Aerospace Concentrations
You may choose from five concentrations within the aerospace major according to the
aspect of aviation you wish to pursue.
Aerospace Administration
The Administration concentration offers instruction designed for students who are
interested in careers in the various aspects of aerospace administration and management.
Selected general studies and minor courses are interwoven with aerospace courses to
provide students with a foundation for such careers.
Aerospace Technology
The Technology concentration is designed for students interested in technical careers
in aerospace and as preparation for those who seek more advanced study at the graduate
level. Students in this concentration receive a strong background in mathematics,
the sciences, 
engineering technology, and the more technical courses in aerospace. This concentration
requires the completion of 31 semester hours of aerospace courses to include aerodynamics
and aircraft performance; minors in Mathematics and Engineering Technology; two semesters
of computer programming and two semesters of calculus-based physics. In the Fall of
2005, MTSU and the University of Tennessee Space Institute (UTSI) began a partnership
with MTSU to build a Flight Test Engineering program. This partnership program enables
students who enroll in the MTSU Aerospace Technology program to graduate with a Bachelor
of Science degree in Aerospace Flight Test Technology from MTSU, and then pursue a
Masters of Science degree with a concentration in Flight Test Engineering from the
University of Tennessee. Under the new partnership MTSU students spend approximately
3 ½ years at MTSU then transfer to UTSI in their last semester to take classes at
UTSI which completes their undergraduate degree as well as meets prerequisite requirements
for the Masters of Science at UTSI. This provides an avenue for MTSU Aerospace students
to pursue a Masters in Flight Test Engineering in a way that would not be possible
without the partnership.
Flight Dispatch
This concentration is designed to meet industry demands for both FAR Part 121 and
135 dispatchers and schedulers. Integral to this emphasis is a thorough knowledge
of weather and weather products, weight and balance, instrument flight rules with
regard to weather minimums, specific aircraft alternate minimums and minimum equipment
lists, as well as human factors and crew resource management. The ability to identify
potential in-flight hazards and effective communication of those hazards to a pilot
in flight is a cornerstone of this course. Completion of this degree program results
in FAA certification as an aircraft dispatcher. In addition to courses in basic weather
and navigation this emphasis includes courses in communications, psychology, and geography.
Maintenance Management
This emphasis prepares students to enter the aircraft maintenance field as practicing
airframe and powerplant maintenance technicians or entry level managers at aircraft
repair stations or other types of operations involving aircraft maintenance or modification.
Emphasis is placed on materials, including modern composites, and the proper repair
and inspection of those materials. Special inspection and maintenance requirements
based on operational environments are examined. Airframes, powerplants and systems
are covered in detail as part of this concentration. Completion of this curriculum
leads to FAA certification as an airframe and powerplant maintenance technician. This
curriculum is approved under FAR part 147. This emphasis requires an extensive amount
of equipment and resources, as well as specially trained and experienced faculty members
that are devoted to maintaining the excellence of this program.
Professional Pilot
This emphasis addresses the area of flight operations and leads to pilot certification
up to and including the Commercial, Multi-engine Instrument 
certificate. Students in this program receive extensive experience in flight operations
in all aspects of the flight environment. Graduates must demonstrate proficiency in
aircraft systems operation, determination of aircraft performance parameters, cross
country navigation, communication with air traffic control, and airport operations.
A program utilizing glass cockpits has been introduced, and an innovative FAA/Industry
Training Standards (FITS) curriculum has been developed in cooperation with the FAA.
This curriculum is scenario-based and allows students to be trained to proficiency
instead of a minimum flight time . The same equipment used in student pilot training
is also utilized to train FAA inspectors in glass cockpit operations. Extensive use
of flight training devices is incorporated into this curriculum.
MASTERS DEGREE
For more information on our Masters Degree program, click the graduate program link
to the left.
