Master of Commercial Aviation (MCA)

Entry Requirements | Degree Requirements | Program Curricula
 Course Sequence and Texts | Financial Information | Applications

The Master of Commercial Aviation program is a 30-hour credit-hour degree program accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and offered entirely online; some students may not visit the campus until the graduation ceremony. This program is especially popular with professionals already established in aviation careers, since they can complete degree requirements on their own schedule. The purpose of the program is to provide students with a focused understanding of aviation concepts and operations. The program is oriented toward aviation management and aviation education.

1. Entry Requirements

1.1 Full admission to the Master of Commercial Aviation program is granted to an applicant who:

bullet has earned a baccalaureate degree which is fully accredited by one of the recognized accrediting agencies, and meets all other requirements for admission to Graduate School

bullet has earned at least a 3.0 grade point average in the baccalaureate degree.

1.2 Provisional admission may be afforded a student who:

does not have a 3.0 overall undergraduate quality point average or an undergraduate aviation core quality point average. Full admission is generally granted upon completion of 9 hours with a quality point average of 3.0; students may not exceed 9 hours of graduate credit when provisional in status.

1.3 Students may be granted non-degree admission:

if they have not been granted full or provisional admission. They are admitted with non-degree watch-care status to improve credentials and and to meet full admission requirements. Not more than 9 semester hours earned while in non-degree status may be applied to the Master of Commercial Aviation degree.  The grades earned while in the non-degree status must be B (3.0 GPA) or better.

2. Degree Requirements

 A candidate for the Master of Commercial Aviation degree must:

bullet fulfill the general requirements for a graduate degree at Delta State University

bullet complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate credits in core courses in aviation (comparable course in statistics from an accredited graduate program may be substituted for CAV605)

bullet earn a grade point average of at least 3.0 in the major field and overall.

Note: A thesis is not required for a Master of Commercial Aviation.

3. Program Curricula

Term Credits Title Description
Fall
3

CAV 605: Methods of Research and Statistics in Aviation

 Development of library skills, analysis of types of research, investigation of research design; introduction to descriptive and inferential statistics.
Fall
3
 CAV 620: Advanced Human Factors in Aviation and the Aerospace Industry The study of individual and group behavior and interaction in the aviation and aerospace industry.
Spring
3
 CAV 620: Airline Management  The study and research principles and practices in airline management in a post deregulation environment.
Spring, Summer
3
 CAV 630: Aviation's Regulatory Environment Examination of federal, state, local, industry, and self-imposed regulations pertaining to the operation of general and commercial aviation.
Spring
3
 CAV 640: Airport Planning, Development and Operation Study of processes used in planning and design, development, operation, and funding of multiple classifications of airports.  The relationship and interaction between owners, management, and tenants.  Security, emergency services, and environ­mental concerns in daily operations.
Fall
3
 CAV 650: Fixed Base Operations Examination of the aviation and non-aviation skills required for the successful operation of a fixed base operation in today's aviation environment.
Fall, Summer
3
 CAV 660: Advanced Aviation Safety Safety considerations in the design and operation of aircraft and airports. The safety record of the aerospace industry, and the industry's response to public opinion. Understanding the cost of safety.
Summer
3
 CAV 670: Air Cargo and Logistics Management Business practices of air cargo carriers and shippers, including economic and marketing aspects.
Summer
3
 CAV 680: Advanced Transportation Systems A study of surface and air transportation modes and how they interact to enhance economic growth worldwide.
Spring, Summer
3
 CAV 690: Special Topics in Aviation Business Administration The election to perform a special, directed analysis and/or  independent study in an area of particular interest. 

4. Course Sequence and Texts

The MCA can be completed in one academic year. Students are encouraged to begin their course of study in the fall term and conclude in the second summer term.

