Aerospace Physiology Major Accelerates Success Thanks to Unique 3+1 Program

For Julia Mautner (’23), an agreement between Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Palmer College of Chiropractic Florida Campus in Port Orange is allowing her to earn a B.S. in Aerospace Physiology degree at Embry-Riddle and also shave a year off the time it takes to reach her ultimate goal of becoming a Doctor of Chiropractic at Palmer.

The “3 + 1 program” allowed the German native to complete three years in the undergraduate program at Embry-Riddle’s Daytona Beach Campus, where she was also a key member of the tennis team, and then earn her undergraduate degree after finishing her initial year of coursework at Palmer.

We caught up with Julia recently to discuss the program, her goals and the highlights of her Embry-Riddle experience.

Tell us about your background and why you chose the U.S. for college

I was born and raised in Munich. I’ve played tennis my entire life and I wanted to be able to keep playing, but I also wanted to get a degree. However, in Germany there are no college athletics which makes it hard to combine sports and studying, meaning I had to choose between tennis or getting a degree, or going to the U.S. where you can do both at once.

Even though tennis is an individual sport, I’ve always enjoyed playing with a team, which made Embry-Riddle look even better. Moreover, I always knew that I wanted to study something related to healthcare or chiropractic and the options for that in Germany were limited.   

Why did you decide on the 3 + 1 program at Palmer College?

I heard about D.D. Palmer and Palmer College of Chiropractic even before coming to the U.S. However, the first time I heard about the college being only about 15 minutes away, in Port Orange, was in my sophomore year at Embry-Riddle. My Anatomy and Physiology professor, Dr. Alesha Fleming, is a Palmer graduate and she inspired me and helped me through the whole process.

She told me about the 3+1 program, which allowed me to start Palmer after the third year at Embry-Riddle and then graduate with transfer credits at the expected term after four years.

Even though studying in the U.S. was the best opportunity for me to keep playing tennis, I knew I wanted to be able to go home with a degree (or two!) as soon as I could. Taking a shortcut and going to a school that was only 15 minutes away from my newfound home in Daytona Beach was the best thing I could imagine. 

Why did you choose the Aerospace Physiology degree at Embry-Riddle?

When I made the decision to study in the U.S. I was looking for a school with great academics, a good location and a great tennis team. I visited multiple schools in Florida, and Embry-Riddle was the one that made me feel at home right away. The beautiful, modern campus right near the beach with great academics seemed like the perfect match.

Even though Embry-Riddle is mainly known for its Aerospace Engineering and Aeronautical Science degrees, to me it is much more than that. The Aerospace Physiology bachelor’s program opened doors in all healthcare fields and prepared me perfectly for graduate school at Palmer by meeting all the requirements regarding classes and labs.  

What were some academic and personal highlights of your Embry-Riddle experience?

My academic highlights were my anatomy classes, as these were my main interest. Another highlight was the clinical rotations class, where we helped out at AdventHealth Daytona Beach with COVID-19 vaccinations.  

The personal highlights are hard to narrow down, as there were so many, and personally it was the little things that made my experience incredible: Living in the dorms the first two years with your friends next door, having the Boundless Café just three elevator stops away, doing study nights in the library or just hanging out in the student union in between classes. I also enjoyed going to watch other sports like soccer and basketball and attending the homecoming concerts. 

What were some highlights of playing competitive tennis at Embry-Riddle?

Playing tennis at Embry-Riddle was my favorite part of the whole experience. Coming here at age 17 and being an international student wasn’t easy, but the team welcomed me right away and became my family away from home.

Every day on the court, every practice and every match were all highlights for me, but if I had to pick out one, it was when we beat Augustana, and I rallied to win the deciding match after having match points against me in the final set. 

Why do you want to be a D.C. and how is Embry-Riddle helping you reach that goal?

Playing competitive tennis my whole life came with a lot of injuries, which many medical doctors had a hard time treating. After I went to a chiropractor for the first time, my health got a lot better and my performance on the court also improved.

Since there is not a D.C. degree in Germany, studying chiropractic abroad was the only option. And even though I chose Embry-Riddle without knowing of its proximity to Palmer, it helped me get all my requirements and provided a great foundation for becoming a Doctor of Chiropractic. 

What’s next for you now?

I’m currently in my sixth quarter at Palmer (of 12 quarters and an additional quarter of internship), and I’m planning on graduating with my Doctor of Chiropractic degree in September 2025.

In the meantime, I’m still helping with the tennis team at Embry-Riddle as a volunteer assistant coach, because being part of this team has been an absolute blessing for me.

After graduation, I’m planning on going back home to Munich, and opening my own practice. 

Anything else you would like to add?

Coming to Embry-Riddle has been the best decision I could have made and I’m so thankful for all the great people I’ve met here, the experiences I’ve had and the great education I’ve received.

I always felt that everyone was there to help me, especially professors such as Dr. Fleming and AJ McGahran, but also Coach Dave Paschal, who has had a big impact on me becoming the person that I am today. 

The 3+1 program allowed me to take a shortcut while staying in my newfound home with my friends and my Embry-Riddle family.

Forever an Eagle! 

What horizons will you explore? Apply at Embry-Riddle today and find out.