Aviation, M.S.

Saint Louis University's Master of Science in Aviation is a fully online,  rigorous program that prepares graduates for leadership roles within the aviation industry. The master’s degree provides technical depth and specialization that can lead to expanded career opportunities and responsibilities for graduates, as well as preparation for doctoral (Ph.D.) studies. It is also well-suited for working professionals since 100% of the courses are taught online.

Exceptional aeronautics undergraduate students who are committed to continuing their education through a master’s program can reduce the time it takes to complete their bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Parks College aeronautics undergraduates may apply for admission to the Master’s in Aviation program, and if admitted, may be able to apply up to six credit hours of graduate coursework from their senior/fourth year toward the 30 hours required for the Master’s in Aviation. See the Department of Aviation Science for more information on this option.

Curriculum Overview

SLU's master's program in aviation consists of 30 credits of graduate-level work: a common core taught in a completely online format and a graduate-level internship experience. Each M.S. student prepares a program of study that must be approved by their faculty advisor, the department chair and the associate dean for graduate education and research for Parks College.

This program of study is developed within the context of the student's background and career goals, allowing students to customize their graduate program to suit their professional goals. 

Careers

Possible career fields for Master of Science in Aviation graduates include flight training and education, aviation-related management and aviation safety. After graduating, alumni are qualified for management positions within the aviation industry.

Admission Requirements

Begin your application for this program at www.slu.edu/apply.

Most admitted students meet the following criteria:

  • Undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0
  • A four-year undergraduate degree in aviation or a field related to the desired graduate program

Application Requirements

  • Online application form and fee
  • Official transcript(s) of all previous degrees
  • Three letters of recommendation (preferably from recent instructors)
  • A writing sample solely authored by the applicant that has been preferably composed within the last two to three years. The sample should relate to a contemporary issue that is affecting the aviation industry. Submissions should be formatted to be APA document style compliant, be between 2,000-3,000 words in length, and include an abstract of less than 200 words.
  • Curriculum vitae/résumé
  • Professional goal statement

Requirements for International Students

All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students along with the following:

  • Demonstrate English Language Proficiency
  • Proof of financial support must include:
    • A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding the time at Saint Louis University
    • A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of study at the University
  • Academic records, in English translation, of students who have undertaken postsecondary studies outside the United States must include the courses taken and/or lectures attended, practical laboratory work, the maximum and minimum grades attainable, the grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations, and any honors or degrees received. WES and ECE transcripts are accepted.

Application and Assistantship Deadlines

The department is only reviewing applications for the fall semester. To be considered for enrollment in the fall semester, students should submit their application materials by May 31.

Admitted students who want to be considered for an assistantship must submit a separate application for assistantship consideration by March 1.

Review Process

Once all the materials are received and the online application is complete, the application is reviewed by the Parks College Office of Graduate Education and Research before being sent to the Department of Aviation Science for a recommendation. The final decision is made by Parks’ director of graduate programs.

Admissions decisions are made based on the background and educational experience of students. Applications are reviewed when completed, and decisions are generally made within a few weeks.

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Scholarships and Financial Aid

Parks College offers graduate fellowship awards and assistantships each year. Assistantships provide tuition, stipend and health insurance. There are also many opportunities for students to receive funding through external research grants that are managed by individual faculty.

For more information, visit the student financial services office online at http://finaid.slu.edu.

  1. Graduates will be able to assess relevant literature or scholarly contributions in the field(s) of study.
  2. Graduates will be able to apply the major practices, theories, or research methodologies in the field(s) of study.
  3. Graduates will be able to apply knowledge from the field(s) of study to address problems in broader contexts.
  4. Graduates will be able to articulate arguments or explanations to both a disciplinary or professional audience and to a general audience, in both oral and written forms.
  5. Graduates will be able to evidence of scholarly and/or professional integrity in the field of study.

SLU's M.S. in aviation requires a minimum of 30 credits of graduate coursework beyond a bachelor’s degree. The M.S. in aviation is a fully online, non-thesis, course-only degree. The student is required to take a final Comprehensive Oral Examination during the student’s final academic term. Students who completed an undergraduate aeronautics degree from Parks College may use up to 6 credits of graduate coursework (5000 level and above) to count towards both the B.S. and M.S. degrees.

Please note: the courses in the Master of Science in Aviation curriculum are taught in an entirely online format.

Continuation Standards

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.