- Airline administrators
- Airport administrators
- Commercial and charter pilots
- Flight instructors
- Airline supply managers
- and more
Aviation Management
- Bachelor of Science
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Side Navigation
Earn Your BS in Aviation Management and Pilot’s License in Just 4 Years!
Through Saint Vincent College’s unique aviation management program, students can earn a BS in aviation management – professional pilot plus an associate’s degree and a commercial pilot’s license—all in four years or less. The student academic experience is grounded in Saint Vincent’s Catholic, Benedictine values, which prepares students to integrate their professional goals with the broader purpose of human life. With this blend of flight training, business foundations, and core curriculum, students will leave prepared to embrace the rigor of flight, the complexity of business, and the richness of life.
Commercial Piloting Tracks
Students will choose one of two tracks that both lead to a career in commercial piloting and provide students with the business basics to propel their careers in aviation administration.
- Professional Pilot - Designed for new students without existing flight hours, this specialization will prepare you for commercial roles such as sightseeing tours, flight instruction, and charter flights.
- Advanced Piloting - Designed for students who already have some flight experience, this specialization offers an expedited path to completing your degree while opening new career possibilities.
Undergraduate Programs
The Program
The Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management is designed for students looking to earn their commercial pilot’s license while also building an in-depth background in business. This versatility is enhanced by a few factors that make Saint Vincent stand out from other schools offering aviation-related programs:
On-Campus Education at Saint Vincent College
- Students complete business and core curriculum courses on campus at Saint Vincent College.
- Students earn a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management from SVC.
Online Aviation Theory at Community College of Beaver County
- Students take aviation theory courses online through the Community College of Beaver County.
- Students earn an a Professional Pilot Associate's Degree from one of the top aviation programs in the nation.
Flight Training at Laurel Highlands Aeronautical Academy
- Students complete flight hours with the Laurel Highlands Aeronautical Academy at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport, located conveniently across the street from Saint Vincent College.
- Students earn their Commercial Pilot’s License
Program Highlights
Comprehensive Career Preparation
Gain a strong business background to excel in administrative and leadership roles within the airline industry, whether as a pilot or in managerial positions.
Accelerated Pilot Licensing
Earn your pilot's license at age 21 with reduced flight hours (1,250 instead of 1,500), thanks to the bachelor's degree program.
High Employment and Earnings Potential
Meet the high demand for pilots, with up to 50% retiring in the next 15 years. Benefit from a 99% employment rate within one year of graduation, with commercial pilots earning an average of $127,000 annually.
Careers After Saint Vincent
Students who study aviation management at Saint Vincent will earn their professional pilot’s license. Meanwhile, the business background gained will help students to work in administrative and leadership roles within the airline industry before, while, or after working as a pilot. In addition to working as flight instructors and flying charter flights, graduates can embrace and move into managerial roles for airlines, airports, suppliers, and more. The deeper knowledge and ethics learned through Saint Vincent College’s unique College Core based on the liberal arts will help students throughout their lives and careers.
Alumni will go into successful careers as:
Student Success Stories
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Timothy Jakubek, C'28
“I was very well prepared for my first solo flight because of my flight instructor at the airport and the classes I’m taking at Saint Vincent. This [program] is really helping me grow as a student and as a person I’m meeting new people, being in a new environment, learning new stuff. I definitely feel it's all part of God's plan for me.”
Curriculum Requirements
The aviation management major is part of the McKenna School of Business, Economics, and Government and supported by our core curriculum, where students delve into diverse academic subjects at both foundational and advanced levels to explore how different disciplines connect, fostering deeper self-understanding and proficiency in their chosen field of study.
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Required Courses
Aviation Management requirements
All students pursuing this program take:
- BA-150 Managerial Accounting
- BA-250 Global Business
Then choose, Option 1 or Option 2:
Option 1: Professional Piloting (54 to 55 credits)
- AVIP 160 Private Pilot Flight Theory
- AVIP 170 Private Pilot Flight Certification
- AVIP 120 Foundations and Development of Aviation
- CIST 100 Introduction to Information Technology
- AVIP 180 Instrument Flight Theory
- AVIP 190 Instrument Flight Rating
- AVIP 205 Aircraft Engines & Systems
- METR 140 Meteorology
- AVIP 210 Commercial Flight Theory
- AVIP 220 Commercial Flight Certification I
- AVIP 225 Commercial Flight Certification II
- AVIP 260 Human Factors Theory
- AVIP 270 Aerodynamics of Flight
Plus, two of the following:
- AVIP 250 Multi-Engine Flight Rating
- AVPI 280 Certified Flight Instructor – Airplane
- AVIP 285 Certified Flight Instructor – Instruments
Option 2: Advanced Piloting (50 credits)
- AVIP 180 Instrument Flight Theory
- AVIP 190 Instrument Flight Rating
- AVIP 120 Foundations and Development of Aviation
- CIST 100 Introduction to Information Technology
- AVIP 210 Commercial Flight Theory
- AVIP 220 Commercial Flight Certification I
- AVIP 202 Aircraft Engines Theory
- AVIP 204 Aircraft Systems Theory
- AVIP 225 Commercial Flight Certification II
- AVPI 280 Certified Flight Instructor – Airplane
- METR 140 Meteorology
- AVIP 285 Certified Flight Instructor – Instruments
- AVIP 260 Human Factors Theory
- AVIP 270 Aerodynamics of Flight
- AVIP 250 Multi-Engine Flight Rating
- AVIP 288 Certified Flight Instructor – Multi-Engine
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Key Courses
Organizational Behavior: This course explores the manager-subordinate relationship within organizations. Students develop skills in leadership, motivation, communication, human relations, decision making, and policy formulation. Emphasis is on how individuals, work groups, and organizations interact to influence behavior.
Principles of Marketing: This course introduces the foundations of marketing within a global-managerial framework. Key topics include product design, pricing, distribution, sales, advertising, and promotion from both managerial and consumer perspectives. It emphasizes the relationships between marketing and other business areas, such as accounting, finance, and management. Students engage with current events, case studies, group activities, and marketing simulations.
Business Policy and Strategy: This capstone course covers strategic management utilizing a multiperformance approach. Students participate in simulations, managing all aspects of a corporation and competing in a virtual environment. The course includes case studies and requires students to conduct internal and external analyses (SWOT, 5 Forces) and address cultural and political issues. Proficiency in creating and presenting business applications using presentation technology is expected.
Facilities and Resources
Arnold Palmer Regional Aiport
Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, offers flight students access to a range of facilities and resources, including a full-service fixed-base operator (FBO), a variety of training aircraft like Cessna and Beechcraft models, and a state-of-the-art Redbird flight simulator. The Laurel Highlands Aeronautical Academy, located at the airport, provides comprehensive flight training programs and uses Gleim Aviation training materials to support students in earning various pilot certifications.