First Texas Public University To Offer A BS In Aviation
Logistics
The University of North Texas is set to become the first Texas
public college or university to offer a bachelor of science degree
in aviation logistics next year. The program, which will be offered
by the UNT College of Business, was approved by the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board in early October and will begin
accepting students next fall.
Dr. Terrance Pohlen, director of the UNT's Center for Logistics
Education and Research, said that the combination of aviation and
logistics will give UNT graduates a much broader perspective than
they would get from aviation programs offered at other
universities.
"The flight crew, while an important and highly visible part of
aviation, is just the tip of the iceberg. Every time an airplane
takes off, literally thousands of dedicated people help put it in
the air-from those who manage the airports and run the air traffic
control system, to those who schedule flights and many others who
do the jobs that need to be done," said Pohlen.
UNT's program will give students the education and the
experience needed to pursue career opportunities in all facets of
the aviation industry. The program will offer two tracks. One will
be intended for students interested in becoming commercial pilots,
and another for students interested in careers related to passenger
and freight movement.
"The creation of this new major at UNT is in response to the
density of aviation-related businesses and career opportunities in
the Dallas-Fort Worth region. DFW International is the fourth
largest passenger airport in the country. The area also is home to
Dallas Love Field, Fort Worth Alliance airport, American Airlines,
Bell Helicopter and Lockheed Martin, just to name a few," said Dr.
Steve Swartz, assistant professor of logistics.
Pohlen estimates that Texas loses 250 students to aviation
programs in Oklahoma and Louisiana each year. Pohlen hopes that in
the future those students will chose to stay in Texas and attend
UNT.
"The need for a four-year aviation program in Texas was
apparent, and UNT's location and strong reputation for logistics
education made it a natural fit for a comprehensive aviation
logistics program," said Dr. Wendy K. Wilkins, UNT provost and vice
president for academic affairs. "Aviation is essential to the
modern world economy, and this new major will allow UNT to prepare
the leaders of tomorrow for an increasingly complex and challenging
aviation industry."
The program will benefit from UNT's strong relationships with
area community colleges. UNT plans to partner with the area
two-year colleges and pilot training programs to help students
interested in aviation transfer to UNT and earn a four-year
degree.
Students also will benefit from the existing strengths of the
nationally and internationally ranked logistics and supply chain
management degree offered at UNT. Many of the aviation logistics
faculty will be professors who teach in the existing logistics
programs. The program also will draw faculty from a variety of
departments to promote a well-rounded and interdisciplinary
program. In addition, Pohlen said that he hopes UNT's Air Force
ROTC detachment will become a partner.
Pohlen and Swartz combined have more than 44 years of United
States Air Force experience in logistics, and both taught at the
Air Force Institute of Technology. Pohlen helped design a master's
program for the institute aimed at teaching cargo pilots logistics.
The program is still offered today. Swartz is a commercial pilot
and a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the
nation's premier aviation-focused university.