Bachelor of Science in
Aviation Maintenance Science
ERAU was founded to educate pilots and mechanics, and it remains the leader in the field. Students here are surrounded by people who share the same passion for excellence, precision, and safety. The demand for aviation maintenance specialists has never been greater, and with a degree, graduates are positioned for advancement into management. ERAU graduates emerge from the Aviation Maintenance program with the ability to service, troubleshoot, and repair aircraft.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary of an aircraft mechanic is $55,980, receiving an average of more than $1,000 in annual bonuses.
Certifications/licenses previously earned may qualify for applied credit.
The Aviation Maintenance program at ERAU is taught by dedicated faculty who are also industry professionals. Together, they have more than 300 years of combined knowledge and experience.
Although the program is geared toward aviation and aerospace, ERAU’s curriculum prepares graduates for success with companies in any industry.DEGREE DETAILS
About Aviation Maintenance Science at the Daytona Beach, FL Campus
Housed within the College of Aviation at ERAU’s Daytona Beach Campus, the B.S. in Aviation Maintenance degree program is designed for students who want to increase the value of their aviation maintenance technician skills to provide wider opportunities for career advancement. This program aims to provide not only the four-year degree to complement the skills but a specific focus.
Choose from among four areas of concentration:
- Flight: for those students who wish to combine a maintenance background with the qualifications of a commercial pilot.
- Maintenance Management: for those who wish to use their maintenance skills as a platform for advancing into a management position in one of the many aviation maintenance environments.
- Safety Science: this area of concentration combines both industrial and aviation-specific safety courses which prepare students for a rewarding career path.
- *New, Available in Fall 2019* Avionics Cybertechnology and Security: this cutting-edge area of concentration will prepare students to answer the importance of aerospace connectivity and data security.
Each area of concentration is designed to complement the FAA’s Airframe and Powerplant certification, which collectively serve to bolster our students’ academic credentials. Students can obtain additional industry recognized certifications through the minor in Avionics Line Maintenance. Through this program students can test for the FCC General Radio Telephone Operators License (GROL) and the NCATT Aircraft Electronics Technician (AET) certificate. Both further help our students integrate themselves into the workforce.
- Courses taken in the Aviation Maintenance Science Department lead to a student being approved for the A&P certification exams. Credit will be granted for any student who enters ERAU already in possession of the A&P certification.
- A typical first year includes general education courses like English Composition, Psychology, and Humanities, in addition to foundational course work such as Tools, Materials and Processes, Aircraft Familiarization and Regulations, College Mathematics for Aviation, and Fundamentals of Electricity.
- Within the aviation and aerospace industries, ERAU is renowned for providing exceptional aircraft maintenance technicians and engineers. The University’s top ranking is well known throughout aircraft maintenance in the corporate, commercial, and private sectors.
At the heart of every flight of every commercial, private, or military aircraft is the work of the professional aviation maintenance expert. Without the devotion of these very special people, the air travel system would cease to function. The demand for degreed aircraft maintenance specialists in the aviation/aerospace world has never been greater than it is today. The Aviation Maintenance Science (AMS) program at Embry-Riddle produces these aviation professionals, the best in the world.
The Aviation Maintenance Science bachelor’s degree is made up of general education courses, technical courses, and labs that lead to FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) mechanic’s certification, and a group of courses known as an area of concentration (AOC). There are three areas of concentration, from which a student picks one, as follows:
- Maintenance Management
- Flight
- Safety Science
- Avionics Cybertechnology and Security
The degree is composed of 126 credit hours.
The Maintenance Management AOC is optimized for those who wish to use their maintenance skills as a platform for advancing into a management position in one of the many aviation maintenance environments.
The Flight AOC is for those students who wish to combine a maintenance background with the qualifications of a commercial pilot.
The Safety Science AOC combines both occupational and aviation-specific safety courses with the technical coursework that leads to FAA Airframe and Powerplant certifications.
Finally, the Avionics Cybertechnology and Security AOC prepare students to attain several other certifications related to avionics systems troubleshooting and repair and empowers them to meet the challenges of securing these systems from outside interferences that can cripple an aircraft.
