The Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) Aviation Sciences program has 250 student majors, making it the number one field of study for currently enrolled students. The major saw a 39 % increase in enrollment from fall 2022.
In years past, the university’s Business Administration field of study catered to the most matriculants. This year, Business Administration has the second highest number of majors followed by Interdisciplinary Studies.
ECSU offers the only four-year Aviation Science degree program in North Carolina with concentrations in flight education, aviation management, and professional aeronautics. In addition, ECSU’s flight training is approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for Restricted Airline Pilot (R-ATP) authorization, which allows students to qualify as an airline pilot with 1,000 hours compared to the 1,500 hours requirement.
In September, the Department of Aviation and Emergency Management spent three days at the 2023 NAS Oceana Air Show in Virginia Beach, Va., as it continues to shine a light on and provoke interest in the field. Additionally, the program received a $15,000 contribution from Republic Airways to support scholarships and expenses, including check ride and FAA examination costs for students within the major.