A PhD in Aviation?

[CL-Skadoo!]

Need some more letters after your name? A PhD in aviation may be the answer!

http://aviationphd.erau.edu/

[Ogee]

I calculate the cost of this shite to be over $80,000. Nobody would hire somebody stupid enough to fall for this.

[skybaron]

This must be a sick joke.
Just another way for a University/FTU to suck up all of the students bucks. I'm sure after obtaining the PHD, that person will have to start on a dock, instruct, be a ramp rat or whatever just to "get in" the industry. Surely this program is a cut above the rest.

[TopperHarley]

Embry Riddle offers engineering and business degrees. Id imagine the PhD program are in those fields. ERAU seems to have a good reputation if you want to get into that stuff, but there is no doubt they are highly overpriced!

[outsider]

A PHD in aviation, what a joke, how about a PHD in truck driving or bus driving. This industry needs to realize how ridiculous it is at times.

[Liquid Charlie]

Well -- at no point does it mention that you should or must be a pilot. I guess we just have to accept that pilots are just the grunts of aviation -- and to quote by two of famous Canadian aviation pioneers - "Pilots are a dime a dozen" and "You can teach a monkey to Fly" - any guesses -- -- it should be easy - Beer and wings - location to be determined.

[moocow]

And I thought Embry-Riddle was a quasi-decent college or is it just a degree mill? PHD research in regards to what exactly? If you have aerodynamic background you won't even need to attain this sort of half-ass PHD program. This is just silly.

[ajet32]

"THREAD HIJACK"
CAN SOMEONE explain to me the disdain so many in aviation have in Canada for Formal Education. I don't understand the low regard so many have for those with any form of University or other Post Secondary Education. Or is it just me missing something.
There that ought to get some action!!

[C-FABH]

And I thought Embry-Riddle was a quasi-decent college or is it just a degree mill? PHD research in regards to what exactly? If you have aerodynamic background you won't even need to attain this sort of half-ass PHD program. This is just silly.

Embry-Riddle in itself is decent, but there's plenty of places you can obtain a similar (or even higher) level of education for much less dough. For those involved with non-flying aviation jobs, many in the industry don't even know what the hell Embry Riddle is. Go figure (try explaining that to your boss).

[beast]

For those involved with non-flying aviation jobs, many in the industry don't even know what the hell Embry Riddle is.

Thats not really true - Most of the major US airlines management rosters are heavily stacked with ERAU graduates. Anybody who knows anything in this industry will have at least heard of the place.

ajet32, I would guess because they don't have it and maybe wish they did?

[The Old Fogducker]

Ajet32, Unfortunately, pilots choose the incorrect role models to emulate .... here's an example:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkrzFQc3BgA

[Bede]

Tuition at ERAU is pretty much standard for a private US university. Canadian tuition is low because of all the government funding.

[beaverbob]

Piled Higher and Deeper

[scopiton]

Embry-Riddle in itself is decent, but there's plenty of places you can obtain a similar (or even higher) level of education for much less dough. For those involved with non-flying aviation jobs, many in the industry don't even know what the hell Embry Riddle is.

ERAU is the best renowned civilian aeronautical university after military programs and being graduated form ERAU opened airlines' doors to many pilots in usa but also in Canada.if education isn't worth it, at least buy something with a good reputation.

Having a degree in aviation is not useless, but you'd better choose a course that will help you to evolve to more interesting positions when you'll be tired of those 14hrs straight and level flights over pacific ocean.

I the end I agree that education will never replace flight experience.

[Freeride]

A PhD won't help anyone land their first job. However, I don't see anything wrong with pursuing education in the field you work in. I have a friend doing the Graduate degree program there, part time by correspondence, and he really enjoys it. I think it's great that they offer courses specific to our industry.

[moreccsplease]

A PHD in aviation, what a joke, how about a PHD in truck driving or bus driving. This industry needs to realize how ridiculous it is at times.

You're an embarassment.

[FastFlyBy]

Pffft! Who needs to go through all that trouble. School and studying, haha why bother.
I saw this ad on facebook, only 99 bucks and now I always get the recognition I deserve. Just as advertised



You should see their faces when I bring this into an interview, knocks 'em dead they're so impressed.
Also handy for taking along on dates.

