School of Aviation

Dr. Todd Hubbard, Ed.D., Lead Faculty Member
Eric Wydra, MACRM, Program Director
Shelly Ainsworth, M.H.R., Director of Academic Advising Services
1700 Lexington Ave., Bldg. 101
Norman, OK 73069
Phone: (405) 325-7231
FAX: (405) 325-0136
www.ou.edu/ags/aviation

General Information

The mission of the School of Aviation is to provide each student with the knowledge and the skills of a competent pilot and/or industry professional, combined with a liberal education and business concentration that will provide them an initial and long-term competitive advantage as professionals in global organizations and in society. The School of Aviation  is responsible for credit and noncredit aviation education, FAA Part 141 and 61 pilot training, and FAA AT-CTI curriculum and simulation courses. A Bachelor of Science Degree with four aviation concentrations and four aviation minors are offered.

The School of Aviation's modern training assets include: 15 Piper Warrior III aircraft (two with glass Avidyne flight systems and with Garmin 430 GPS units), one Cessna 152 Aerobat, two Twin Engine Piper Seminole, one King Air C-90 B Turbo Prop, two advanced FAA Aircrew Training Devices (Red Bird Simulator and Frasca Simulator). This modern aircraft fleet offers students advanced technology and also provides air transportation through the Faculty and Staff Transport (FAST) Program. Additionally, the AT-CTI program boasts a complete array of all available air traffic control simulations to include a Tower Simulation Cab for tower and ground operations, and an ATC Enroute Radar Simulation Facility Lab.

History

The University of Oklahoma School of Aviation  was established in 1947, after purchasing the airport land in 1940, as an independent, Provost-directed department chaired by the airport manager J.E. Coulter. The school’s initial charge was to provide flight instruction for OU students seeking flight certification. The Bachelor of Science in Aviation was developed in the mid-1970s and was first offered as a degree in 1978.

In 1994, the Department of Aviation joined the OU College of Continuing Education and in 2017 moved to the newly formulated College of Professional and Continuing Studies. As part of this transition, the Department of Aviation changed its name to the School of Aviation Studies.  In 2022, the school moved to the College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences and became the School of Aviation.

Mission

Our program mission is to provide aviation majors with the knowledge and skills of a competent pilot, air traffic controller, and/or industry professional along with broad education and business concentrations that provide long-term competitive professional advantages.

Goal

All graduates of the program in aviation will have developed a depth of understanding of the aviation industry and been afforded the opportunity to prepare for an aviation-related professional career following graduation. 

Accreditation

Each of the four degree concentration programs are each fully accredited by the Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI). Accreditation ensures each aviation student at OU earns a degree from a nationally recognized institution with a quality aviation program and impeccable safety record. It can also have the added benefit of opening more doors to students in the areas of industry scholarship procurement, internships, and eventual employment. 

Careers

Career choices for students completing the undergraduate program in aviation include, but are not limited to, airport management, business planning analyst, aviation technical writer, contract specialist, corporate or airline management, corporate, military, air ambulance, sight-seeing, airline and flight test pilot, flight instructor, freelance commercial assistant, aircraft sales, leasing and insurance, flight dispatcher, flight schedule coordinator, safety inspector, air traffic controller, planning and development manager, aeronautical charting, aviation law, accident investigator, and air marshal. Additionally, OU Aviation helps students further their career prospects in that it is an approved school to provide training for the FAA Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative and the Restricted Airline Transport Pilot, as well as enjoying pipeline agreements with several Regional airlines such as Envoy, PSA, Republic and as a Southwest Airlines Destination 225 Cadet Pathway partner.

Programs & Facilities

Max Westheimer Airport 

The Max Westheimer Airport terminal building, the AM&E Building, and the simulator building located on North Campus at the University Research Park are the primary office and classroom buildings for the School of Aviation. The buildings contain many classrooms and study areas, with training aids, simulators, and other facilities to enhance the student’s learning environment. The airport is a 15-20 minute drive from main campus or via the EMBARK (Norman's city bus service). Aviation students also have access to the school’s maintenance hangars, which further enhance the student’s ability to learn. Students are encouraged to take an active part in their learning process. 

