Aviation Environmental Science

Overview

With over 7,500 wildlife strikes reported a year in the United States alone, aircraft and airport wildlife issues have captured national media attention and illuminated the risk of unmitigated wildlife. Students who have interest in wildlife biology, environmental science and enjoy working in the outdoors should explore this growing, rewarding and promising career field.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's Prescott campus offers the only undergraduate Environmental Science degree in North America with an aviation and aerospace focus. The aviation and aerospace industry has the greatest need of professionals who are trained to manage the increasingly complex web of problems associated with environmental issues. The Aviation Environmental Science program at Prescott is designed to give graduates the knowledge and technical skills needed to confront the wildlife issue that affect airport and flight safety.

The core curriculum and program requirements in Aviation Environmental Science is designed to give students fundamental science knowledge and demonstrate the ways in which business, economics and geography integrate with environmental aspects of their future careers. Aviation Environmental Science students will also gain hands-on experience through the completion of a co-op in the aviation and environmental industry. Students also have the option of completing independent research under faculty guidance in a special area of interest.

Advantages

• Faculty are highly-sought experts in aviation environmental science
• Embry-Riddle houses and maintains a national database and web site for the FAA on wildlife mitigation, bird strikes and their effect on airports and airline safety
• Dr. Dickey maintains a website on wildlife strikes, which contains a downloadable public database.
• Extensive field work in airports and around the state of Arizona
• Real world projects, such as environmental assessments, for private corporation and local counties
• Co-ops and internships provide students with hands-on opportunity in the industry at airports around the globe, government agencies, consulting firms or private business
• Acquire problem-solving and critical thinking skills required to succeed in public or private sector entities
• Opportunities for industry awareness from guest speakers and field trips
• High degree of job placement due to demand and long-term job security in a growing field

Requirements

Careers

• Wildlife and environmental specialists at airports
• Environmental jobs with federal, state and local governments
• Airport operations
• Environmental jobs with the FAA
• EPA officials
• Air quality specialists
• Environmental consulting firms
• Coast Guard

Faculty