Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
WHERE ASPIRATION MEETS ALTITUDE PH.D. IN AVIATION
COLLEGE OF AVIATION
For more information: School of Graduate Studies dbphdav@erau.edu | 386.226.6546 aviationphd.erau.edu
You’re inspired to lead an ever-changing industry. You’re ready for your Ph.D.
Right now, the aviation and aerospace industry is engaged in truly transformative projects. We face challenges that demand input from people who are intimately familiar with the aviation industry: People who have industry experience and are trained to conduct rigorous research Scholars who can come up with solutions and communicate them effectively to others Experts with the highest credentials achievable in aviation Take charge of your career with a Ph.D. in Aviation from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
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Develop Your Potential for Research and Teaching
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is an institution unrivaled as a leader in the aviation and aerospace community. Here, you’ll find scholarly researchers with a blend of academics and practical knowledge unlike anywhere else. As the nation’s first Ph.D. program in aviation, this degree is designed to educate students and professionals in conducting state-of-the-art research in all areas of this important field of study, extending the aviation body of knowledge. Embry-Riddle’s Ph.D. in Aviation is the most rigorous and respected program in the aviation world. As you evaluate your options for a doctoral degree, consider who offers you truly engaging courses, professors with recognized expertise in the field and the freedom to explore areas of study that interest you most. Our curriculum has been designed to accommodate working professionals who seek to advance their knowledge and conduct high-quality research in aviation while furthering their careers. This program blends the flexibility of online learning with personalized instruction of annual residencies for a convenient and comprehensive hybrid doctoral degree.
What are the benefits of Embry-Riddle’s Ph.D. in Aviation program? Receive the highest credentials possible in your chosen field. Prepare to contribute to the body of knowledge in aviation and aerospace. Be a part of a first-of-its-kind program run by the established world leader in aviation and aerospace education.
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STEVEN HAMPTON, ED.D. Professor and Associate Dean of Graduate Studies
“Our students learn how to choose which evidenced-based logic to use, to make sound solid decisions. Decision-making skills, that they will then use to solve critical aerospace problems both in the near and far term, resulting in solid recommendations. Those recommendations will then be used to safely and judiciously move the growing Global Aerospace Industry forward.”
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RACHELLE STRONG, PH.D. DB ’20 Flight Deck Chief Engineer, Boeing Commercial Airlines “Embry-Riddle’s Ph.D. in Aviation program had a very positive impact on my professional development and helped propel me forward into senior leadership positions by establishing the highest level of academic credibility in my field. I learned how to conduct scholarly research in the field of human factors while continuing to progress in my engineering career at Boeing.”
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Create the Future You’ve Dreamed About
ROBUST & CHALLENGING CURRICULUM
As an Embry-Riddle Ph.D. student, you’ll work harder academically than you’ve ever worked. You’ll have access to industry experts, and you’ll study with some of the smartest people you’ve ever met. We’ve designed the coursework very carefully to challenge you and to develop your intellectual reasoning and research skills. You’ll be expected to take positions and make supportive arguments in those courses. You’ll undergo a thorough study of statistics and research methodology. You’ll also read and analyze the predominant literature in our industry in order to develop the skills to create new knowledge on your own. In years to come, students will read your published, peer-reviewed articles.
BRIAN MUSSELMAN, PH.D. DB ’22 Director of Human Factors, Star Harbor “Embry-Riddle’s Ph.D. in Aviation
provided credibility for a transition from aerospace medicine and human factors in the U.S. Air Force to the commercial space industry. The program provided academic knowledge, research execution and statistics comprehension with the appropriate amount of rigor. I regularly apply these skills in my current position. I published several papers throughout the program, and I am continuing to work on research and publishing.”
TERMS Online courses are offered in Fall, Spring and Summer D terms. –WEEK 12
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Focus on Flexibility Choice and Quality
ONLINE & ON-SITE OPTIONS The Ph.D. in Aviation program at Embry-Riddle is offered primarily online, with one-week residencies required during each of the first three years of enrollment. Students have the opportunity to interact with their peers and faculty during these exciting experiences. Residencies all take place on the Daytona Beach campus of the world’s largest aviation-oriented university, where faculty and students engage in unmatched, leading-edge research in aviation and aerospace. Students will have access to real-world scenarios through our labs, including the Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Lab, the largest facility for research and aircrew training in the U.S. Online courses are hosted on Canvas, an educational platform designed with teaching and learning experiences in mind. Canvas is cloud-based and viewable on any web browser, computer or mobile device, allowing seamless engagement and collaboration through video, audio, integrated media recording, text and discussion boards.
Labs and Facilities: daytonabeach.erau.edu/college-aviation/labs-facilities
Staying connected to your courses, faculty and other students is made easy by Canvas. The learning management system allows you the freedom to receive notifications and course updates through email, text message, Facebook and X.