FAA Center of Excellence - Technical Training and Human Performance

In 2016, the University of Oklahoma was awarded as Technical Lead for the Federal Aviation Administration's newest Center of Excellence (FAA COE), focused on Technical Training and Human Performance (TTHP). There are currently 10 active FAA COEs in the United States. As of 2022, OU's Center is in its seventh operational year and has reached $17 million in funding for 80 research projects. The Center serves the FAA’s Air Traffic Organization and Civil Medical Aerospace Institute, as well as the Aviation Safety, Flight Program Operations, and NextGen divisions.

The OU FAA Center of Excellence TTHP is a consortium of 15 institutions and over 50 industry partners dedicated to helping the FAA revolutionize training practices for pilots, air traffic controllers, maintenance technicians, safety operators, and engineers. The Center also examines human performance, such as the cognitive, physiological, and psychological factors that result in human error during high risk-based decision making. In addition, the Center has worked with the FAA to increase employee readiness for addressing workforce challenges from natural disasters and/or pandemics. The Center has also recently been expanded to support the FAA in responding to new legislation mandating the in-depth study of the human factor impacts of flight automation on pilot and crew in commercial aircraft.

FAA COE TTHP Leads: University of Oklahoma, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and Wichita State University.

FAA COE TTHP Core Institutions: Auburn University, Drexel University, Inter American University, Oklahoma State University, Purdue University, The Ohio State University, The University of Akron, The University of Oklahoma, Tulsa Community College, University of Nebraska-Omaha, University North Dakota, University of Wisconsin – Madison, Western Michigan University, and Wichita State University.

For more information about the FAA COE TTHP, visit http://www.coetthp.org. To discuss partnering with our organization, please contact April Millaway Axton, Program Manager at april.e.williams@ou.edu. 

Air Traffic–College Training Initiative (AT-CTI) 

The University of Oklahoma has a long history of partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and was selected as an AT-CTI school in Fall 2007, making OU one of few approved programs in the southwest region of the United States. This program has been added as a proactive approach to help develop the much needed additions to the FAA workforce. The AT-CTI programs are a priority source of hiring for the FAA and likely a more prevalent source for professional controller candidates worldwide. Graduates from these programs may apply to the FAA Air Traffic Control Academy in Oklahoma City. However, the AT-CTI coursework must be completed in conjunction with a Non-Engineering Aviation Degree from an approved FAA AT-CTI school. In order to be considered for an ATCS position with FAA, you must not have reached your 31st birthday for Tower and En Route Center facility employment. For more specific details, visit the Federal Aviation Administration’s website or contact OU Aviation.

Sooner Flight Academy

The University of Oklahoma’s Sooner Flight Academy (SFA) provides aviation, aerospace, and STEM education for K-12 learners via field trips, one-day workshops, fall and spring break sessions, and summer camps. The SFA program helps learners develop an understanding of and love for aviation and flight through various hands-on lessons, panels, activities, demos, and experiments.

The purpose of the OU Sooner Flight Academy is to establish lifelong contributions to aviation and related STEM career fields. A secondary goal of SFA is to provide youth with college-aged role models, most of whom are studying to be pilots, air traffic controllers, and/or in airport or airline operations management, to promote a continuation of education beyond high school and vocational school with a linkage to lifelong learning opportunities available through the OU School of Aviation. In addition, the program provides teacher training and curriculum to support under-resourced districts that desire Aviation and Aerospace opportunities for Oklahoma youth.

To learn more about SFA and/or participate in our programs, please visit flightcamp.ou.edu and/or contact Dawn Machalinski, SFA Program Director at dmachalinski@ou.edu.

Internships

Aviation related internship experiences are available for qualifying students. Interested students should contact the Aviation Advising Office at (405) 325-7231 for more information.

Scholarships 

The School of Aviation Studies awards a number of scholarships each semester to deserving majors who have been enrolled in the program. Individual scholarship application procedures and deadlines may be found on Aviation Scholarships.

Honor Societies and Professional Organizations

Eight unique societies and professional organizations are available for students in aviation:

• Sooner Air Traffic Control Association (SATCA) — for students with an interest in supporting the ATC programs
• Sooner Aviation Club — for students interested in aviation
• Sooner Chapter of American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) — for students interested in the business side of aviation, including airport management
• Women In Aviation International (WAI) — for students dedicated to the encouragement and advancement of women in all aviation career fields and interests
• Alpha Eta Rho, Beta Chi Chapter — an international fraternity for aviation students
• National Intercollegiate Flight Association (NIFA) Flight Team — comprised of aviation students who compete regionally on a collegiate level in various aviation-related events, varying in complexity
• National Gay Pilot's Association (NGPA) -- an organization open to all students to build, support and unite the LGBTQ aviation community worldwide
• Colonel Kenneth R. Carson Aviation Leadership Program -- to provide leadership training, professional development and networking opportunities with the aviation industry to the top 10% of OU Aviation students

