B.S. in Aviation Business Administration

Students will:

  • Analyze basic business concepts and introductory terminology in the commercial air transport industry.
  • Analyze economic factors relevant to air transportation issues.
  • Evaluate trends and contemporary issues within the global commercial air transport industry.
  • Integrate extensive knowledge of core business principles and competencies, including accounting, economics, management, quantitative business analysis, finance, marketing, legal/social, and information systems.
  • Apply core business knowledge through consulting and/or professional industry performance.
  • Synthesize specialized knowledge appropriate to relevant their area of concentration.

Degree Requirements

The Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Business Administration (ABA) requires successful completion of a minimum of 120 credit hours and is normally completed in eight semesters. Designed for students interested in obtaining a strong business foundation with emphasis on specific aviation business and management opportunities, the student may select an Area of Concentration in Airport and Airline Management, Supply Chain Management in Aviation and Aerospace, Flight Operations and Management.

Students should declare their Area of Concentration at the beginning of their sophomore year. Students who want to specialize in more than one Area of Concentration may cross-utilize up to 6 credit hours toward the second area of concentration. 

Select Aviation Business Administration program offerings at the Prescott Campus are accredited by the Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI) and the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). The goal of our accredited programs is to create aviation management professionals with strong business and leadership acumen. 

Program Requirements

General Education

Embry-Riddle degree programs require students to complete a minimum of 36 hours of General Education coursework. For a full description of Embry-Riddle General Education guidelines, please see the General Education section of this catalog.

Students may choose other classes outside of their requirements, but doing so can result in the student having to complete more than the degree's 120 credit hours. This will result in additional time and cost to the student.

Communication Theory and Skills9
Computer Science/Information Technology3
Mathematics6
Physical and Life Sciences (Natural Sciences)6
Humanities and Social Sciences12
3 hours of lower-level Humanities
3 hours of lower-level Social Science
3 hours of lower-level or upper-level Humanities or Social Science
3 hours of upper-level Humanities or Social Science
Total Credits36

Aviation Business Administration Core (82-83 Credits)

The following course of study outlines the quickest and most cost-efficient route for students to earn their B.S. in Aviation Business Administration. Students are encouraged to follow the course of study to ensure they complete all program required courses and their prerequisites within four years.

Courses in the core with a # will satisfy general education requirements.

ACC 210Financial Accounting *3
ACC 312Managerial Accounting **3
AS 120Principles of Aeronautical Science3
or BA 102 Introduction to Aviation, Aerospace and Global Business
BA 201Principles of Management3
BA 222Business Analytics Tools #3
BA 311Marketing3
BA 319Managerial and Organizational Behavior *3
BA 320Business Information Systems3
BA 325Social Responsibility and Ethics in Management3
BA 335International Business3
BA 352Business Analytics for Decision Making3
BA 353Management of Production and Operations3
BA 390Business Law3
BA 437Strategic Management and Consulting3
COM 122English Composition #3
EC 210Microeconomics #3
EC 211Macroeconomics3
FIN 332Corporate Finance I *3
General Education -Communications Elective #6
General Education - lower-level Humanities #3
General Education - upper-level Humanities or Social Science #3
General Education - Natural Science Elective (One must include a lab) #7-8
MA 111Pre-Calculus for Aviation #3
or MA 120 Quantitative Methods I
MA 222Business Statistics #3
PSY 101Introduction to Psychology (OR Social Science Lower-Level Elective) #3
Total Credits82-83

Aviation Core (9 Credits)

AS 405Aviation Law3
or BA 324 Aviation Labor Relations
BA 443Trends and Current Issues in Commercial Air Transport3
EC 330Air Transport Economics3

Open Electives (12-15 Credits)

Open Electives12-15

Areas of Concentration

Students must select one of the four following Areas of Concentration.

Airport and Airline Management (15 Credits)

Choose five courses from the following list:15
Operational and Industrial Aspects of UAS
Airline Operations
Airport Management
Management of Air Cargo **
Airline Management
Wildlife and Airports
Airport Administration and Finance
Safety and Security of Airport Ground Operations
Study abroad or Internship approved by Department Chair
Total Credits15

Flight Operations (16 Credits)

Students interested in the Flight Operations area of concentration should begin their coursework as soon as possible, focusing on Fixed Wing (16 credits).