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DEZSÖ SILAGYI, PH.D. DB ’20 Manager, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) “The program had a very positive impact on my personal and professional development. It is a great program, absolutely applicable to aviation. The professors and staff are tremendously supportive.”
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Push the Limit of Your Possibilities
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS To be considered for admission, candidates must hold a bachelor’s and master’s from an accredited, degree-granting institution. At least one degree should be in an aviation-related discipline. If not, current work experience should be in aviation. A GRE score in the 50th percentile or higher for both verbal and quantitative sections within the last five years is preferable. Including GRE scores in your application for enrollment is optional. PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS The program is 60 credit hours. Each course is three credit hours, except the residency, which is two credit hours. Candidates are required to take five courses per academic year and should expect to spend approximately 10-14 hours per week on each course. Students average 4-6 years in the program. FINANCES The cost of the program ranges from $90,000 to $100,000, which includes tuition, residency fees, software fee, book estimates, travel to campus and room/board for all residencies and dissertation defense. We recommend exploring financing options such as personal funds, financial aid, veteran’s benefits and employer tuition assistance/reimbursement.
SCHOLARSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS Scholarship, grant and fellowship opportunities are available to assist you. Additionally, the School of Graduate Studies may provide Ph.D. assistantship positions to selected, qualified residential students, which helps provide research experiences and the enrichment of your academic experience. There is no guarantee these will be awarded or that they will significantly impact the overall cost if awarded.
60 HOURS Program credits required for graduation
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Establish Yourself as an Industry Leader
LEAD A THRIVING GLOBAL MARKET
As the number of daily flights throughout the world increases, the need for educated and trained personnel expands in every facet of aviation. This is an area of growth in an age when many sectors of the world’s economies are shrinking or shifting. Civilization has become mobile, and that mobility is expected to increase in the decades to come. Graduates of our program often remain in their same career field but are offered significant growth opportunities within research and leadership. Others become faculty members and researchers or work for government agencies or major airlines.
LAND YOUR DREAM JOB A Ph.D. will position you for a successful career in a variety of settings, including: Academics Airports Aviation Technology Manufacturers Fortune 500 Companies Global Aviation Companies Government Agencies
649,000 new pilots, 690,000 new maintenance technicians, and 938,000 new cabin crew members will be needed to fly and maintain the global commercial aviation fleet over the next 20 years.
Boeing Pilot and Technician Outlook 2023-2042
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STEPHANIE GILL FUSSELL, PH.D. DB ’20 Assistant Professor and Aeronautics Program Coordinator Kent State University “The Ph.D. in Aviation helped prepare me to work with students when I became a teaching assistant. This journey, though it can be long and challenging, is absolutely one that can be completed successfully and will positively impact your career and professional development. When I graduated in 2020, I was more than ready to transition to a career.”
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“We are attracting excellent students who are accomplishing great things. I’m most proud of the quality of work I’ve seen in their dissertations. They’re excellent, and I think they’ll make a real contribution to the industry. Our Ph.D. students are going to make aviation safer and more efficient.” Alan Stolzer, Ph.D.
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Learn From Leaders Who Are Shaping the Future of Aviation
ALAN STOLZER, PH.D. Professor and Dean of the College of Aviation
Dr. Alan Stolzer has published extensively in the areas of aviation safety and quality throughout his career and has been called on to participate in national working groups focused on Safety Management Systems and the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). He has contributed a great deal to the aviation industry but is especially proud to be educating the next generation of aviation scholars. One of Dr. Stolzer’s landmark research projects explored the potential design and implementation of an Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing (ASIAS) program for general aviation that would be on par with the system in place for commercial aviation. In 2009, general aviation accidents accounted for 95% of civil aviation accidents and 89 percent of fatalities, highlighting the critical contribution of this project. Dr. Stolzer is a prolific author and has been awarded numerous grants and contracted training programs. His landmark textbook, Safety Management Systems in Aviation , has been recognized as essential reading for students and safety professionals.
Areas of Expertise: Aviation safety, safety management systems, flight operations quality assurance, quality engineering, quantitative analysis
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Engage With Expert Faculty at the Vanguard of Aviation
INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED SCHOLARS IN AVIATION As a doctoral student at Embry-Riddle, you’ll be mentored by faculty members who are fully invested in your future. They are dynamic experts and thought leaders within specialized areas of aviation and research. Online Faculty Profiles: daytonabeach.erau.edu/college-aviation/ graduate-studies/faculty
STEVEN HAMPTON, ED.D. Professor and Associate Dean of Graduate Studies Areas of Expertise: Higher education, pedagogy, training, simulation, airspace modernization, next-generation avionics, applied research, flight operations
SCOTT WINTER, PH.D. Associate Professor & Program Coordinator, MSUS; Associate Dean for Research, COA Areas of Expertise: Aviation human factors, human-automation interaction, flight training, consumer perceptions, research methods, statistics
DOTHANG TRUONG, PH.D. Professor and Ph.D. Program Coordinator Areas of Expertise: Aviation safety, machine learning and artificial intelligence in aviation, natural language processing, big data analytics, and air transportation.
