Aviation Sciences, Ph.D.

As active contributors to the field, our faculty provide doctoral mentorship rooted in ongoing scholarship, guiding students as they design, conduct and share original research.

Florida Tech faculty include experienced pilots as well as experts in aviation law, safety, avionics and environmental science. Their professional experience encompasses airport consulting, airline management, human factors, meteorology and air traffic control, providing a multidisciplinary perspective on contemporary aviation challenges.

Faculty have authored textbooks and peer-reviewed journal articles on aviation management, safety and applied research. Work examines aeronautical decision-making, traffic awareness and avoidance, G-force-induced loss of consciousness, accident investigation, aviation computer applications and haptic feedback in aviation systems.

Florida Tech is a core university of PEGASAS, The Partnership to Enhance General Aviation Safety, Accessibility and Sustainability—a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Center of Excellence for General Aviation.

Florida Tech’s 130-acre campus is located in the heart of Florida’s Space Coast, home to one of the nation’s largest concentrations of aerospace, aviation and defense organizations. Proximity to NASA facilities, commercial flight operations and active launch sites creates ongoing opportunities for collaboration with programs in aeronautics and applied aviation.

This environment allows doctoral students to situate their research within an active aerospace corridor, where operational, governmental and commercial stakeholders intersect.

Doctoral students have access to an extensive fleet of aircraft and simulators, certified pilot participants and specialized facilities.

Aviation operations are centered at the Emil Buehler Center for Aviation Training and Research, located at Melbourne Orlando International Airport just 2.5 miles from main campus. The center houses flight operations, maintenance facilities, briefing and planning rooms and Florida Tech’s all-Piper, G1000-equipped training fleet.

For researchers in human factors, training systems and operational safety, the standardized glass-cockpit fleet provides a consistent research platform within a live flight environment. Studies can extend beyond simulation to examine pilot performance, automation management and instructional effectiveness under real-world operating conditions.

This location and infrastructure give doctoral students the ability to connect theory, experimentation and applied aviation research in operational settings.

Academic units at Florida Tech may offer graduate student assistantships to full-time, degree-seeking graduate students on a competitive basis.

Teaching Assistants (TAs) support faculty in teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, including tasks such as grading, tutoring and conducting office hours. First-time TAs attend a teaching assistant seminar to prepare for their responsibilities.

Research Assistants (RAs) collaborate with faculty on projects funded by government agencies, private sponsors and university research funds.

For current information about assistantships, please contact the College of Aeronautics.

The Ph.D. in aviation sciences and the Doctor of Aviation, Av.D., are both terminal degrees, each designed for a distinct professional focus within aviation.

The Ph.D. is offered on campus and is strongly focused on research and theory, preparing graduates to contribute to the academic study of aviation. Its dissertation emphasizes conceptual frameworks, theory development and the advancement of knowledge within the discipline.

The Av.D. is a professional doctorate designed for working aviation professionals, offered 100% online. While also research-oriented, its dissertation centers on applied, practitioner-driven problems—research that addresses real-world challenges and is intended for direct use in professional practice.

Although some course content overlaps, the programs are distinct, with different structures, learning experiences and research expectations.

Florida Tech offers a safe and welcoming campus environment that supports advanced research alongside personal well-being. The campus includes extensive green spaces, such as the Joy and Gordon Patterson Botanical Garden, along with facilities like the Holzer Health Center and Clemente Center for health, fitness and stress management.

Located minutes from the Indian River Lagoon and 72 miles of Atlantic beaches, the university combines access to outdoor recreation with proximity to industry and government organizations that contribute to research collaboration and career development.

Graduate students from around the world come together at Florida Tech in a campus community that fosters international collaboration and innovation. This environment encourages students to work across cultures and perspectives, preparing them for research and professional settings around the globe.

International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) supports international students throughout their academic journey, providing guidance on immigration matters, serving as a liaison with sponsoring agencies and foreign governments, and sharing information about campus and community resources.

Applicants to the Ph.D. in aviation sciences must hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree from an accredited institution in aviation, aeronautical science, engineering or a closely related discipline.

Competitive applicants demonstrate preparation in an aviation specialty, strong written and analytical capabilities and clear alignment with the program’s primary research areas: human factors in aviation and aeronautics, aviation safety, airport development and management, aviation management and operations research in aviation.

For more information about application requirements, please see graduate admission.