5.1 Fall Term

Course Title Course Text
CAV 605: Statistics for Aviation Research Business Statistics, a Decision Making Approach 6th Edition. ISBN 0-13-047785-0 (hardcover with CD attached inside back cover). Prentice-Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458
CAV 610: Advanced Human Factors in Aviation and the Aerospace Industry Orlady, Harry W., and Linda M.  Human Factors in Multi-Crew Flight Operations. ISBN 0-291-39839-1 (paperback), Ashgate Publishing Ltd., Hampshire GU11 3HR, England
CAV 650: Fixed Base Operations Wells, Alexander T. And Bruce D. Chadbourne (Rev Ed).  General Aviation Marketing and Management. ISBN 0-89464-884-5.   Krieger Publishing Company, Krieger Drive, Malabar, Florida
CAV 660: Advanced Aviation Safety Wood, Richard H.  Aviation safety Programs A Management Handbook (Third Edition)   ISBN 0-88487-329-3.  Jeppesen-Sanderson, Inc.  55 Inverness Drive east, Englewood, Colorado 80112-5498

5.2 Spring Term

Course Title Course Text
CAV 620: Airline Management Dempsey, Paul S. And Laurence E. Gesell. Airline Management: Strategies for the 21st Century. ISBN 0-9606874-9-1. Coast Aire Publications, 2823 North Yucca Street, Chandler, Arizona 85224-1867. Office (602) 899-6151.  Fax (602) 899-7918
CAV 630: Aviation’s Regulatory Environment Hamilton, J. Scott (Fourth edition). Practical Aviation Law. ISBN 0-8138-0641-0, and Workbook ISBN 0-8138-0941-X. Blackwell Publishing Professional, Ames
CAV 640: Airport Planning, Development, and Operation Ashford, Norman, H. P. Martin and Clifton A. Moore. Airport Operations (second edition).  ISBN 0-07-003077-4.  McGraw Hill, New York.  1-800-822-8158.
CAV 690: Special Topics in Business Administration American Psychological Asociation. Publication Manual of the American Psychology Association (Fifth Edition) ISBN: 1557988102 (spiral-bound edition)

5.3 Summer Term 1

Course Title Course Text
CAV 670: Air Cargo Text: O’Connor, William E. (Sixth Edition).  An Introduction to Airline Economics. ISBN 0-275-96911-8.  Greenwood Publishers, 88 West Post Road, Westport, Ct. 06881
CAV 660: Advanced Aviation Safety Wood, Richard H. Aviation Safety Programs: A Management Handbook (Third Edition). ISBN 0-88487-329-3.  Jeppesen-Sanderson, Inc.  55 Inverness Drive east, Englewood, Colorado 80112-5498

5.4 Summer Term 2

Course Title Course Text
CAV 630: Aviation’s Regulatory Environment Hamilton, J. Scott (Fourth Edition). Practical Aviation Law.  ISBN 0-8138-0641-0, and Workbook ISBN 0-8138-0941-X.  Blackwell Publishing Professional, Ames
CAV 680: Advanced Transportation Systems Lieb, Robert C. (Fourth Edition). Transportation.  ISBN 0-87393-227-7. Dame Publications Inc., 7800 Bissonnet-Suite 420, Houston, Texas 77074
CAV 690: Special  Topics in Business Administration American Psychological Association. Publication Manual of the American Psychology Association (Fifth Edition) ISBN: 1557988102 (spiral-bound edition).

Note: Effective June 1, 2007 we will no longer allow Incomplete (I) or In Progress (IP)  grades due to the new version of on-line software. If you are unable to complete the course in the semester registered  you will need to withdraw from the course and sign up the next time the course is offered.

5. Financial Information

Note: The full time out-of-state (non-resident) fee of $2308.50 per semester does not apply to the Master's Degree in Commercial Aviation .  The part time student (less than 9 semester hours) fees for this program are the same as the in state
part time resident resident fee of $222/semester hour. Students enrolled in more than 13 hours of graduate level courses will be assessed an overload fee of $222/semester hour.

6. Applications

The following applications are available online:

bullet Graduate School Application

bullet Degree Candidacy Application

bullet Graduate Degree Application