Prescott Campus

Aviation Environmental Science

  • OVERVIEW
  • ADVANTAGES
  • REQUIREMENTS
  • CAREERS
  • FACULTY

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

Degree Requirements
Freshman Year
CourseTitleCredits
AES 111Plant Biology
4
AES 112Animal Biology
4
AES 142Introduction to Environmental Science
3
COM 122English Composition and Literature
3
COM 219Speech
3
HU 14XHumanities
3
IT 109Introduction to Computers and Applications
3
MA 120Quantitative Methods I
3
MA 222Business Statistics
3
Total Credits 29
Sophomore Year
CourseTitleCredits
AES 309Principles of Ecology3
BA 201Principles of Management3

COM 221 -OR-
COM 222

Technical Report Writing -OR- Business Communication3
PS 105General Chemistry I4
SS 204Introduction to Geography3
SS 302Evolution of Scientific Thought3
WX 210Introduction to Geographic Information Systems3
 Lower-Level Humanities3
 Upper-Level Humanities3
 Area of Concentration3-4
Total Credits31-32
Junior Year
CourseTitleCredits
EC 210 -OR-
EC 211
Microeconomics -OR- Macroeconomics3
SS 360Environmental Law3
AES 330Environmental Consulting3
 Upper-Level Humanities3
 Designated Electives9
 Area of Concentration3
 Open Electives6
Total Credits30
Senior Year
CourseTitleCredits
SS 305Global Policy Studies3
AES 403Wildlife and Airports3
BA 420Area of Concentration6
BA 436Designated Electives3-4
 Open Electives10-12
SUMMER
CEASES3963
Total Credits28-31
Total Degree Credits120

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

Archie Dickey Dr. Archie Dickey

Dean

College of Arts & Sciences

Dr. Archie Dickey developed and maintains for the FAA an online database of wildlife strikes in the U.S.

Elizabeth Long Elizabeth Long

Assistant Professor

Biology

Dr. Long studies the evolution of adaptations in natural systems, focusing on mimicry in butterflies.