The aviation industry is forecasting an unprecedented demand for pilots, airport managers, operations specialists, and planners in the coming decade. To meet this demand, Shepherd University is partnering with Bravo Flight Training and the Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport Authority to offer a multi-disciplinary aviation program, the only one of its kind in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. Students will graduate with the classroom knowledge and hands-on experience to succeed in this lucrative field.
The Hunter Carlos Willis Aviation Program at Shepherd University is a concentration within the Business Administration major, placing an emphasis on the management skills required to successfully work and advance up the career ladder in the aviation industry.
The aviation program will launch in the fall of 2023. Students entering Shepherd prior to that time can enter as a Business Administration major and switch to the aviation concentration in the fall of 2023.
Students can also elect to take flight training from our partner, Bravo Flight Training, an FAA-certified, Part 141 Flight School, for an additional fee.
Elements of the Aviation Program
Students will complete the following coursework as part of the degree requirements to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in business administration with a concentration in aviation:
- Introduction to Aviation
- Aviation Management
- Aviation Law
- Aviation Ground School
- Flight Training (optional)
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Who is Hunter Carlos Willis?
Shepherd University’s aviation program is named for a remarkable 19-year-old who ultimately lost his battle with bone cancer, but whose courage and passion for flying live on through this innovative academic partnership. Hunter Carlos Willis aspired to attend Shepherd University and become the first student in the aviation program. His friends and family established the program in 2022 to honor and remember him. To learn how you can support the Hunter Carlos Willis Aviation Program at Shepherd, visit the Shepherd University Foundation website.