The University of Central Missouri offers more than 150 undergraduate programs and degrees in a variety of fields, including three aviation bachelor of science programs (Professional Pilot, Flight Operations Management, and Airport Management) and two master’s programs (MBA in Aviation Safety and Airport Management).
Regardless of their program of study, students at the University of Central Missouri are exposed to all aspects of the aviation industry.
Matthew Furey, a 1999 graduate, returned to the school as an assistant professor in fall 2015. Furey currently teaches a variety of courses, with a focus on courses that are part of the school’s airport management degree program.
Courses in the program range from airport planning and design to corporate aviation management, all of which will help you prepare to take the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) Certified Member (CM) exam.
“I think it’s a good thing to prepare students and have them take this exam,” Furedy says. “I know other programs make it optional rather than required, but I’m not sure how many programs actively make it part of the degree. (Another benefit of our structure) is that we also require students to complete an internship. The more hands-on experience you get, the better off you are. So we tell students to do an internship every summer while they’re here, if possible.”
The University of Central Missouri owns and operates its own airport, Sky Haven Regional Airport (KRCM), located in Warrensburg. (Courtesy of University of Central Missouri Department of Aviation)
Currently, there are approximately 70 students enrolled in the University of Central Missouri’s undergraduate airport management program, the second largest program in the School of Aviation. While many students pursue careers as airport managers after graduation, graduates work in a variety of aviation fields.
“We have students who go through this program to become air traffic controllers,” Furey said, “and then go on to work in airport operations and management, FBOs, government agencies, as consultants. Some go on to work for OEMs. The range of jobs available to students is very diverse.”
Andy Malter began teaching at the University of Central Missouri in the spring of 2020. That semester, Malter passed his CM exam, which sparked a new program he helped create at the school: the Airport Management MBA.
This online program was offered for the first time in fall 2021 and is currently enrolled with approximately 15 students. A GMAT score is not required for admission to the MBA program. The average cost to complete an MBA program is less than $20,000. Most courses are eight weeks long, with five start dates throughout the year.
“This program is designed for entry- to mid-level airport employees looking to advance in their careers,” Malter says. “This degree gives you well-rounded airport management training. It’s the only (AACSB-accredited) airport management MBA in the world. We highly recommend this MBA program to people who work in airports, so we expect students to complete it over two years. We want that because experience is paramount and this program helps you grow.”
“Completing this graduate degree (along with three years of work experience) ensures that students meet all the requirements to take the AAAE’s AAE (Certified Airport Administrator) exam. In addition, students will earn a CM and two ACE (Airport Certified Employee) certificates.”
A mock Part 139 airport inspection at a commercial airport as part of an airport certification class. (Courtesy of the University of Central Missouri, School of Aviation)
Undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Central Missouri are encouraged to join a variety of organizations to further their education. Popular aviation organizations include the school’s AAAE chapter, the Missouri Airport Directors Association, the International Association of Women in Aviation, and Alpha Eta Rho. Additionally, the Department of Aviation places a strong emphasis on providing students with opportunities to apply their coursework in the real world.
“We own and operate the airport here (Sky Haven Airport (KRCM)),” Furey said, “so students have the opportunity to work primarily in-line at the airport and we also offer internships where they can shadow the airport manager. It’s a unique opportunity to get out of the textbook and see the airport.”
“In our airport certification classes, we visit airports to conduct actual Part 139 inspections. We try to make it as close to reality as possible and conduct this inspection at a variety of commercial service airports. We have visited O’Hare in Chicago (International Airport (KORD)), Omaha in Nebraska (KOMA), Memphis in Tennessee (International Airport (KMEM)), Springfield Branson International Airport (KSGF) in Missouri, and St. Louis Lambert International Airport (KSTL) in the south, among others.”
“There’s a saying in the airport industry that ‘if you’ve seen one airport, you’ve seen one airport’, because while there are standards for how things are done, every airport does them a little differently.”