Undergraduate Study

Bachelor of Science Degree

The undergraduate degree in Aviation is designed to offer students a choice in their aviation career. The degree offers four areas of concentration:

• Air Traffic Management
• Aviation Management
• Non-Flying Aviation Management
• Professional Pilot

Upon completion of the program, the student will have a basic familiarity with the facts, skills, techniques, and attitudes which are relevant to the aviation industry, along with the basic educational and aeronautical experience to compete in today’s aviation marketplace.  

Aviation Minors

Aviation minors are generally open to non-Aviation majors at the University of Oklahoma. Please check with the Aviation Advising Office, as the minors with a flight component may be suspended during periods of high demand, and the coursework in these instances must be reserved for Aviation majors. Air Traffic Control is the only Aviation minor open to Aviation majors. Students pursuing any Aviation minor must earn at least a minimum grade of “C” in Aviation courses taken to meet minor requirements.

• Air Traffic Control
• Aviation Management
• Single-Engine Commercial Pilot
• Multi-Engine Commercial Pilot

Admission

To be admitted to the Aviation program, a student must first be admitted to the University of Oklahoma. During periods of high demand, the admission for flight majors is open only in the fall term, with flight slots to be allocated to the admitted students over the course of the academic year (fall, spring, summer). Early application is considered important due to the limited number of students the program will be able to accept.

Inquiries concerning admission to the University should be addressed to the Office of Admissions & Recruitment, University of Oklahoma, 1000 Asp Avenue, Room 127, Norman, OK, 73019-4076. Specific requirements for admission may be found at the Admissions & Recruitment website. 

Residency Requirement

Candidates for the BS degree must complete their last 30 hours as a resident student at the University of Oklahoma. However, if a candidate has completed the last 51 hours as a resident student at the University of Oklahoma, nine of the last 60 hours may be taken at another university or by correspondence. Students are encouraged to consult their advisors prior to enrollment.

Pass/No Pass Enrollment

Pass/No Pass Enrollment may only be used to fulfill Elective Requirements.

Use of Graduate Level Courses

Graduate-level courses may NOT count toward the undergraduate degree.

Credit Hour Load

Generally to considered full time, an undergraduate student must be enrolled in at least 12 hours in a fall or spring semester and six hours in a summer session. Please be advised that the VA and various scholarship donors may have specific hour requirements that may vary. Enrollments of 20 hours or more in a fall or spring semester and 10 hours or more in a summer session, must be approved by an academic advisor within the School of Aviation Studies.Students requesting such an exception must have demonstrated readiness to perform on an overload basis either through superior performance on a college aptitude test, or on the basis of superior academic achievement in previous college coursework.

Concurrent Degree in Two Colleges

• Both degrees must be completed and certified in the same semester.
• A graduation application must be filed for each degree. Two diplomas will be awarded.
• At least 30 additional hours must be completed beyond the degree that requires the least number of hours.

Ten-Year Limitation Rules

Students must complete the degree requirements within a maximum of 10 calendar years from the date of that enrollment. If the work for a degree covers a period longer than 10 years, the student must update to the most current degree program requirements.

Credit in a student’s major that is more than 10 years old may not be applied toward a bachelor's degree unless it is validated by the Aviation Academic Chair.

Academic Probation & Stop-Out Policy

To be considered in good standing with the School of Aviation, a student should maintain an OU retention and combined retention grade point averages of at least 2.25 and comply with all School of Aviation and FAA policies. Additionally, Aviation majors are required to enroll in and successfully complete a MATH course every semester until the Math 1743 requirement is fulfilled. This is essential due to the fact that math is a prerequisite for several of the “Basic Business” courses and all of the “Upper-Division Business” coursework required for the degree. Hence, failure to comply with the math rule will delay one’s degree completion.

If a student’s OU retention or combined retention grade point average falls below 2.25, or the math policy is not adhered to, the student will be placed on one semester of academic probation. Failure of a student to satisfy the terms of this probationary semester will lead to the student being stopped-out of the Aviation program. Likewise, a student who does not comply with all FAA and School policies will also be stopped-out of the program.