AS 121Private Pilot Operations5
AS 221
& AS 221L		Instrument Pilot Operations
and Instrument Pilot Operations Laboratory		4
AS 321
& AS 321L		Commercial Pilot Operations
and Commercial Pilot Operations Laboratory		4
FA 121Private Single Flight1
FA 221Instrument Single Flight1
FA 321Commercial Single Flight1
Total Credits16

Students desiring a Fixed Wing FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate should note that the Commercial Pilot Certificates for both Airplane Single-Engine and Multi-Engine Land are issued upon the successful completion of FA 323, which requires additional flight costs. Please see the College of Aviation academic advisor for information on requirements for an FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate.

Management (15 Credits)

BA 341Global Logistics and Supply Chain Management **3
Select two aviation-focused electives:6
Operational and Industrial Aspects of UAS
Airline Operations
Airport Management
Management of Air Cargo
Airline Management
Aviation Finance I
Airport Administration and Finance
Human Factors in Aviation Safety
Safety Program Management
Study abroad or Internship approved by Department Chair
Select two focused electives:6
Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination
Professional Consulting
Machine Learning and Big Data
Small Business Management
Global Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Personal Financial Planning
Project Management
Study abroad or Internship approved by Department Chair
Total Credits15

Supply Chain Management in Aviation and Aerospace (15 Credits)

AS 322Operational and Industrial Aspects of UAS3
BA 215Transportation Principles *3
BA 341Global Logistics and Supply Chain Management **3
BA 410Management of Air Cargo **3
Select one course from the following:3
Professional Consulting
Global Entrepreneurship and Innovation *
Project Management
Study abroad or Internship approved by Department Chair
Total Credits15
Total Credits120
*

Offered in Fall Only

**

Offered in Spring Only

#

General Education Courses

All Army ROTC students are required to complete SS 321 - U.S. Military History 1900-Present (3 credits) in order to commission. 

Aviation Business Administration - General

This suggested sequencing is appropriate for most ABA students. However, those seeking a Flight Operations concentration should consult their advisor, as their particular (flight-oriented) concentration courses should be scheduled much earlier in the sequence.

Freshman Year
FallCredits
AS 120 Principles of Aeronautical Science 3
Introduction to Aviation, Aerospace and Global Business
COM 122 English Composition 3
MA 111 Pre-Calculus for Aviation 3
Open Elective 4
PSY 101 Introduction to Psychology (OR Social Science Lower-Level Elective) 3
UNIV 101 College Success (1)
 Credits Subtotal16.0
Spring
BA 201 Principles of Management 3
BA 222 Business Analytics Tools 3
EC 210 Microeconomics 3
Humanities Lower-Level Elective 3
Natural Science Elective 3
 Credits Subtotal15.0
Sophomore Year
Fall
ACC 210 Financial Accounting 3
COM 219 Speech 3
EC 211 Macroeconomics 3
MA 222 Business Statistics 3
Open Elective 4
 Credits Subtotal16.0
Spring
ACC 312 Managerial Accounting 3
BA 319 Managerial and Organizational Behavior 3
BA 352 Business Analytics for Decision Making 3
COM 221 Technical Report Writing 3
Business Communication
Intelligence Writing
Natural Science Elective with Lab 4
 Credits Subtotal16.0
Junior Year
Fall
AS 405 Aviation Law 3
Aviation Labor Relations
BA 311 Marketing 3
BA 335 International Business 3
Concentration Course 3
FIN 332 Corporate Finance I 3
 Credits Subtotal15.0
Spring
BA 353 Management of Production and Operations 3
Concentration Courses 6
EC 330 Air Transport Economics 3
Open Elective 3
 Credits Subtotal15.0
Senior Year
Fall
BA 320 Business Information Systems 3
BA 325 Social Responsibility and Ethics in Management 3
BA 390 Business Law 3
Concentration Course 3
 Credits Subtotal12.0
Spring
BA 437 Strategic Management and Consulting 3
BA 443 Trends and Current Issues in Commercial Air Transport 3
Concentration Course 3
Humanities or Social Science Upper-Level Elective 3
Open Elective 3
 Credits Subtotal15.0
 Credits Total: 120.0