airport worker on tarmac

Airport Management (B.B.A.)

Gain the broad-based knowledge to begin your exciting career in airport management with a range of opportunities.

If you’re looking for a challenging and rewarding career in management, combined with the exciting world of aviation, a degree in airport management is the perfect flight path for those that want to run an airport on a day-to-day basis. You’ll benefit from a broad-based and comprehensive curriculum that allows you to focus on administrative areas related to airport operations, planning and consulting side of the aviation industry.

Program Snapshot
Program type:
Major
Format:
On-campus
Est. time to complete:
4 years
Credit hours:
120

Why Study Airport Management at UND?

Earn a B.B.A. in Airport Management from the UND Nistler College of Business & Public Administration in collaboration with the John D. Odegard School of Aerospaces Sciences, known around the world for academic excellence. You'll learn about the many aspects of airport planning, operations  both general and business aviation, integrated with safety management systems and GIS.

This UND program is designed to fully prepare you for a leadership role in airport management, with an essential foundation in management, accounting, finance and public administration, which are the needed skills to thrive in a fast-paced and demanding profession. You'll learn the essentials about the best business and management practices, as well as aviation and airport technologies and operation.

Accreditation

This degree is the only Airport Management program accredited by AACSB International, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Accreditation by AACSB International puts the Nistler CoBPA in the top 5% of business schools in the world.

AACSB Logo

Knowledge to Lead

Experience a day in the life of Elayna, a fourth-year aviation student.

When You Earn a degree in Airport Management

An Airport Management degree gives you the strategic skills you need, including:

  • Strategic Planning
  • Airport Planning and Management
  • Human Resources and Organizational Behavior
  • Business and Aerospace Law
  • Safety Managemeent Systems
  • Human Factors
  • Introduction to Aviation (private pilot)
  • Geographical Information Systems
  • Microsoft Access, Excel, and Powerpoint

UND Airport Management Alumni

Airport Management alumni have gone on to a variety of successful careers with:

  • Federal Aviation Administration
  • Metropolitan Airport Commission – Minneapolis-St. Paul Int’l Airport
  • Denver International Airport
  • Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
  • Ricondo and Associates
  • Mead and Hunt
  • Southwest Airlines

Program Highlights

  • Benefit from a program the builds your leadership, communications, team-building, and problem-solving skills.

  • Tailor your education to your interest and career goals with courses targeted specialized segments of airport management.

  • Combine business, management and administration learnings, with general aviation courses for a well-rounded education

  • Qualify for industry certification from the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) after completing our programs final course.

Outcomes

97K

Median salary range for an airport safety manager*

131K

Median salary for air operations supervisory or management positions* *

*AvJobs.com

**Bureau of Labor Statistics

As air travel becomes more challenging, with millions of travelers flowing through airport facilities, there will be a continued demand for those with strong leadership, team-building, and problems solving skills. Given the complexity of managing an airport, this UND program prepares student for a variety of opportunities in aviation management.

UND graduates can expect exciting opportunities in several areas related to airport management, including:

  • Airport business development manager
  • General manager of an airport
  • Fuel farm supervisor
  • Ground service supervisor
  • Manager of facilities

Courses You Could Take

AVIT 311. Safety Management System (SMS). 3 Credits.

This course provides instruction and practical application of Safety Management Systems (SMS) and how SMS relates to Accident Prevention Program Management. Students receive the necessary instruction required to design, develop, implement, manage, and foster an effective organizational level SMS and accident prevention program. Course topics include theory and application of SMS program elements. Prerequisites: AVIT 208 and a minimum GPA of 2.6. S.

AVIT 442. Airport Operations and Administration. 3 Credits.

This course is the second of a two course curriculum in airport administration. It is an advanced course emphasizing the further development of the skills and understanding of the operation and management of commercial service airports of all sizes. The content focuses upon the practical application of airport manager skills and includes educational tours of operating airports. The program stresses the airport manager's role in relations with tenants, public officials, and patrons through the honing of individual writing and public speaking skills. Prerequisites: AVIT 402 and Junior or Senior status; open to Aviation majors and minors only; minimum GPA of 2.6. S.

AVIT 402. Airport Planning and Administration. 3 Credits.

This is the first of a two course curriculum in airport administration. This initial course provides an introduction to the complex elements of airport planning and its importance in achieving a successful airport operation. Course content includes a study of the duties and responsibilities of the airport manager with a special emphasis on the Federal Air Regulations governing the operation and administration of commercial service airports within the United States. Prerequisites: Junior or Senior status, open to Aviation majors and minors only, and a minimum GPA of 2.6. F,S.

AVIT 405. Airline Operations and Management. 3 Credits.

This course examines the four major areas of air carrier operations, including ground, technical, flight and system operations, as well as airline economics, utilizing a management simulation tool. There is an intensive examination of regional, point-to-point and network carrier operations. Student management teams make weekly decisions in seven categories: Overall Strategy; Marketing; Operations Management; Human Resource Development; Finance; Asset Management; and Behavioral Elements. A portion of each class time is devoted to simulation activities, and the reading assignments focus on management decisions pertinent to the topic assigned, relying in part on current industry events, with an emphasis on ethical decision making. Prerequisites: Junior or Senior status, open to Aviation majors and minors only, and a minimum GPA of 2.6. F,S,SS.

MGMT 475. Strategic Management. 3 Credits.

This is the capstone course in business. The focus is on understanding companies, competitors, and industries, and the factors that influence long term competitive advantage. In addition to and in conjunction with these topics, students apply knowledge gained in prerequisite courses to develop integrated cross-functional business strategies. The course includes a comprehensive business exam covering material from all prerequisite courses. Prerequisites: ACCT 200, ACCT 201, ECON 201, ECON 202, ECON 210, ISBC 217, MGMT 300, MGMT 301, FIN 310, MRKT 305, 95 credits, and declared CoBPA majors only. F,S.

Explore More Options

Looking to add a double major, pursue graduate work or connect with the department?

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