BS in Aviation Human Factors And Safety

What is an Aviation Human Factors and Safety Degree?

Human Factors can be described as the field of study that examines the science behind the human element in human-machine interactions. Students pursuing a human factors degree are truly interdisciplinary, studying aspects of psychology, engineering, science, and design, particularly as it applies to aviation safety.

Students seeking human factors and safety degrees may choose to add the flight option to their major and receive training to become professional pilots at FIT Aviation. Located just a few minutes from the Florida Tech campus at the Melbourne Orlando International Airport, FIT Aviation manages a fleet of over 40 aircraft. The diverse training fleet includes Piper Archer TX aircraft featuring Garmin G1000 avionics as well as the multi-engine Seminole and the complex Arrow. Adventurous flight students can add aerobatics training as an elective. Click here to learn more about this degree option.

Florida Tech’s College of Aeronautics has been consistently recognized as home to the best university-based aviation programs in the country for more than 45 years. With high-tech labs and facilities, expert faculty, and virtually endless research opportunities, the human factors, and safety in aviation program is no exception.

Learn from Human Factors Experts

Florida Tech’s faculty are accomplished researchers, aviators, and engineers—experts in all aspects of human factors and safety. The College of Aeronautics boasts faculty who are experts in at least one other area such as law, avionics, environmental science, aviation management, or air traffic control. Students studying for a human factors degree benefit from learning from educators with backgrounds as diverse as the study of human factors itself. Our classrooms and flight line are staffed with faculty who have years of experience within the industry, including experienced pilots and experts in areas such as airline consulting, airport consulting, design, management, and aviation human factors.

Located in the Heart of Florida’s High-Tech Corridor

Florida Tech is the perfect place for a BS in Human Factors and Safety in Aviation. The 130-acre campus is located on the Space Coast (so named because of the presence of NASA and the Kennedy Space Center on Cape Canaveral just north of us), minutes away from the Indian River Lagoon, the most diverse estuary in North America. Florida Tech's prime location on Florida's Space Coast has perfect weather conditions for flying year-round.

The area has the fifth-largest high-tech workforce in the country, with more than 5,000 high-tech corporations and government and military organizations located nearby. This workforce also provides an abundance of internship and employment opportunities.

Florida Tech is just over the causeway from the Atlantic Ocean with its 72 miles of beautiful beaches, and a short trip to the Florida Keys or the Orlando theme parks. We also have a rich campus life that includes a wide range of intramural and collegiate sports, clubs, and social activities.

Build Lasting Professional Relationships through Campus Organizations

Beyond the classroom, human factors and safety degrees in aviation majors build leadership and professional experience through participation in academic organizations like Collegiate Aviation Business Executives, the Human Factors Professional Association, the Falcons Intercollegiate Flight Team, Women in Aviation, student government, and over 100 other campus-wide student organizations.

The Human Factors Professional Association gives students the opportunity to network with local human factors companies, visit labs, identify, and explore human factors internships, and learn about technologies through human factors guest speakers and vendor demonstrations.

The Collegiate Aviation Business Club (CABE) focuses on aviation jobs outside of the cockpit, helping students grow by facilitating a networking relationship with students and the aviation business world. Members of CABE have the unique opportunity to travel to many events including professional conferences, seminars, airport tours, networking events, and airshows.

Human factors and safety degree in aviation from Florida Tech prepares you for a career, not just a test. The College of Aeronautics’ approach to human factors and safety degree focuses not only on understanding the theories behind the discipline but how to apply them to various careers in human factors and safety. Throughout their career, at Florida Tech human factors and safety students can take part in human factors research and hands-on projects that exercise concepts from the classroom to build a portfolio of real-world-applicable experience. Seniors will complete advanced coursework in airport management, aviation security, advanced aircraft systems, and aviation law. You will also get the opportunity to meet recruiters from major airlines, airports, and industry-related companies at university career fairs. Students can build an expanded professional network and impressive résumé before donning that cap and gown; many even receive pre-graduation employment offers.

Peerless Study and Internship Opportunities

The students of Human factors and safety in Aviation have a world of opportunities to choose from Human factors internships abound in many different industries, and students who are interested in human factors in aviation may find opportunities right here in Melbourne with Avidyne Corporation. Students may also find opportunities for human factors internships with organizations such as the US Department of Labor, JetBlue Airways, and Garmin.

Stunning Undergraduate Research Opportunities

Florida Tech gives students extensive opportunities for research and field study: it is at the core of every degree at Florida Tech, giving students real-world, hands-on experience. The College of Aeronautics participates as part of the Partnership to Enhance General Aviation Safety, Accessibility, and Sustainability, more commonly known as PEGASAS. The ten-year grant-funded nationwide program involves work in a variety of areas. Current human factors research through PEGASAS focuses on exploring the effects of installing an angle-of-attack instrument in fixed-wing aircraft as well as studying flight data management systems in rotorcraft.