Program Overview

Aerospace Physiology Graduate Certificate Program

Overview

The Aerospace Physiology Graduate Certificate program is designed to study the physical and cognitive impact of extreme and/or austere environments on individuals. This program provides the foundation to understand and develop strategies for mental and physical resilience against extreme environmental conditions, optimizing performance for aerospace travelers.

Program Requirements

• The program requires 15 credit hours of coursework.
• Students must begin the program in the fall semester, taking PHOL 421, followed by PHOL 422 in the spring semester.
• A 4-day on-campus residency for a hands-on laboratory course (PHOL 423) is required.
• Full-time students can complete the program in 12 months, while part-time students can complete it over six semesters.
• Classes are accessed asynchronously from recordings over the Internet.

Key Program Features

• The program is available to students who have already earned a bachelor's degree in a physical or biological science.
• Both full-time and part-time study options are available.
• A final GPA greater than 3.0 in at least 15 credit hours of graduate coursework is required to earn the Graduate Certificate.

Sample Plan of Study

The following plan of study is for full-time students to complete the program in two semesters:

First Year

• Fall:
  • PHOL 421: Introduction to Aerospace Physiology I (3 credit hours)
  • PHOL 614: Sleep Physiology - Neurobiology of Sleep/Wake (3 credit hours)
  • One 3-credit hour graduate course taught in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics (with the approval of the Director of the Program)
• Spring:
  • PHOL 422: Introduction to Aerospace Physiology II (3 credit hours)
  • One 3-credit hour graduate course taught in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics (with the approval of the Director of the Program)
• Summer:
  • PHOL 423: Lab Research Rotation: Aerospace Physiology (3 credit hours), which includes a 4-day on-campus residency requirement.

Career Opportunities

Examples of related career opportunities include:

• Aerospace medicine physicians
• Research physiologists
• Operational physiologists
• Aviation medical and mishap examiners

Graduate Policies

For graduate policies and procedures, please review the School of Graduate Studies section of the General Bulletin.