Aviation Expertise at Your Fingertips
At Embry-Riddle, the mission of the Ph.D. in Aviation is to produce outstanding scholars for careers in research and teaching in the aviation field. Students take part in a rigorous, research-driven program that pushes them to their greatest potential.
The Ph.D. in Aviation allows highly qualified students and professionals from diverse backgrounds and aviation career paths to immerse themselves in this high-powered world of aviation. As the nation’s first Ph.D. of its kind, 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 body of aviation knowledge.
Program Details
Offered at the Daytona Beach Campus
This program has been designed to accommodate working professionals who seek to advance their knowledge and conduct high-quality research in aviation while being employed. The flexible, mainly online and hybrid delivery of this program enables students to continue professional careers while pursuing doctoral education.
The program consists of 60 graduate credit hours, 36 of which will come from online courses designed to provide Ph.D. students with aviation knowledge in their intended specialization. Eighteen credit hours are earned by completing the dissertation — an extensive, real-world research project.
The program consists of coursework, residencies, qualifying examination and dissertation.
- Coursework – 36 credit hours: The coursework consists of four core courses, specialization courses and elective courses.
- Residency – 6 credit hours: Students are required to complete a minimum of three Residency seminars at the Embry‑Riddle Daytona Beach Campus.
- Qualifying Examination: 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 – 18 credit hours: Students work on the dissertation research under the advisement of the Dissertation Advisory Committee. The student must complete and defend the dissertation successfully.
Residency
Students are required to complete three five-day on-campus Residency seminars. The seminars include multiple activities and allow students to network face-to-face with other students, faculty and staff while participating in sessions that prepare them for the next phase of the program. The residencies are scheduled during mid-August.
Application
The deadline for applications and all supporting documents is February 1st for the following August cohort. The application package is considered an indication of your ability to perform in a challenging, professional environment. It should be carefully and thoroughly prepared, completed and submitted on or before the deadline of February 1st.
Residential Option
The School of Graduate Studies offers a residential option for students who desire to study on the Daytona Beach Campus during required semesters. All residential students must follow the same degree requirements.
The School of Graduate Studies may provide Ph.D. assistantship positions to selected, qualified residential students. They are designed to assist Ph.D. students with the enrollment cost in the Ph.D. program and to provide research experiences that contribute to an enrichment of the academic experience. The number of assistantships available each year depends on the program’s budget availability and must be approved by the Dean of the College of Aviation.
To be eligible to receive and maintain this assistantship, the student needs to comply with the University Academic Doctorate Policies APD-09, Ph.D. Research and Teaching Assistantships.
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Credits60
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Methods of Study
- Online
- In-Person
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Career Opportunities
As the aviation industry grows more complex and data-driven, professionals with advanced research skills in aviation are needed to lead improvements in safety, efficiency and strategic decision making across the field.