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BARBARA HOLDER, PH.D. Presidential Fellow and Associate Professor, School of Graduate Studies Areas of Expertise: Cognitive systems engineering, human-centered design, human-machine interaction, design of flight deck procedures and operational policy, field research methods, aviation safety
FRANK H. AYERS, ED.D. Professor of Aeronautical Science
Areas of Expertise: Aviation safety, safety management systems, aircraft accident investigation, air transport systems, organizational leadership and change management, continuing education
KIM CHAMBERS, PH.D. Associate Director of CTLE, Adjunct Faculty Areas of Expertise: Qualitative research, human science research, phenomenology, faculty development, college student development, college student identity development
DAVID A. ESSER, PH.D. Professor of Aeronautical Science
Areas of Expertise: Organizational dynamics, safety management systems, flight safety, aerodynamics, aircraft performance, flight operational quality assurance, flight data monitoring, advanced qualification program
JENNIFER THROPP, PH.D. Associate Professor, School of Graduate Studies Areas of Expertise: Experimental psychology, human condition, psychophysiology
JANE PAN, PH.D. Assistant Professor, School of Graduate Studies Areas of Expertise: Behavioral modeling, advanced multivariate statistics (e.g., structure equation modeling), research methodology, transport market competition
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Deepen Your Expertise With Targeted Topics
PROGRAM GOALS Students will develop mastery of the central theories and concepts, including foundations, safety management, economics and regulatory procedures. Pose and solve theory-based and research-based problems designed to advance applications in the field of aviation. Our graduate students extend the aviation body of knowledge by conceiving, planning, producing and communicating original research. They develop and demonstrate expertise in instructional processes, leadership, collaboration and communication necessary for scholarly work in aviation.
CURRICULUM Course Requirements 12 Credits Required Students are required to take the following core courses: Quantitative Research Methods in Aviation 3 Research Methods 3 Quantitative and Qualitative Data Analysis 3 Advanced Quantitative Data Analysis – Data Mining and Modeling 3
Specialization and Elective Courses 24 Credits Required Students will complete eight of the following courses: Aviation Safety Management Systems
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Human Factors in Aviation
Management of Systems Engineering in Aviation
Instructional Design in Aviation
Regulatory Environment of Aviation Safety
Aviation Organizational Dynamics
Multicultural Team Operations in Aviation Operations Research and Decision-Making Current Practices and Future Trends in Aviation
Human-Centered Design in Aviation Topics in Safety Management Systems
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Specializations Students can select one of four specializations 04
Aviation Safety In addition to completing all other required coursework, students must take the following courses to specialize in Aviation Safety. 12 Credits Aviation Safety Management Systems 3 Management of Systems Engineering in Aviation 3 Regulatory Environment of Aviation Safety 3 Topics in Safety Management Systems 3 Total 12 Aviation Human Factors In addition to completing all other required coursework, students must take the following courses to specialize in Aviation Human Factors. 9 Credits Human Factors in Aviation 3 Management of Systems Engineering in Aviation 3 Human-Centered Design in Aviation 3 Total 9 Aviation Operations In addition to completing all other required coursework, students must take the following courses to specialize in Aviation Operations. 12 Credits Aviation Organizational Dynamics 3 Multicultural Team Operations in Aviation 3 Operations Research and Decision-Making 3 Current Practices and Future Trends in Aviation 3 Total 12 Intradisciplinary The Intradisciplinary Specialization is for students who wish to work outside of the traditional academic boundaries, combining coursework from any specialization while meeting basic course requirements. Students will complete all four core courses and eight Specialization and Elective Courses.
Residency Students are required to attend three five-day annual residencies at the Daytona Beach Campus. 6 Credits Qualifying Examination Students must pass the Qualifying Examination to be admitted to candidacy. The exam is administered over a two-day period and tests the student’s mastery of completed course subject matter and preparation to conduct dissertation research. Dissertation Once the student has successfully completed the Qualifying Examination, the student will register for Dissertation Research 1. The student must complete 18 credit hours of dissertation courses, at a minimum, and register for at least 3 hours of dissertation courses each semester (i.e., continuous enrollment) until the dissertation has been completed. 18 Credits Featured dissertation titles from our Ph.D. graduates: The Effect of Generation on Retention of Women Engineers in Aerospace and Industry Visual Detention of Small Unmanned Aircraft: Modeling the Limits of Human Pilots Low-fare Flight Across the Atlantic: Impact of Low-cost, Long-haul Flights on Passenger Choice of Carrier
You’re ready for your Ph.D. Let’s get started. Apply today.
For more information: School of Graduate Studies dbphdav@erau.edu | 386.226.6546 | aviationphd.erau.edu
1 Aerospace Boulevard | Daytona Beach, FL 32114
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