Air Traffic Management

The courses in the Air Traffic Management (ATM) discipline are designed to provide students with the Air Traffic Control portion of the degree, previously required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to be considered for employment.

Middle Georgia State University is one of the Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) institutions in the United States that the FAA has partnered with to train potential air traffic controllers. The degree program in ATM is the Associate of Applied Science in Air Traffic Management. The degree program provides basic courses in air traffic control and are designed to provide qualified applicants to fill developmental air traffic control specialist positions with the FAA.

Students must successfully complete all required training at the FAA Academy to continue employment with FAA.

The following list shows qualifications that a potential candidate must meet prior to employment with the FAA.

  • Three years general progressive work experience
  • Four years of college, or combination of both school and work experience
  • Be a United States citizen
  • In most cases, not have reached age 31
  • Pass a biographical assessment (prior to AT-SAT)
  • Pass a medical examination
  • Pass a security investigation
  • Achieve a score of at least 70 on the FAA pre-employment test (AT-SAT)
  • Speak English clearly enough for others to understand you on communications equipment
  • Complete an interview
  • Entry in to the Air Traffic Management program is competitive, as detailed below.

Air Traffic Management (ATM) admission requirements are in addition to university admission requirements. Applicants are considered for admission using a formula approved by the ATM Admissions Committee. Admission is competitive, not all applicants will be accepted.

Applications to the program are available on the ATM Home Page: http://www.mga.edu/aviation/Air-Traffic-Management/. In order to be considered for admission, applications and transcripts must be received by the deadlines published on the ATM Home Page.

  1. As of this printing, minimum criteria for admission to the Air Traffic Management program include:
    1. Acceptance to Middle Georgia State University.
    2. Completion of any required university placement tests and remedial courses.
    3. Completion of at least 12 hours of courses required for the ATM Program at Middle Georgia State University with a minimum overall institutional GPA of 2.5.
    4. Completion of ATCM 1200*, Area A Math Elective & ENGL 1101 with a grade of “C” or higher for each course. (Minimum overall GPA 2.5 or higher.) Overall GPA in these courses will be utilized to select the top students for entry into the ATM program.
    5. Essential Competencies Policy: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ensures the qualified applicant with a disability the opportunity to pursue program admission at public institutions. To determine whether an individual is a qualified applicant for programs or services, the ADA states that applicants must meet essential competency requirements. A list of essential competencies is available. Essential competencies include critical thinking, communication, interpersonal skills, mobility, tactile ability, vision, and hearing. All students will be held to the same standards and must be able to perform the essential competencies of their program with or without reasonable accommodation. The Air Traffic Management program at MGA is unable to make accommodations that impose an undue burden, present a threat to the health or safety of the individual or others, or fundamentally alter the nature of the curriculum in laboratory sessions. Questions about the accommodation process may be directed to the Director of Student Services at (478) 934-3023.
  2. All applicants not selected must reapply to be considered for future classes.

    Note: Any conviction more serious than a traffic ticket may impact your eligibility for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employment. It is the applicant's responsibility to contact the FAA or the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) with any concerns about background issues.