The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Aviation is designed for working professionals seeking to advance their knowledge and conduct research in aviation, contributing to the body of aviation knowledge. The program includes study across areas of aviation and supports development of research skills within the field.
At the Daytona Beach Campus, the program is structured through a flexible, primarily online and hybrid format that allows students to continue professional employment while pursuing doctoral education. The program consists of 60 graduate credit hours, including 36 credit hours of coursework, 6 credit hours of residency, and 18 credit hours dedicated to dissertation research. Coursework includes core courses, specialization courses and electives. Students complete a qualifying examination administered over a two-day period to assess subject mastery and readiness for dissertation research. The dissertation is conducted under the advisement of a Dissertation Advisory Committee and must be successfully completed and defended.
Students are required to complete three five-day on-campus residency seminars at the Daytona Beach Campus. These residencies include structured academic activities and provide opportunities for interaction with faculty, staff and other students, supporting preparation for subsequent phases of the program. Residency seminars are scheduled during mid-August. Applications, including all supporting documents, are due by February 1 for the August cohort. The School of Graduate Studies also offers a residential option for students who choose to complete required portions of the program on campus. Assistantship positions may be available to qualified residential students, subject to program resources and approval. Eligibility and continuation of assistantships are governed by University Academic Doctorate Policies.
Program-Level Learning Outcomes
Students will:
Demonstrate mastery of seminal knowledge, foundational skills, and modern technology and tools in aviation disciplines (safety management, human factors, aviation operations, and intradisciplinary study).
Pose and solve theory-based and research-based problems designed to advance applications in the field of aviation.
Extend the aviation body of knowledge by conceiving, planning, producing, and communicating original research.
Apply expertise in instructional processes.
Demonstrate leadership, collaboration, and communication necessary for scholarly work in aviation.
Daytona Beach Program Requirements
Core Requirements
12
Area of Concentrations
24
Program Support Electives
Residency Requirement
6
Qualifying Exam
Dissertation Requirement
18
Total Credits
60
*
The program consists of 60 graduate credit hours. Of those 60 hours, a minimum of 48 hours must be above a Master's degree, and a minimum of 54 hours must be completed at Embry-Riddle.
Core Requirements
All students are required to take the following core courses:
The Intradisciplinary Option 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 other courses.
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.
The presented study plan is an example only and is intended for illustrative purposes. Students should contact the PhD in Aviation Program and work with the Program Coordinator to develop their actual planning.