[frontside_air]

tenure track position here i come, ftu's let the bidding war begin!

statement of interest: to perform a close reading of the AFM and, by uprooting the rhizomatic structures of hegemony within the text, expose the aporias of différance in the text's correspondence theory qua transcendental signified of the ontological event of second segment climb

do they make elbow patches with four bars on them?

[outsider]

if you want a PHD , go get a REAL one from a real university. Like a PHD in aerodynamics or business , not a phony aviation PHD, wait if I had a PHD would you call me Dr. Captain or just Dr. Its a joke . Everyone knows this except the poor guy who just got ripped off and bought a PHD from a school who a few short years ago had 2 cessna 150s and did briefings in a rented cold room on the backside of some forgotten airport. Wake up , you are being conned, now if they gave some courses in aviation ok, but to call it a PHD is completely ridiculous. and your right I am embarrassed to part of such an industry at times.

[Zatopec]

from a school who a few short years ago had 2 cessna 150s and did briefings in a rented cold room on the backside of some forgotten airport.

If this is what you know about Embry-Riddle, you obviously don't know what you are talking about.

Embry-Riddle is compared to Harvard for aviation, nothing less.

[Doc]

Dr. Ramp Rat
Dr. Dock Boy
Dr. Right Seat Meat
Dr. Fork Lift Dude

Leaves room shaking head.......and I'm out of here....

[outsider]

embrey riddle, yes of course i have heard of it , but tell me do you know many pilots that by going there helped them land a job, or was it a contact they had , or the many hard days they punched on the ramp somewhere , no one ever asks where you went to school , what they want to know is how many and what type of hours you have. what also matters is your attitude towards your job, and that comes from within and is not learned or imprinted by a south Florida instructor.

[Panama Jack]

I am an Embry-Riddle grad and also working on a higher degree level (Master's-- although not through ERAU).

I doubt whether individuals interested in pursuing the PhD are interested in getting their first pilot job as a Flight Instructor, at the 1000 hour TT Navajo Captain level, or interested in impressing an airline so that they can tear from sea to shining sea in a 737. This type of qualification is more aligned towards those who are interested in getting a job teaching at the university level, going into management or research (ie. test pilot, etc.), or some higher position in Government.

Of course, I understand where pilots in Canada are coming from with their argument-- a country where a degree from a respected university never meant much of anything in to the aviation industry and a "Float Rating" always trumped a Bachelor Degree. It shows in the level of discussion right here, on this Forum, on this thread. We are responsible for having aligned the piloting profession to the level of “truck drivers.” What can I say?

[Conic Projection]

"Seriously baby I can prescribe you anything"

[Thunderstrike]

I hardly ever post here but I felt like I should get this out.

I calculate the cost of this shite to be over $80,000. Nobody would hire somebody stupid enough to fall for this.

A PHD in aviation, what a joke, how about a PHD in truck driving or bus driving. This industry needs to realize how ridiculous it is at times.

if you want a PHD , go get a REAL one from a real university. Like a PHD in aerodynamics or business , not a phony aviation PHD, wait if I had a PHD would you call me Dr. Captain or just Dr. Its a joke . Everyone knows this except the poor guy who just got ripped off and bought a PHD from a school who a few short years ago had 2 cessna 150s and did briefings in a rented cold room on the backside of some forgotten airport. Wake up , you are being conned, now if they gave some courses in aviation ok, but to call it a PHD is completely ridiculous. and your right I am embarrassed to part of such an industry at times.

...Really?????.....I really don't get why some people seem to assume that Pilot is the ONLY career in the aviation industry.

What about..... consulting?
Airline management?
Airport Management?
Airport / Airline planning and strategy?
Professor in Aviation....Human Factors, Air Law, Aviation Economics?

I could go on.....

I spend alot of time reading this forum trying to learn what I can from people's stories opinions and experiences......but this is ridiculous. How blind do you have to be to COMPLETELY MISS the fact that a PhD program might.....just might be geared toward individuals who aspire to be experts in the industry working groundside???

Maybe I mistook sarcasm for seriousness. If that's the case then I apologize....If not, please realize that the world is actually larger and offers more opportunity than the little box you see around you. I can't think of an excuse for that kind of ignorance.

TS