SLU's Air Traffic Control (ATC) simulator system includes a control tower and RADAR simulator labs. It's the same system that the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Defense uses to train active air traffic controllers.
Saint Louis University's Ph.D. in aviation science is offered in an entirely online format, making it ideal for working professionals.
Ph.D. students in aviation science at Saint Louis University complete coursework before scheduling a qualifying exam that focuses on topics related to the coursework and assesses general preparation for graduate research. Upon successfully passing the qualifying exam, students develop a dissertation proposal under the supervision of a research mentor. Students then present and defend the dissertation proposal. After conducting research and writing a dissertation, students defend the dissertation in a public forum and then privately to the committee.
Students will work with their advisor and Ph.D. committee to determine the specific coursework to complete the program. Those students holding an appropriate Master of Science degree may include a maximum of 27 credits of the associated M.S. degree course credits, but not the thesis or project credits, in the 63 credits required for the Ph.D. degree.
Graduates with a Ph.D. in aviation science are uniquely qualified to conduct aviation-related research in academia, government and industry.
Begin your application for this program at www.slu.edu/apply.
Most admitted students meet the following criteria:
All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students along with the following:
The department is only reviewing applications for the fall semester. To be considered for enrollment in the fall semester, students should submit their application materials by May 31.
Admitted students who want to be considered for an assistantship must submit a separate application for assistantship consideration by March 1.
Once all the materials are received and the online application is complete, the application is reviewed by the Parks College Office of Graduate Education and Research before being sent to the Department of Aviation Science for a recommendation. The final decision is made by Parks’ director of graduate programs.
Admissions decisions are made based on the background and educational experience of students. Applications are reviewed when completed, and decisions are generally made within a few weeks.
Parks College offers graduate fellowship awards and assistantships each year. Assistantships provide tuition, stipend and health insurance. There are also many opportunities for students to receive funding through external research grants that are managed by individual faculty.
For more information, visit the student financial services office online at http://finaid.slu.edu.
The Doctor of Philosophy in aviation requires a total of 63 credits beyond a bachelor's degree, including:
Students will work with an adviser and Ph.D. committee to determine the specific coursework to complete the Ph.D. in aviation. If students have an applicable master’s degree, 27 credits of that program may count towards the 63 credits necessary, with department approval. No research or project credits will be counted towards the Ph.D.
Please note: the courses in the Ph.D. in Aviation curriculum are taught in an entirely online format.
Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.