Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Introduces Ph.D. in Human Factors, Gains Highest Accreditation from SACS Commission on Colleges

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Aug. 15, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In a landmark moment in its history, Embry-Riddle has won approval of its new Ph.D. in Human Factors degree program as well as an accompanying advancement to the highest level of accreditation – Institutions that Offer Four or More Doctorates – in a decision by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC),the regional body for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in the Southern states. Embry-Riddle's other doctoral programs are in Aviation, Aerospace Engineering, Engineering Physics and Mechanical Engineering.

"The awarding of Level VI accreditation by SACSCOC reflects a significant achievement in the life of Embry-Riddle. It acknowledges us as a multi-doctoral degree granting institution," said Embry-Riddle President Dr. John P. Johnson. "With our new accreditation status comes increased responsibility to enhance scholarly activity and research productivity. This is a path we have been following for many years. Without a doubt, Embry-Riddle is up to the challenge."

As an additional point of pride, Embry-Riddle is now the only university in the nation to offer a complete slate of Human Factors degrees: B.S. in Human Factors Psychology, M.S. in Human Factors and the new doctorate.

The Ph.D. in Human Factors program has been met with tremendous enthusiasm, enrolling its first class of 11 students this fall. The program is open to those who have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in human factors, psychology or closely related fields and is highly quantitative in nature, equipping students with a robust skill set in research development and data analysis. While the program offers research in aviation, a historic strength of Embry-Riddle faculty, many of the doctoral students are engaging in research in such nontraditional areas as game-based learning and healthcare human factors. In fact, several of the doctoral students are working in open-heart surgery, trauma care, and ethics associated with computer gaming. All graduates of the doctoral program will be qualified for research positions in academia, government, medicine or various industries.

Embry-Riddle administrators instrumental in winning SACSCOC approval for the Ph.D. in Human Factors and Level VI accreditation were Dr. Richard Roach, Associate Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness and SACSCOC Liaison; Dr. Scott Shappell, Human Factors Department Chair; and Dr. Christina Frederick, Human Factors Professor and Graduate Program Coordinator, who prepared the program prospectus for the Level VI application.

For more information on the Human Factors Department and its degree offerings, go to http://daytonabeach.erau.edu/college-arts-sciences/human-factors/index.html.

For more information on the new Ph.D. in Human Factors, go to http://daytonabeach.erau.edu/degrees/phd-program/human-factors/index.html.

About Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the world's largest, fully accredited university specializing in aviation and aerospace, is a nonprofit, independent institution offering more than 70 baccalaureate, master's and Ph.D. degree programs in its colleges of Arts & Sciences, Aviation, Business, Engineering and Security & Intelligence. Embry-Riddle educates students at residential campuses in Daytona Beach, Fla., and Prescott, Ariz., through the Worldwide Campus with more than 150 locations in the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, and through online programs. The university is a major research center, seeking solutions to real-world problems in partnership with the aerospace industry, other universities and government agencies. For more information, visit www.embryriddle.edu, follow us on Twitter (@EmbryRiddle) and facebook.com/EmbryRiddleUniversity, and find expert videos at YouTube.com/EmbryRiddleUniv.

About the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Collegesis the regional body for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in the Southern states. It serves as the common denominator of shared values and practices among the diverse institutions in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Latin America and other international sites approved by the Commission on Colleges that award associate, baccalaureate, master's or doctoral degrees. The Commission also accepts applications from other international institutions of higher education. For more information, go to www.sacs.org.

CONTACT: James Roddey, Communications and Media Relations Manager, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL; (386) 226-6198; [email protected]

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