Gains Highest Accreditation From SACS Commission On Colleges

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.

FMI: http://daytonabeach.erau.edu/degrees/phd-program/human-factors/index.html.