Department of Aerospace Engineering students

The Aerospace Engineering department is the largest of its kind in the country, with 2,145 Bachelor of Science students, 111 Master of Science students and 68 Ph.D. students as of Fall 2023. Of our undergraduate students, 9.5% are honors students compared to 4.5% for the rest of the university. The undergraduate program had been ranked No. 1 by "U.S. News and World Report" from 2000-2015 when the Daytona campus was classified among non-Ph.D.-granting institutions. Since being reclassified into the Ph.D.-granting category in 2016, it has been ranked in the top 10 the last five years. Currently, our program ranks No. 4 in the country, above some elite Aerospace Engineering programs, and No. 1 in the state of Florida. Our graduate program started being ranked only in 2016 and is currently ranked 25th in the nation and No. 2 in the state of Florida. Our department is striving for diversity, equity and inclusion of all students. Currently, we have 23% female students and 24% underrepresented minorities in our B.S. program, which is about 7% and 9% (respectively) higher than the national average for Aerospace Engineering programs.

Aerospace Engineering deals with the scientific principles that govern the design of airplanes, spacecraft, and jet engines. After studying fundamental mathematics and physics, Aerospace Engineering students study the core areas of aerodynamics and propulsion, dynamics and control, and structures and materials. These studies give them the necessary background to take the year-long senior capstone aircraft/spacecraft/propulsion design courses. There are ample opportunities for lab courses and hands-on experiences.

Embry-Riddle is known throughout the aviation and aerospace industry as the top provider of hands-on, pragmatic education, producing engineers who are ready to solve the real-world problems encountered by the aerospace industry. A recent (2018-19) alumni survey showed that 93% of graduates were either employed (76%) or accepted into graduate school (17%) one year after graduation.

Our students have been involved in many interesting projects, including AIAA Design Built Fly competitions, where they have placed in the top three the last three years. Our research activities have been increasing, with research expenditures more than tripling over the past five years, and our faculty and students are involved in many research projects.

The department also offers several graduate degrees as well as an accelerated program. The recent addition of a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering increases opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students alike to pursue new and advanced knowledge to reinforce and enhance the classroom experience.

The Department of Aerospace Engineering is housed in the Lehman Engineering and Technology Center, and the John Mica Engineering & Aerospace Innovation Complex. Both of these facilities provide ample laboratory space for students and faculty to explore modern research questions in aerospace together.

Learn More About Our Department Degrees

Exceptional students have the opportunity to complete a Master of Business Administration at the same time as their Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering in just five years.

Accelerated master's degree programs for all of the College of Engineering Master's degrees are also available to exceptional Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering juniors and seniors; these degree programs apply a student's technical electives to their master's degree.

Aerospace Engineering Research & News

Contact Us

Daytona Beach Campus
1 Aerospace Boulevard
Daytona Beach, Florida 32114

Message from Department Chair

Welcome Message from Dr. Anastasios Lyrintzis, Department of Aerospace Engineering Chair

Faculty Positions

The Department invites applications for several tenure-track/tenured faculty positions at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor. View the positions.

Keep your fellow Eagles soaring high! Join the 100% of our dedicated faculty and staff who participated in the 2014-2021 development campaigns to support the Department.