College of Business Celebrates 50 Years of Shaping the Business of Flight at NBAA in Orlando

From modest beginnings in 1966 at the Daytona Beach Campus, the College of Business (COB) is today one of the academic pillars of Embry-Riddle. COB degree programs include innovative study opportunities such as the college’s first non-MBA degree–a Master of Science in Aviation Finance–and the only Ph.D. in Aviation Business Administration in the U.S.

“Our business students have never had more opportunities for success,” said Dr. Mike Williams, Dean of the College of Business in Daytona Beach.  “Our students have access to advanced business labs and collaborative facilities, hands-on and resident business programs, industry and entrepreneurial advisory boards and nationally affiliated student business organizations.”

Students in the COB’s departments of Economics, Finance, & Information Systems and Management, Marketing, & Operations benefit from belonging to a globally connected network that includes fellow students and internationally recognized faculty—some of whom remain working professionals—as well as alumni from top companies around the world that regularly recruit Embry-Riddle students for internships and career positions.

Advanced Labs

COB’s advanced teaching labs include space for collaborative decision-making, marketing, radio-frequency identification (RFID) and the Applied Aviation Simulation Lab. The Intelligent Aviation and Transportation Platforms Lab incorporates state-of-the-art aviation and transportation software and platforms, including Sabre Solutions and the Amadeus Reservation Systems. COB is one of the few educational institutions with direct access to these platforms and real-time data from airlines.

Business Programs and the Living Learning Community

Special student and faculty business programs include the Center for Entrepreneurship, a program in which students benefit from entrepreneurs and from the business leadership and talent of our graduates and alumni to start and grow companies. The Center also provides research opportunities for faculty to translate their technological innovations into practice and further their research into entrepreneurial innovations.

The Business Eagle Program is designed to launch high-performing business students into the competitive world of the aviation and aerospace industry. Developed in conjunction with industry mentors and Embry-Riddle’s Career Services, the program gives students the additional training and hands-on experience needed to impress first-time employers.

The COB Living Learning Community is an inclusive residential experience that fosters community, educational support and networking opportunities for students who live and learn side by side. In the Support System, students live on the same floor with a dedicated COB residential advisor. Special social activities include wing meetings, game nights, dinners and sporting events. Professional development programs and networking opportunities are arranged with Industry Advisory Board members, alumni and other industry professionals.

The Nation’s Only Ph.D. in Aviation Business Administration

As the first doctorate in the U.S. to focus on the business aspects of the aviation industry, the Ph.D. in Aviation Business Administration at Embry-Riddle is designed for advanced aviation and business students and professionals looking to fully develop a multidisciplinary understanding of aviation business. By complementing existing knowledge, doctoral students will deeply examine aspects of technology, policy and globalization that impact aviation business decisions.

“Growing global markets have created a new need for professionals with advanced aviation business expertise,” said Dr. Massoud Bazargan, Professor and Associate Dean. “This program is designed to generate research and analysis that will guide stakeholders as global aviation continues to evolve.”

With online educational opportunities, students have the flexibility to learn at the residential campus in Daytona Beach, Fla., at 125-plus Worldwide Campus locations or even in their own home.

College of Business Professional Education

Embry-Riddle offers a range of continued education programs, corporate training, seminars and workshops for individuals and organizations in the business aviation and aerospace industry. Exclusive offerings include the American Society of Appraisers required coursework for professional aircraft appraisers, presented this year prior to the beginning of NBAA. Specialized professional development courses can be found under broader categories such as Aviation Management and Business Administration. For more information, visit Professional Education.