The AMS is a STEM degree accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI, formerly Council on Aviation Accreditation), 3410 Skyway Drive, Auburn, AL 86830, telephone: (334) 844-2431.
The technical track courses taken in the Aviation Maintenance Science Department lead to the attainment of the FAA issued A&P certifications. Credit will be granted for any student who enters the University already in possession of the A&P certification.
International certification, which may be equivalent to the Airframe and Powerplant certification, will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and, if approved, may be used for academic credit.
| Flight | Maintenance Management | Safety Science | Avionics Cybertechnology and Security | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Education Core | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 |
| Area of Concentration | 36* | 36 | 36 | 37 |
| A&P Technical Courses1 | 48 | 48 | 48 | 48 |
| Upper Level Open Electives | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Total | 126 | 126 | 126 | 127 |
| 1 | If a student transfers to Embry-Riddle with the A&P mechanic’s certification, 48 credit hours will be awarded and entered on the student’s transcript, 36 as lower-level credits and 12 as upper-level credits. |
| * | The Flight Area of Concentration in the AMS degree requires a student, once they have matriculated, to take their flight training with Embry-Riddle. |
General Education Requirements
For a full description of Embry-Riddle General Education guidelines, please see the General Education section of this catalog. These minimum requirements are applicable to all degree programs.
| Communication Theory and Skills (COM 122, COM 219, COM 221) | 9 | |
| Lower-Level Humanities | 3 | |
| Lower-Level Social Sciences (PSY 101) | 3 | |
| Lower or Upper-Level Humanities or Social Sciences | 3 | |
| Upper-Level Humanities or Social Sciences | 3 | |
| Computer Science (CS 120) | 3 | |
| Mathematics * | 6 | |
| Physical Sciences ** | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
| * | Mathematics required courses - Maintenance Management AOC, MA 111 or MA 140 and MA 222. Avionics Cybertechnology and Security, Flight and Safety Science AOCs, MA 111 and MA 112. |
| ** | Physical Sciences required courses - Avionics Cybertechnology and Security and Maintenance Management AOCs, any two lower level physical science courses with at least one laboratory. Flight and Safety Science AOC, PS 113 and PS 117 (One Laboratory required). |
Aviation Maintenance Science Courses (leading to A&P certification)
| AMS 115 | Aviation Mathematics and Physics | 2 |
| AMS 116 | Fundamentals of Electricity | 4 |
| AMS 117 | Tools, Materials and Processes | 4 |
| AMS 118 | Aircraft Familiarization and Regulations | 2 |
| AMS 261 | Aircraft Metallic Structures | 3 |
| AMS 262 | Aircraft Composite Structures | 3 |
| AMS 263 | General Aviation Aircraft Systems | 3 |
| AMS 264 | General Aviation Aircraft Electrical and Instrument Systems | 3 |
| AMS 271 | Aircraft Reciprocating Powerplant and Systems | 3 |
| AMS 272 | Powerplant Electrical and Instrument Systems | 3 |
| AMS 273 | Propeller Systems | 2 |
| AMS 274 | Aircraft Turbines Powerplants and Systems | 4 |
| AMS 365 | Transport Category Aircraft Systems | 3 |
| AMS 366 | Transport Category Aircraft Electrical and Instrument Systems | 3 |
| AMS 375 | Repair Station Operations | 3 |
| AMS 376 | Powerplant Line Maintenance | 3 |
| Total Credits | 48 | |
Tuition for the AMS courses is less than for the other courses in the degree, and is billed separately from the University block tuition. Contact the AMS program coordinator for additional information.
Suggested Plan of Study - Common Year One and Year Two
See specific area of concentration for Year Three and Year Four suggested plan of study.