Students who are stopped out will have their enrollment cancelled and must change their major from Aviation. After being stopped out, students are not eligible to return to Aviation or enroll in Aviation courses until their OU retention and combined retention grade point averages have reached the minimum 2.25 and/or a MATH course has been successfully completed. Upon being stopped-out, students’ records will be transferred to the Academic Advising Resources Center (AARC). All stopped-out students must contact AARC to discuss options for changing their major and re-enrolling at the University of Oklahoma.

Graduation

Students must apply for the degree that they are pursuing; Deadlines are December 1 for spring graduates, March 1 for summer graduates, and May 1 for fall graduates. Dates are subject to change at the discretion of Academic Records. Application is made online via one.ou.edu. All Aviation majors are required to make an appointment for a graduation check the semester before they intend to graduate. During the graduation check, applications and senior exit interviews will be completed.

Aviation Credit Flight Fees

Below are all the flight courses offered at OU that carry a flight or lab fee which are in addition to the tuition costs for the courses. It is important to note that not all the courses listed are required for each degree option, but some are optional if the student desires the additional training. The following classes are required for the Aviation Management—Flying degree option: AVIA 1222, AVIA 2231, AVIA 2341, AVIA 3572, and AVIA 4552. The following classes are required for the Professional Pilot degree option:  AVIA 1222, AVIA 2231, AVIA 2341, AVIA 3572, AVIA 4552, AVIA 3581, and AVIA 4313.

*Primary Flying AVIA 1222:                               $9,852 (39 hrs, Warrior III)
  (29.0 Dual, 10.0 Solo, 1.0 Sim)

*Advanced Flying AVIA 2231:                           $8,136 (40 hrs, Warrior III) 
  (18.0 Dual, 22.0 Solo)

*Secondary Flying AVIA 2341:                          $7,812 (40 hrs, Warrior III)
  (16.0 Dual, 24.0 Solo)

*Instrument Flying AVIA 3572:                          $9,288 (39.2 hrs, Warrior III)
  (25.2 Dual, 14.0 Sim)

*Commercial Flying AVIA 4552:                        $8,296 (40 hrs., Warrior III) 
  (21.0 Dual, 19.0 Solo)

*Multi-Engine Flying AVIA 3581:                       $6,315 (13.5 hrs., Seminole) 
  (13.5 Dual)

*Turbine Transition AVIA 4313:                         $9,525 (5 hrs, King Air) 
  (5.0 Dual)

Optional Courses

*Flight Instructor AVIA 4602:                             $6,212 (25 hrs., Warrior III) 
  (25.0 Dual)

*Advanced Flight Maneuvers AVIA 3111:         $1,444 (5 hrs., Cessna) 
  (5.0 Dual)

*Instrument Instructor AVIA 4613:                    $4,192 (15 hrs., Warrior III)
  (15.0 Dual)

*Multi-Engine Instructor AVIA 4622:                 $11,231 (25 hrs, Seminole) 
  (25.0 Dual)

ATC Course Fees

IFR Traffic Procedures AVIA 3313:                    $426

En Route Radar Lab AVIA 4013:                        $1,667

ATC Tower Simulation AVIA 4004:                    $1,960

Tracon Radar Lab AVIA 4023:                            $1,667

Other Courses

Crew Resource Management AVIA 4423:         $577

Prices for courses shown above are for the FAA hours required in a course syllabus. Actual flight hours and costs will most likely vary. For example, most Private Pilot students on average require 5 to 10 hours of overflight.* Students may voluntarily pay for additional flight training hours if needed to satisfactorily complete course tasks as discussed with Flight Instructor.

*Overflight: If student requires overflight hours, it is billed at the per flight hour cost (varies by aircraft, see table below). Additionally, for overflight, there is a $39 per hour charge for instructor pre- and post-flight preparation.

Warrior Dual  $214     Cessna Dual       $190        Seminole Dual  $401     
Warrior Solo  $170     King Air Dual       $1,409     Simulator          $142      
Ground          $44       King Air Ground  $55

ALL PRICES EFFECTIVE AUGUST 1, 2023, AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE EACH ACADEMIC YEAR. PLEASE CONTACT THE SCHOOL OF AVIATION TO VERIFY COSTS AT (405) 325-7231.

Aviation majors must earn a minimum grade of C in aviation courses to be considered passing and move to the next requirement.

Courses 

Faculty