Core Courses (24 Credit Hours)

DAV 711 Foundations of Aviation (3 Credit Hours)

This course will explore the origins of aviation including certain events, developments, milestones, concepts and activities that have helped shape the modern world of aviation. To present the evolution of aviation, its structures, values and cultural impact; to examine the growth of aviation knowledge; and to discuss how these factors affect modern day practices.

DAV 712 Aviation Safety Management Systems (3 Credit Hours)

This course provides an in-depth study of Safety Management Systems (SMS) including safety risk management (i.e., hazards, risk, and controls); positive safety culture; quality management principles; reactive, proactive, and predictive safety management tools and methods; safety assurance; SMS implementation; forensic versus proactive safety management; and proactive airline safety programs, including data sharing issues.

DAV 713 The Economic Environment of Aviation (3 Credit Hours)

Economic applications to the aviation industry including the economics of an airline and how economic problems are analyzed. Demand analysis and its relation with price and economic conditions. Costs and supply and the interaction of demand. An in-depth examination of the economic aspects of the air transportation industry, with microeconomic analysis applied to decision making in the airline, general and corporate aviation, and airport businesses. Topics include: basic economics of air transport supply and demand; demand forecasting; cost drivers; network structures and strategies; ratemaking; yield, revenue and capacity management; regulatory issues; political influences; unique economic characters of international commercial aviation; capitalization and credit facilities; economic and structural analytical tools and models.

DAV 714 The Legal Environment of Aviation (3 Credit Hours)

This course will examine established national and international law and regulations affecting the aviation industry. Emphasis will be placed on the administrative law process, its rulemaking authority, associated laws, and judicial review. Aviation professionals will be introduced to the legal aspects of labor relations, tort liability, contract obligations, and property issues as they relate to aviation operations and decision making. The course will also look at the global impact of treaty law pertaining to passenger rights, cargo, foreign immunity, aircraft registration, and negligence liability.

DAV 721 Quantitative Research Methods in Aviation (3 Credit Hours)

This course will provide an in-depth study of quantitative research methods and associated uni-variate and bi-variate statistical techniques used to describe, explore, clean, analyze, and interpret numerical data. Emphasis will focus on integrating applied data analysis skills with conceptual understanding of methodological issues and foundations. Topics will include: data management, variables, units of analysis, data scales, descriptive statistics (central tendency, variability), distributions, sampling theory, statistical assumptions, statistical inference, data integrity, outlier identification and handling, missing data handling, reliability, internal and external validity, measurement, measurement error, variable roles (predictor-outcome), study and experimental design, inductive-deductive scientific reasoning, causation, hypothesis testing, statistical significance, effect size, statistical power, statistical comparison of means, statistical tests of association, simple and multiple regression, data coding, graphic representation of data, and APA-style dissemination of findings. Students will focus on scholarly application of quantitative methods to aviation-related topics and aviation data. A current license for PAWS (SPSS) Gradpack is required. (Prerequisite: Introduction to Inferential Statics, or approved equivalent.)

DAV 722 Applied Multivariate Data Analysis (3 Credit Hours)

This course will build on the foundational concepts and skills developed in DAV721, with a focus on appropriate application of multivariate data analysis techniques. Emphasis will be applied use of statistical analysis software (both menu interface and syntax) for examining, interpreting, and reporting findings related to research questions that involve multiple predictor and/or outcome variables. Several concepts covered in DAV721 will be further developed from a multivariate perspective (e.g., distributions, assumptions, outlier identification and handling, measurement, error, and APA-style dissemination). Topics will include: multi-collinearity, part and partial correlations, homoscedasticity, multiple linear regression, cross-validation, factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA), planned and post-hoc tests, interaction effects, canonical correlation, multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), repeated measures analysis, logistic regression, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), exploratory factor analysis (EFA), cluster analysis, and mediation analysis. Students will focus on scholarly application and dissemination of multivariate methods to aviation-related topics and aviation data. A current license for SPSS Gradpack is required. (Prerequisite: DAV721.)

DAV 723 Mixed-Methods Research in Aviation (3 Credit Hours)

This course will examine approaches to integrating qualitative and single-case research methods with quantitative techniques, to create mixed-method study designs conducive to scholarly inquiry of aviation-related topics. Topics will include: mixed methods history and paradigms, mixed-method notation, mixed method study designs, mixed-method data collection strategies, participant selection, data coding, interviewing, case studies, single-subject design and analysis, mixed-method analysis, interpreting mixed-method findings (reliability, validity, & inference), mixed-method writing/dissemination. A current license for SPSS Gradpack is required (Prerequisite: DAV721 and DAV722.)

DAV 724 Advanced Quantitative Data Analysis - Data Mining and Modeling (3 Credit Hours)

This course will explore advanced topics in quantitative data analysis related to data mining and statistical modeling. Conceptual issues and applied analysis experience will be emphasized. Activities will also provide opportunity for students to refine ability to critically read and review published research manuscripts that are based on quantitative analysis of data, and will further refine scholarly dissemination skills in order to prepare students for success in dissertation and refereed publishing endeavors. Topics will include: Data mining, structural equation modeling (SEM), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), path analysis, multi-group modeling, invariance testing, longitudinal and latent growth modeling, multi-level models, mediation analysis and other special topics. A current license for SPSS Gradpack (including AMOS) is required. (Prerequisite: DAV721 and DAV722.)