What Is an Educational Major That Will Help Me Gain Knowledge as an Air Traffic Controller?

What Major to Choose?

• Although a degree in any field opens the door to an ATC career, the most direct path to becoming a controller is to enroll in an FAA-approved Air Traffic -- Collegiate Training Initiative school and major in ATC technology. Getting an air traffic control degree from such a college lets you apply for jobs through the FAA's CTI hiring announcements, which accounted for 39 percent -- by far the largest share -- of ATC hires from 2005 to 2009, according to the FAA's 2010-2019 Controller Workforce Plan.
  
  

Types

• Both two-year technical colleges and four-year universities offer CTI programs and air traffic control majors. Completing an ATC degree at either type of institution will educate you on the basics of air traffic control and give you the opportunity to apply to the FAA's CTI-specific announcements. However, while going to a community college allows you to graduate in a shorter amount of time, opting to attend a four-year university will provide a more rounded educational experience and may better qualify you for ATC management positions in the future.
  
  

Location

• Thirty-six AT-CTI colleges exist in the United States, as of February 2011. States throughout the nation have CTI schools, including those in the South, Midwest, West and Northeast. Additionally, Alaska and Puerto Rico both have universities with CTI programs and air traffic technology majors. Although most such colleges are located in rural areas or small cities, some major metropolitan areas have colleges with CTI training programs.
  
  

Considerations

• While getting an ATC degree from any CTI school will prepare you for life as a controller and put you on the inside track for an FAA job, some schools offer advantages others do not. For instance, some CTI schools, such as the Community College of Beaver County and the University of North Dakota, require ATC students to practice controlling aircraft in life-sized air traffic simulators. Additionally, a few colleges give you the opportunity to work with live traffic in a functioning control tower while you complete your studies. Although these things will not necessarily make you a better controller, they will give you relevant experience before you set foot in the FAA's official ATC training academy after graduation.