Student Learning Outcomes

The assessment of our goals starts with the University’s vision to Promote academic excellence and enhance student learning through a culture of evidence-based decision-making. The valuable data we collect from our assessment activities is analyzed and discussed amongst our Faculty to ensure we are making value added improvements to our programs.

Program Enrollment and Graduation Data

Aeronautical Studies; Enrolled
201820192020202120222023
815755505980
Aeronautical Studies; Graduated
201820192020202120222023
333520211811
Student Retention Rates
TermFreshman CohortRetentionSO-JRJR-SRAfter 4 YrsAfter 5 YrsAfter 6 Yrs
20181182%73%55%55%64% 
2019540%40%40%40%20% 
2020966%56%56%   
20211100%100%    
20221164%     
202330      

Accreditation

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