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Credits | ||
| AMS 115 | Aviation Mathematics and Physics | 2 |
| AMS 116 | Fundamentals of Electricity | 4 |
| AMS 117 | Tools, Materials and Processes | 4 |
| AMS 118 | Aircraft Familiarization and Regulations | 2 |
| COM 122 | English Composition | 3 |
| COM 219 | Speech | 3 |
| CS 120 & 120L |
Introduction to Computing in Aviation | 3 |
| MA 111 | College Mathematics for Aviation I | 3 |
| PSY 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| Lower-Level Humanities Elective | 3 | |
| Credits Subtotal | 30.0 | |
| Year Two | ||
| AMS 261 | Aircraft Metallic Structures | 3 |
| AMS 262 | Aircraft Composite Structures | 3 |
| AMS 263 | General Aviation Aircraft Systems | 3 |
| AMS 264 | General Aviation Aircraft Electrical and Instrument Systems | 3 |
| AMS 365 | Transport Category Aircraft Systems | 3 |
| AMS 366 | Transport Category Aircraft Electrical and Instrument Systems | 3 |
| AMS 271 | Aircraft Reciprocating Powerplant and Systems | 3 |
| AMS 272 | Powerplant Electrical and Instrument Systems | 3 |
| PS 113 | Introductory Physics I | 3 |
| MA 112 | College Mathematics for Aviation II | 3 |
| Credits Subtotal | 30.0 | |
| Credits Total: | 60.0 | |
Avionics Cybertechnology & Security Area of Concentration
| AMSA 490 | Aviation Technical Operations | 3 |
| AMS 380 | Radio Communication Theory & Application | 2 |
| AMS 384 | General Aviation Avionics Systems Integration | 4 |
| AMS 388 | Air Transport Avionics Systems Line Maintenance | 6 |
| CS 223 | Scientific Programming in C | 3 |
| CYB 155 | Foundations of Information Security | 3 |
| CS 225 | Computer Science II | 4 |
| CS 344 | C Programming and UNIX | 3 |
| CS 303 | Network Security | 3 |
| CS 427 | System Exploitation and Penetration Testing | 3 |
| CYB 474 | Issues in Aviation Cybersecurity | 3 |
| Total Credits | 37 | |
Suggested Plan of Study – Avionics Cybertechnology and Security Area of Concentration
| Year Three | ||
|---|---|---|
| Credits | ||
| AMS 273 | Propeller Systems | 2 |
| AMS 274 | Aircraft Turbines Powerplants and Systems | 4 |
| AMS 375 | Repair Station Operations | 3 |
| AMS 376 | Powerplant Line Maintenance | 3 |
| CS 225 | Computer Science II | 4 |
| CS 303 | Network Security | 3 |
| CS 344 | C Programming and UNIX | 3 |
| MA 112 | College Mathematics for Aviation II | 3 |
| COM 221 | Technical Report Writing | 3 |
| Physics and Life Science Lower Level Elective | 3 | |
| Social Science Lower Level (SS 110, SS 120 or SS 130) | 3 | |
| Credits Subtotal | 34.0 | |
| Year Four | ||
| AMSA 490 | Aviation Technical Operations | 3 |
| AMS 380 | Radio Communication Theory & Application | 2 |
| AMS 384 | General Aviation Avionics Systems Integration | 4 |
| AMS 388 | Air Transport Avionics Systems Line Maintenance | 6 |
| CYB 474 | Issues in Aviation Cybersecurity | 3 |
| CS 427 | System Exploitation and Penetration Testing | 3 |
| Physics and Life Science Lower Level Elective | 3 | |
| Humanities or Social Science Upper Level Elective | 3 | |
| Upper Level Open Electives | 6 | |
| Credits Subtotal | 33.0 | |
| Credits Total: | 67.0 | |
Flight Area of Concentration
| FA 121 | Private Single Flight | 1 |
| FA 221 | Instrument Single Flight | 1 |
| FA 321 | Commercial Single Flight | 1 |
| FA 323 | Commercial Multi Add On | 1 |
| AS 121 | Private Pilot Operations | 5 |
| AMSA 490 | Aviation Technical Operations | 3 |
| AS 221 | Instrument Pilot Operations | 3 |
| AS 309 | Aerodynamics | 3 |
| AS 310 | Aircraft Performance | 3 |
| AS 321 | Commercial Pilot Operations | 3 |
| AS 350 | Domestic and International Navigation | 3 |
