Why We Love It
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$118,740Potential Avg. Salary*
* Salary & growth data is based on the recent Bureau of Labor and Statistics data published at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes532021.htm for 53-2021 Air traffic controllers 11/2021. Based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary.
Most bachelor’s degree programs for aspiring air traffic controllers are bachelor of science degrees in either aviation or aviation management with a concentration in air traffic control.
These programs prepare students for careers in the intense and crucial field of air traffic controlling—directing aircraft through airspace to ensure safe travels for all passengers and crew aboard aviation vehicles in flight.
What is a Degree in Air Traffic Controller?
With an air traffic controller bachelor’s degree, you’ll gain the education needed to enter the FAA Academy for Air Traffic Controllers. Competition for entry into the FAA Academy is fierce, and individuals with bachelor’s degrees in air traffic control can stand out from the crowd when applications are reviewed.
Students in air traffic control programs learn how to succeed and thrive in this thrilling field. They learn through simulation labs, weather centers, and meteorology labs to gain practical experience.
Students study a variety of topics to build their skills as air traffic controllers, such as aviation law, safety, mathematics, and meteorology. They learn how to direct planes to avoid collisions, how to reroute planes due to accidents or weather, and how to remain calm and collected in stressful situations.
To become air traffic controllers, students will need to enroll in the FAA Academy after graduation, but their experience in a bachelor’s degree program prepares them for success in the academy.
Recommended Schools
What Courses Would I Take For a Major in Air Traffic Controller?
- Air Traffic Controlling
- Aviation Mathematics
- Survey of Meteorology
- Terminal Radar Operations
- Human Factors in Aviation Safety
- Aerospace Safety
- Introduction to the Air Traffic Control Tower
- Aviation Law
What Jobs Can You Get with a Degree in Air Traffic Controller?
The majority of today’s air traffic controllers are nearing retirement age, and these individuals will need to be replaced by new and effective air traffic controllers. As today’s air traffic controllers begin to retire, it’s expected to create a significant demand for individuals to fill those open positions.
Air traffic controllers are an integral part of safe flight travel, so individuals with the right education and credentials should be able to find work in the field at airports that transport both people and cargo.
How Long does it take?
A bachelors in Air Traffic Controller will have a typical length of 4 years in a full time schedule. That said, there are many ways to speed up the timeframe by either taking more units via online coursework, community college, or taking free classes at OnlineDegree.com that could transfer to universities in the US.
Recommended Schools
Best Jobs for Air Traffic Controller Degrees
With a bachelor’s degree in air traffic controlling, you’ll qualify to enter the FAA Academy where you’ll gain the training and credentials needed to succeed as an air traffic controller for airports and airfields across the U.S.
Students learn detailed information that prepares them for careers in flight traffic control as well as other areas of aviation and aviation management.
How to save time and money
Our mission is to help you to avoid paying full price for college. We want your Air Traffic Controller degree to be affordable and accessible. Here’s how you could save:
Create Your Free SmartPlan
There are many ways to make college affordable and accessible.
That’s why we created a helpful tool called SmartPlan.
It’s free, and helps you find potential ways to save and tons of information about each school you’re considering
Think of it as your “college blueprint”, to help you instantly craft a path to your degree:
- Which Colleges Match Your Needs
- Ways You Could Save Time & Money
- Free Courses You Could Take for Credit
- Valuable Data and Insights on Each College
- Detailed Steps You Should Take!
See what’s possible for you and generate a free plan within just a few minutes
Create My SmartPlanFind an Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) Program
AT-CTI programs are FAA-accredited programs designed specifically to train aspiring air traffic controllers. Though some result in bachelor’s degrees, many only require earning an associate’s degree.
By pursuing an associate’s degree, you can shave two years and thousands of dollars off of your educational commitment and still qualify for entry into the FAA Academy to become an air traffic controller.
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