Master of Science in Aviation

Admission Requirements

The applicant must meet the School of Graduate Studies’ current minimum general admission requirements as published in the graduate catalog.

  1. Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with either:
    1. a major in an aviation related field or
    2. applicable industry experience as determined by the Department of Aviation
  2. Overall undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or a GPA of at least 3.00 for the last two years of undergraduate work.
  3. Submit a 2-3 page paper describing your research interests and personal and professional goals you would like to achieve in the M.S. program.
  4. Satisfy the School of Graduate Studies’ English Language Proficiency requirements as published in the graduate catalog.

Degree Requirements

  1. A minimum of 30 credits including a 4-credit thesis. In the event a thesis is unable to be completed, an independent study option is available by special permission by the Graduate Director. In that case, a minimum of 32 credit hours which includes comprehensive exams and a 2-credit independent study.
  2. If the independent study option is approved, comprehensive exams are required prior to beginning the independent study.
  3. Required courses include AVIT 501, AVIT 503 Statistics, 504 Research Methods, AVIT 998 Thesis or AVIT 997 with special permission, and AVIT 595 Capstone. 
  4. In addition to the required courses, students will select elective courses from the Course Catalog. 
  5. Follow the Graduate Catalog and Graduate Student Handbook, Master’s Degree for completion of:
    1. Program of Study
    2. Advisor Selection
    3. Independent Study/Thesis Option
    4. Topic Proposal
  6. AVIT 590 Aviation Seminar and AVIT 593 Individual Research in Aviation can be taken with permission from a sponsoring faculty member.
  7. Must have an overall Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0

Aviation Safety Specialization

The Master of Science program offers an area of specialization in Aviation Safety. In order to receive this specialization:

  1. Be fully admitted to the UND School of Graduate Studies and be in good academic standing in the MS-Aviation program;
  2. Successfully complete 9 credits of AVIT coursework in the area of Aviation Safety from the course list below. AVIT 590 (Aviation Seminar) courses relevant to Aviation Safety and other relevant UND Graduate Courses may be approved to count towards the Aviation Safety Specialization with permission from the Graduate Director.
  3.  Course List
    1. AVIT 512 Environmental Sustainability, Occupational Safety, and Health in Aviation (3)
    2. ​AVIT 513 Aviation Safety Management Systems (3)
    3. AVIT 523 Aviation Safety Data Analysis (3)

UAS Specialization

The Master of Science program offers an area of specialization in UAS. In order to receive this specialization:

  1. Be fully admitted to the UND School of Graduate Studies and be in good academic standing in the MS-Aviation program;
  2. Successfully complete 9 credits of AVIT coursework in the area of UAS from the course list below. AVIT 590 (Aviation Seminar) courses relevant to UAS and other relevant UND Graduate Courses may be approved to count towards the UAS Specialization with permission from the Graduate Director.
  3.  Course List
    1. AVIT 522 UAS Management (3)
    2. ​AVIT 510 Aviation Public Policy and Regulations (3)
    3. AVIT 526 UAS and the Law (3)

Aviation Management Specialization

The Master of Science program offers an area of specialization in Aviation Management. In order to receive this specialization:

  1. Be fully admitted to the UND School of Graduate Studies and be in good academic standing in the MS-Aviation program;
  2. Successfully complete 9 credits of AVIT coursework in the area of Aviation Management from the course list below. AVIT 590 (Aviation Seminar) courses relevant to Aviation Management and other relevant UND Graduate Courses may be approved to count towards the Aviation Management Specialization with permission from the Graduate Director.
  3.  Course List
    1. AVIT 514 Aviation Management Theory (3)
    2. ​AVIT 502 Aviation Economics (3)
    3. AVIT 520 Strategic Airport Planning (3)
    4. AVIT 524 Air Traffic Management (3)

Human Factors Specialization

The Master of Science program offers an area of specialization in Human Factors. In order to receive this specialization:

  1. Be fully admitted to the UND School of Graduate Studies and be in good academic standing in the MS-Aviation program;
  2. Successfully complete 9 credits of AVIT coursework in the area of Human Factors from the course list below. AVIT 590 (Aviation Seminar) courses relevant to Human Factors and other relevant UND Graduate Courses may be approved to count towards the Human Factors Specialization with permission from the Graduate Director.
  3.  Course List
    1. AVIT 515 Human Factors and Ergonomics (3)
    2. ​AVIT 516 Training System Design (3)
    3. AVIT 518 Human Error (3)

Domestic Air Law Specialization

The Master of Science program offers an area of specialization in Domestic Air Law in collaboration with the UND School of Law. In order to receive this specialization:

  1. Be fully admitted to the UND School of Graduate Studies and be in good academic standing in the MS-Aviation program;
  2. Have completed AVIT 501 General Issues in Aviation/Aerospaceand AVIT 503 Statistics and be in their second year of the MS-Avit program;
  3. Receive permission from the Aviation Graduate Program Director;
  4. Successfully complete 9 credits of coursework in the UND School of Law including:
    1. LAW 210 , and;
    2. 6 credits from the following:
    3. LAW 2123
      LAW 2143
      LAW 2633
      LAW 2822
      LAW 2911-4
      LAW 2992

Note: Law courses available on-campus only (not available via distance education).