| AS 357 | Flight Physiology | 3 |
| WX 201 | Survey of Meteorology | 3 |
| WX 301 | Aviation Weather | 3 |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
Suggested Plan of Study - Flight Area of Concentration
Flight Track
| Year Three | ||
|---|---|---|
| Credits | ||
| AMS 273 | Propeller Systems | 2 |
| AMS 274 | Aircraft Turbines Powerplants and Systems | 4 |
| AMS 375 | Repair Station Operations | 3 |
| AMS 376 | Powerplant Line Maintenance | 3 |
| AS 121 | Private Pilot Operations | 5 |
| AS 221 | Instrument Pilot Operations | 3 |
| FA 121 | Private Single Flight | 1 |
| FA 221 | Instrument Single Flight | 1 |
| COM 221 | Technical Report Writing | 3 |
| PS 117 | Introductory Physics II | 3 |
| WX 201 | Survey of Meteorology | 3 |
| Lower-Level Social Science Elective | 3 | |
| Credits Subtotal | 34.0 | |
| Year Four | ||
| AMSA 490 | Aviation Technical Operations | 3 |
| AS 309 | Aerodynamics | 3 |
| AS 310 | Aircraft Performance | 3 |
| AS 321 | Commercial Pilot Operations | 3 |
| AS 350 | Domestic and International Navigation | 3 |
| AS 357 | Flight Physiology | 3 |
| FA 321 | Commercial Single Flight | 1 |
| FA 323 | Commercial Multi Add On | 1 |
| WX 301 | Aviation Weather | 3 |
| Upper-Level Open Electives | 6 | |
| Upper-Level Humanities or Social Science Elective | 3 | |
| Credits Subtotal | 32.0 | |
| Credits Total: | 66.0 | |
Maintenance Management Area of Concentration
| ACC 210 | Financial Accounting | 3 |
| AMSA 490 | Aviation Technical Operations | 3 |
| BA 201 | Principles of Management | 3 |
| BA 220 | Marketing | 3 |
| BA 225 | Business Law | 3 |
| BA 230 | Advanced Computer Based Systems | 3 |
| BA 314 | Human Resource Management | 3 |
| BA 320 | Business Information Systems | 3 |
| BA 324 | Aviation Labor Relations | 3 |
| BA 325 | Social Responsibility and Ethics in Management | 3 |
| BA 332 | Corporate Finance I | 3 |
| BA 411 | Logistics Management for Aviation/Aerospace | 3 |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
Suggested Plan of Study - Maintenance Management Area of Concentration
| Year Three | ||
|---|---|---|
| Credits | ||
| ACC 210 | Financial Accounting | 3 |
| AMS 273 | Propeller Systems | 2 |
| AMS 274 | Aircraft Turbines Powerplants and Systems | 4 |
| AMS 375 | Repair Station Operations | 3 |
| AMS 376 | Powerplant Line Maintenance | 3 |
| BA 201 | Principles of Management | 3 |
| BA 220 | Marketing | 3 |
| BA 230 | Advanced Computer Based Systems | 3 |
| COM 221 | Technical Report Writing | 3 |
| PS 117 | Introductory Physics II | 3 |
| Lower-Level Social Science (SS 110, 120 or 130) | 3 | |
| Credits Subtotal | 33.0 | |
| Year Four | ||
| AMSA 490 | Aviation Technical Operations | 3 |
| BA 225 | Business Law | 3 |
| BA 314 | Human Resource Management | 3 |
| BA 320 | Business Information Systems | 3 |
| BA 324 | Aviation Labor Relations | 3 |
| BA 325 | Social Responsibility and Ethics in Management | 3 |
| BA 332 | Corporate Finance I | 3 |
| BA 411 | Logistics Management for Aviation/Aerospace | 3 |
| Upper-Level Humanities or Social Science Elective | 3 | |
| Upper-Level Open Electives | 6 | |
| Credits Subtotal | 33.0 | |
| Credits Total: | 66.0 | |
Safety Science Area of Concentration
| AMSA 490 | Aviation Technical Operations | 3 |
| SF 201 | Introduction to Health, Occupational, and Transportation Safety | 3 |
| or SF 210 | Introduction to Aerospace Safety | |
| SF 205 | Principles of Accident Investigation | 3 |
| SF 315 | Environmental Compliance and Safety | 3 |
| SF 316 | Workers Compensation, Insurance, and Risk Management | 3 |
| SF 320 | Human Factors in Aviation Safety | 3 |
| SF 345 | Safety Program Management | 3 |
