May 10, 2025

2025-2026 Preliminary Catalog

Air Traffic Control

Location(s): Catonsville

Program Checklist (opens a new window) |

Important Information

Short Description

The Air Traffic Control degree prepares graduates for employment as Air Traffic Controllers, Flight Service Station Specialists, and for positions in a wide variety of related aviation career fields. Air Traffic Controllers guide pilots to their destinations and are responsible for the safe and orderly flow of aircraft in congested airspace. Flight Service Station Specialists assist pilots in flight planning by providing air traffic delay and weather briefings and by disseminating important route and airport information. Positions with the federal government may require a physical evaluation and qualifying exam.

Type of Credential

Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.)

Program Code

282

Contacts and Additional Information

Aviation Program Faculty:

CCBC Catonsville, Assistant Professor D. Roscoe Law
443-840-5036 or dlaw@ccbcmd.edu

CCBC Catonsville, Professor Chris Komsa
443-840-4209 or ckomsa@ccbcmd.edu

CCBC Catonsville, Associate Professor Joe Eichelberger
443-840-4463 or jeichelberger@ccbcmd.edu

CCBC Catonsville, Instructor Ian Twombly
443-840-4768 or itwombly@ccbcmd.edu

Contact the Aviation Technology Department
443-840-4157 or aviation@ccbcmd.edu

Additional Information:

FAA Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) program
FAA Unmanned Aircraft Systems Collegiate Training Initiative program
FAA approved Aircraft Dispatcher Certification program
FAA approved for Restricted Airline Transport Pilot (R-ATP)
Designated Statewide Programs include only the credit certificates and the Flight Operations Management degree.
Students considering applying for this program should read the information available on the CCBC Aviation Technology website.
Flight Training courses approved under FAA Part 141.
Some Aviation classes have lab fees. Fees are subject to change at the discretion of the Community College of Baltimore County.
Opportunities to earn Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) - For Aviation Technology, see Departmental Exam and Articulated Credit by Industry/Apprenticeship. Several General Education classes also have CPL opportunities.
Articulation and Transfer Agreements (There are no program specific agreements currently.)

Pathway & Track

Technology and Engineering Pathway: Aviation Track

Disclosures

CCBC cannot confirm whether the course or program meets requirements for professional licensure in states other than Maryland. If you plan to apply for licensure in a state other than Maryland, contact that state’s licensing board to determine whether the CCBC course or program meets requirements for licensure in that state. If you need assistance finding contact information for your state, click here .

Curriculum Maps

Curriculum Maps are a tool to provide students with a clear understanding of which courses to take and the order in which to complete them. Curriculum Maps help define a student’s individual path towards graduation, ensuring their time and efforts are not spent on credits that fall outside their program of study.

Each map identifies critical courses that must be completed in order to progress through the program and graduate. Curriculum Maps come complete with helpful hints for students - like recommended course electives and a reminder to apply to graduate.

Select the link(s) below to view the Curriculum Map(s) for this program:

Air Traffic Control Curriculum Map

Courses Needed for This Program*

General Education Requirements and Electives - 19 Credits

General Education Requirements:

CMNS 101 - Fundamentals of Communication 3 Credit(s).
ENGL 101 - College Composition I 3 Credit(s).
ERSC 131 - Introduction to Meteorology 4 Credit(s). (program requirement also - cannot be substituted)
MATH 125 - Finite Mathematics and Modeling 3 Credit(s).

General Education Electives:

Choose courses in each category from the list of approved General Education Courses . One course must be a Diversity course.

Information Technology (CSIT 101 recommended, or CSIT 120 to fulfill Diversity) 3 Credit(s).
Social and Behavioral Sciences 3 Credit(s).

Program Requirements and Electives - 46 Credits

Program Requirements:

AVMT 101 - Aviation History and Development 3 Credit(s).
AVMT 131 - Private Pilot Ground School 3 Credit(s).
AVMT 143 - VFR Flight Operations 2 Credit(s).
AVMT 211 - Air Transportation 3 Credit(s).
AVMT 216 - Aviation Safety 3 Credit(s).
AVMT 221 - The Air Traffic Control System 3 Credit(s).
AVMT 226 - Air Traffic Control Operations I 3 Credit(s).
AVMT 227 - Air Traffic Control Operations II 3 Credit(s).
AVMT 228 - Air Traffic Control Operations III 3 Credit(s).
AVMT 229 - Air Traffic Control Operations IV 3 Credit(s).
AVMT 230 - Air Traffic Control Operations V 3 Credit(s).
AVMT 231 - Instrument Pilot Ground School 4 Credit(s).
AVMT 243 - IFR Flight Operations 1 Credit(s).
AVMT 251 - Airport Management 3 Credit(s).
AVMT 256 - Airline Management 3 Credit(s).

Program Electives:

Choose one of the following courses:

ENGL 102 - College Composition II 3 Credit(s).
or
ENGL 239 - Business Communications 3 Credit(s).
or
MNGT 239 - Business Communications 3 Credit(s).

Total Number of Credits Required for A.A.S. Degree: 65*

Note

*Credit students who are new to college (no successfully completed transferable college credits from other institutions) are required to take ACDV 101 - Academic Development 101 . This 1-credit course is designed to be taken in the first semester at CCBC. Students must provide an official transcript(s) from an accredited institution to document successful completion of college coursework for the ACDV 101 requirement to be waived.

Program Description

The Air Traffic Control degree prepares graduates for employment as Air Traffic Controllers, Flight Service Station Specialists and for careers in a host of aviation-related industries. Air Traffic Controllers guide pilots to their destinations and are responsible for the safe and orderly flow of aircraft in congested airspace. Flight Service Station Specialists assist pilots in flight planning by providing air traffic delay and weather condition briefings and by disseminating important route and airport information. Many of these positions are with the federal government, and individuals may be required to pass a physical evaluation and qualifying exam.

The Air Traffic Control degree is one of 30 programs approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) under the Air Traffic Control Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) and is specifically designed to prepare students for work in airport control towers, Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facilities, and Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCC).

This is an FAA Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) program. Students considering applying for this program should read the CCBC AT-CTI Handbook available on the CCBC website at www.ccbcmd.edu/aviation.

Some aviation classes have lab fees. Fees are subject to change at the discretion of the Community College of Baltimore County.

Program Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this degree option, students will be able to:

secure employment in the FAA Air Traffic Controller workforce;
coordinate and regulate the flow of air traffic at all levels of airport density;
interpret flight plans and flight data to manage air traffic patterns;
function effectively and efficiently in a team;
monitor and communicate to pilots changing weather conditions;
apply FAA and NTSB regulations and other aeronautical and security guidelines appropriately in various aviation and safety settings; and
speak and communicate clearly and decisively using standard industry pilot-controller phraseology.