Aerospace medicine has been shaping the future of flight and space exploration for over 50 years—and the journey is just getting started. As aviation continues to grow, commercial spaceflight takes off, and humanity sets its sights on the Moon, Mars, and beyond, the need for innovative experts has never been greater.
MS in Aerospace Medicine Now Accepting Applications from Interdisciplinary Professionals |
This exciting field thrives on collaboration. Physicians, engineers, nurses, researchers, dentists, audiologists, physiologists, and other specialists all play a critical role in protecting and advancing human health in the skies and in space.
To meet this growing demand, the University of Texas Medical Branch is expanding its accredited (CEPH) Master of Science in Aerospace Medicine program to welcome professionals from a wide range of disciplines. Join a dynamic community working at the intersection of medicine, technology, and exploration—and help shape the future of human flight.
Launch your next mission with UTMB. Come learn with us!
Academic Study and Degree Requirements
The Master of Science in Aerospace Medicine meets the credit hour requirements set forth by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) and the American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM). The curriculum is built around three foundational requirements.
1 | Courses in core public health knowledge areas — Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Health Policy, Environmental Health, and Social/Behavioral Sciences |
2 | Aerospace specialty courses |
3 | Completion of a mentored capstone thesis and presentation |
Course Content
01 Principles of Aviation and Space Medicine | 02 Introduction to Occupational Injury | 03 Introduction to Epidemiology |
04 Epidemiologic Methods | 05 Biostatistics and Data Management | 06 Aerospace Medicine I |
07 US Healthcare Systems Option for Approaches to Academic and Professional Writing | 08 Mentored Capstone Thesis | 09 Preventive Medicine and Behavioral Health |
10 Environmental Medicine | 11 Global Health Policy, Practice, and Delivery | 12 Professional Presentations and Teaching Strategies |
Aerospace Medicine Specialty Content
These courses cover the full breadth of physiologic, environmental, operational, and engineering challenges facing physicians and specialists who work in aviation and space medicine. Topics include:
| Accident and mishap investigation | | Acoustics and vibrations | | Acute care and surgery in spaceflight | | Aerodynamics, orbital mechanics, and kinematics | | Aerospace dentistry considerations | | Aerospace forensics | | Aerospace pharmacy considerations | | Aerospace radiation | | Atmosphere, hypoxia, and hypercarbia | | Aviation (fixed and rotary wing) principles of flight and flight controls | | Biomedical and systems engineering | | Clinical aerospace medicine | | Commercial spaceflight considerations | | Emerging aerospace technology | | Environmental control systems |
| | Human factors | | Human physiologic considerations | | Human physiologic response to aviation and space environments | | Human response to transient and sustained acceleration, and altered-gravity environments | | Hypobaric and hyperbaric exposures, sequelae, and treatment | | Immunology in spaceflight | | Infectious disease prevention for spaceflight | | Leadership, management, and administration | | Lunar and Martian dust considerations | | Medical certification | | Medical operations for the flight surgeon | | Medical systems | | Military aerospace medicine considerations | | Nutrition in spaceflight |
| | Occupant protection and restraint systems | | Operational aerospace medicine | | Operational medical support in isolated and confined environments | | Physiologic response to aviation and spaceflight | | Probabilistic risk assessment | | Requirements writing | | Risk assessment and management | | Safety and survivability in civil aviation | | Spaceflight vehicle design considerations | | Spacesuit development | | Spatial disorientation | | Telemedicine | | The flight environment | | Thermal loads | | Toxicology |
|
Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) Competencies
The MS in Aerospace Medicine is designed to prepare graduates to:
| Discuss the principles of aviation and space medicine to enhance health, promote safety, and improve performance of persons who work or travel in the aviation and spaceflight environment. |
| Identify the factors that influence the health of persons who work or travel in the aviation and spaceflight environment. |
| Identify adverse health outcomes and treatment options following exposure to occupational hazards. |
| Apply primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention approaches to disease and injury prevention for persons who work or travel in the aviation and spaceflight environment. |
| Evaluate environmental hazards and recommend methods to reduce exposure and mitigate risk. |
Eligibility
The MS in Aerospace Medicine is now accepting applications from the following interdisciplinary specialties:
| Advanced Practice Nurses (MSN, DNP) | | Audiologists (AuD) | | Dentists (DDS, DMD) | | Doctoral-level professionals (PhD, PsyD, and related fields) | | Flight Nurses (CFRN) | | Optometrists (OD) |
| | Paramedics (NRP, EMT-P) | | Pharmacists (PharmD) | | Physical Therapists (DPT) | | Physician Assistants (MPAS) | | Physicians (MD, DO) | | U.S. Military members with documented clinical and/or research need for the MS in Aerospace Medicine |
|
International equivalents to the above degrees (e.g., MBBS) will be considered on a case-by-case basis with appropriate documentation.