Expert: David A. NewMyer - 9/7/2010

Question
Hello, I am trying to make a career change into Aviation Management and/or Aviation Safety.  I have Bachelors degree in Occupational Safety Management and have been working in IT Management/Project Management for 15 years.  I am also a private pilot with an instrument rating.  

My question is, based on my background in management, is it best for me to obtain a Master of Aeronautical Science degree from Embry Riddle or would something like a Certificate program from said location be enough?   

Thank you for your input.  I appreciate your time and feedback.  

Answer
Hi, Kent:

Thank you for your question, I will try to assist.

First of all, aviation in general is an industry that places a high value on your work experience in the industry, especially if you are going to oversee, analyze or otherwise manage in the area of aviation safety.

Therefore, in addition to the education options you are asking about, you might also consider gaining some sort of work experience in the field of aviation safety or aviation operations so that you can relate back to that in your work in aviation safety or aviation safety management.

Similarly, if you plan to go into aviation management (working for an airport or an airline or a general aviation company or whatever), it is also good to have some sort of work experience to base your work in aviation management upon.  One way to accomplish this is to find a master's degree program that provides internship, cooperative education or some other form of work experience ALONG WITH the academic work toward your masters degree.  Another way to do it is to do the the internship through a specific employer (such as Southwest Airlines or via a specific airport like Denver International, Phoenix Sky Harbor or St. Louis Lambert or whatever) that you know might have an internship program available.

With regard to the Master of Aeronautical Science degree, I am not sure of the exact content of that degree, but, you might want to look at the aviation graduate degree listing on the University Aviation Association website at www.uaa.aero to see what other options are out there that might be more specifically related to what you want to do.  For example, Embry Riddle Prescott offers a Masters Degree in Aviation Safety that is very highly regarded.  So, if you are thinking of aviation safety as the path of choice, that might be the degree to pursue rather than the Master of Aeronautical Science degree from the same university.  In either case, since you are making a career change, I would say that you would want to do so with as many credentials and qualfications that you can muster....therefore, do a masters degree and not a certificate.

I hope that this answer is of assistance.  If you need anything further, just send me a follow up question.

Best wishes,

David A. NewMyer, Ph.D., Professor and Chair
Aviation Management and Flight
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
http://www.aviation.siu.edu