University of North Dakota Aerospace at Crookston

The John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences, UND Aerospace Foundation, and University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC) have a long term partnership that offers a four-year degree program at UMC. This program combines UMC'S unmatched expertise in providing a dynamic learning community and UND's international reputation of excellence in aerospace education — to provide a unique academic environment.

Aviation opportunities are limitless. The aviation industry is at an all-time high. Opportunities for graduates as well as internships and co-ops are readily available. The days of barnstorming crop dusters, where learning by trial and error was the rule rather than the exception, are over.

Tomorrow's agricultural aviator must possess the dual skills of a disciplined pilot and a highly trained agriculturist. Two premiere institutions (UND and UMC) collaborate to give you that edge!

The Crookston UND Experience

The John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences (UND Aerospace) and the University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC) have joined forces to offer several four-year degree in Agricultural Aviation, Law Enforcement Aviation, Natural Resource Aviation, and Business Aviation.

This program combines UMC's unmatched expertise in agricultural education and UND's international reputation for excellence in aerospace education to bring you a degree unlike any other found in the United States. Students graduate with the tools they need to meet the increasingly sophisticated and technologically demanding requirements of twenty-first-century agriculture and aviation.

The outlook for graduates from Crookston looks bright. There are about 5,000 active ag aviators in the United States and it is estimated that at least 250 new pilots are needed annually. Additionally, international demand is growing and new career opportunities are increasing in forestry, fish and wildlife management, aerial firefighting, and anywhere low altitude precision flying is required.

The UND Crookston Campus

The UMC Campus, located at the northern edge of Crookston, the campus is comprised of 34 buildings on 108 acres (237 acres including the University of Minnesota Northwest Research and Outreach Center adjacent on the east).

The University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC) is a public, baccalaureate, coeducational institution and a coordinate campus of the University of Minnesota. As a four-year, public university with an enrollment of 1,600 students, UMC proudly carries on a tradition of a century of educational service to Northwestern Minnesota.

Since its establishment as an institution of higher learning in 1966 and its transition to offering baccalaureate degree programs in 1993, UMC equips all students and faculty with laptop computers; provides individual attention that leads to success, and offers a hands-on approach that puts students ahead of the competition!

UND Aircraft Fleet at Crookston

Operated and maintained by UND Aerospace, The University of Minnesota Crookston uses a fleet of advanced aircraft utilizing some of the most advanced avionics packages available today. UMC's fleet includes the TopCub, Piper Warriors, and a Piper Arrow.

The Piper Warrior, with it’s Avidyne Entegra avionics suite is the workhorse of the UMC/UND program being utilized in the Private, Instrument, CFI, and CFII courses. Commercial training is accomplished in the Piper Arrow. The TopCub is used in the tailwheel and advanced tailwheel courses. Included in the advanced tailwheel course is training on radio telemetry, tracking, and survey procedures.

Crookston Programs 

The John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences, UND Aerospace Foundation and University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC) have joined forces to offer a two-year degree program at Crookston with the option to continue additional flight training and receive a 4-year aviation degree at the University of North Dakota

Aviation: Highly-respected by the aviation industry, the Odegard School offers a liberal arts core curriculum combined with a professional aviation education in a variety of specialties.

Commercial Aviation: Be a part of the dynamic aviation industry at one of the largest and most respected collegiate programs in the world.

Professional Flight: Earn your professional pilot's license while completing your non-Aviation major.

UND Aerospace Deans Forum 2020

UND Objectives:

• Create graduates that harbor excellent aviation technical abilities: Produce future aviation professionals that possess the greatest knowledge and technical abilities possible prior to entering the aviation community.
• Strive for human excellence through the use of a liberal education: Provide students with a well-rounded educational experience that enhances communication, teamwork, and leadership skills while fostering an appreciation for other cultures.
• Instill characteristics that will fully develop our student's human potential: By inspiring students to pursue life-long learning, it is our goal to prepare students with an understanding and acceptance of changes or challenges they may face in the aviation industry.
• Promote a solid foundation for the continued utilization of technology: Due to ever-changing technology demands in the aviation industry, we provide a foundation of knowledge for current technology use and future applications.
• Provide skills to build and promote a culture of safety in the aerospace industry: Emphasize our vitally important role in the transfer of new information and the building of a culture of safety throughout the aviation community.