Aviation Sciences, Ph.D.

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Major Code: 9103	Degree Awarded: Doctor of Philosophy
Delivery Mode(s): Classroom, Field, Online	Age Restriction: No
Admission Status: Graduate	Location(s): Main Campus - Melbourne
Admission Materials: 3 letters of recommendation, résumé, objectives

The doctor of philosophy program is designed to prepare students to have an understanding of the diverse and multidisciplinary nature of the critical issues facing the aviation industry, to acquire the capacity and experience needed to perform autonomous research that will advance the frontiers of aviation knowledge, and to assume leadership positions within the aviation community in both academic and non-academic settings. The focus of the program is a combination of theory and practice, and dissertation research is oriented for aviation professionals to solve both research- and theory-based aviation problems and apply solutions to real problems in the field.

Admission Requirements

An applicant to the doctoral program in aviation sciences must have a master’s degree from an accredited institution in aviation, engineering, science, technology, education or an equivalent field with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale. The applicant should have enough practical experience to qualify as a professional in the aviation field. Ideally, this would equate to at least three full years of work experience in the aviation industry, government or higher education. International applicants must hold a master’s degree in one of the above fields from an international institution that has provided suitable preparation for doctoral-level studies.

General admission requirements and the process for applying are presented in the Academic Overview section.

Degree Requirements

The Doctor of Philosophy in Aviation Sciences is conferred on students who successfully complete a minimum of 51 semester credit hours beyond the master’s degree as described below.

General degree requirements are presented in the Academic Overview section.

Curriculum

The following core courses must be taken at Florida Tech (exceptions may be considered only through a written petition to be reviewed by the college’s graduate faculty).

AVS 5205 Aviation Statistics
AVS 6000 Quantitative Research Designs in Aviation Research
AVS 6001 Theories and Theoretical Models Applied to Aviation Research
AVS 6100 Applied Multiple Regression and Correlation Analysis for Aviation Research
Additionally, students must satisfactorily complete three semester credit hours of AVS 6900 Research Practicum and six semester credit hours of approved electives. The remainder of the requirements includes at least 18 semester credit hours of AVS 6999 Dissertation and at least 12 semester credit hours in an area of specialization.

Area of Specialization

A minimum of 12 master’s degree-eligible semester credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree must be taken in an area of specialization. Areas of specialization include aviation human factors, aviation safety, airport development and management, education and training, organizational development, operations research, environmental/sustainability and meteorology. The area of specialization may include courses from previous graduate degrees as well as courses taken as part of the doctoral program.

Comprehensive Examination Requirement

Written and oral comprehensive examinations must be completed in the same semester. The doctoral comprehensive examinations are given twice a year, during the last full week of January and during the second week of September.