| SF 365 | Fire Protection | 3 |
| SF 462 | Health, Safety, and Aviation Law | 3 |
| Choose one focus from the options below: | 9 | |
| Aviation Focus Course List: | ||
SF 330 | Aircraft Accident Investigation | |
SF 375 | Propulsion Plant Investigation | |
SF 335 | Mechanical and Structural Factors in Aviation Safety | |
or SF 435 | Aircraft Crash Survival Analysis and Design | |
| Occupational Safety Focus Course List: | ||
HS 215 | Introduction to Industrial Security | |
SF 355 | Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology | |
SF 410 | Design of Engineering Hazard Controls | |
or SF 440 | Design of Engineering Hazard Controls II | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
Suggested Plan of Study - Aviation Focus
| Year Three | ||
|---|---|---|
| Credits | ||
| AMS 273 | Propeller Systems | 2 |
| AMS 274 | Aircraft Turbines Powerplants and Systems | 4 |
| AMS 375 | Repair Station Operations | 3 |
| AMS 376 | Powerplant Line Maintenance | 3 |
| COM 221 | Technical Report Writing | 3 |
| PS 117 | Introductory Physics II | 3 |
| SF 201 | Introduction to Health, Occupational, and Transportation Safety | 3 |
or SF 210
|
Introduction to Aerospace Safety | |
| SF 205 | Principles of Accident Investigation | 3 |
| SF 315 | Environmental Compliance and Safety | 3 |
| SF 330 | Aircraft Accident Investigation | 3 |
| Lower-Level Social Sciences (SS 110, 120, 130) | 3 | |
| Credits Subtotal | 33.0 | |
| Year Four | ||
| AMSA 490 | Aviation Technical Operations | 3 |
| SF 316 | Workers Compensation, Insurance, and Risk Management | 3 |
| SF 320 | Human Factors in Aviation Safety | 3 |
| SF 335 | Mechanical and Structural Factors in Aviation Safety | 3 |
or SF 435
|
Aircraft Crash Survival Analysis and Design | |
| SF 345 | Safety Program Management | 3 |
| SF 365 | Fire Protection | 3 |
| SF 375 | Propulsion Plant Investigation | 3 |
| SF 462 | Health, Safety, and Aviation Law | 3 |
| Upper-Level Humanities or Social Science Elective | 3 | |
| Upper-Level Open Electives | 6 | |
| Credits Subtotal | 33.0 | |
| Credits Total: | 66.0 | |
Suggested Plan of Study - Aviation Occupational Safety Focus
| Year Three | ||
|---|---|---|
| Credits | ||
| AMS 273 | Propeller Systems | 2 |
| AMS 274 | Aircraft Turbines Powerplants and Systems | 4 |
| AMS 375 | Repair Station Operations | 3 |
| AMS 376 | Powerplant Line Maintenance | 3 |
| COM 221 | Technical Report Writing | 3 |
| PS 117 | Introductory Physics II | 3 |
| SF 201 | Introduction to Health, Occupational, and Transportation Safety | 3 |
or SF 210
|
Introduction to Aerospace Safety | |
| SF 205 | Principles of Accident Investigation | 3 |
| SF 315 | Environmental Compliance and Safety | 3 |
| HS 215 | Introduction to Industrial Security | 3 |
| Lower-Level Social Sciences (SS 110, 120, 130) | 3 | |
| Credits Subtotal | 33.0 | |
| Year Four | ||
| AMSA 490 | Aviation Technical Operations | 3 |
| SF 316 | Workers Compensation, Insurance, and Risk Management | 3 |
| SF 320 | Human Factors in Aviation Safety | 3 |
| SF 345 | Safety Program Management | 3 |
| SF 355 | Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology | 3 |
| SF 365 | Fire Protection | 3 |
| SF 410 | Design of Engineering Hazard Controls | 3 |
or SF 440
|
Design of Engineering Hazard Controls II | |
| SF 462 | Health, Safety, and Aviation Law | 3 |
| Upper-Level Humanities or Social Science Elective | 3 | |
| Upper-Level Open Electives | 6 | |
| Credits Subtotal | 33.0 | |
| Credits Total: | 66.0 | |
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Degree Summary
126 Credits
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