Unmanned Aerial Systems UAS.S.CRT

One-year Technical Certificate - 32 - 34 Credit Hours

Division: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Department: Aviation Technology
Effective as of Fall 2025

What is the program about?

The Unmanned Aerial Systems One-year Technical Certificate prepares students with the foundational knowledge and skills related to Unmanned Aerial System technology, tools, and applications needed to support industry as a pilot/operator, visual observer, ancillary ground crew member, or data analyst while following applicable laws, regulations, and standards governing operations in the National Airspace System. Students may choose one of the four specialization options including Precision Agriculture, First Responders, Geographic Information Systems, or Aerial Sensing Data Analysis.

Program Outcomes

• Demonstrate and execute tasks necessary to complete Unmanned Aerial System operations, including decision making, data collection, data analysis, mission planning, pre-flight and post-flight briefings, navigation, command and control, and recovery of the Unmanned Aerial System. Demonstrate the ability to apply knowledge of laws and regulations governing Unmanned Aerial Systems applicable to operations in the National Airspace System.
• Exemplify a high standard of ethical or professional behavior by applying and demonstrating crew resource management skills to manage tasks and interact with people during Unmanned Aerial System operations.
• Apply knowledge specific to specialization focuses including Precision Agriculture, First Responders, Geographic Information Systems, or Aerial Sensing Data Analysis and how to utilize Unmanned Aerial Systems effectively in civil and commercial applications. Identify, interpret and apply the basic components of remote sensing to capture data pertaining to Unmanned Aerial System applications. Demonstrate use of hardware and software for data acquisition and analysis purposes related to Unmanned Aerial System applications.

Career Opportunities

The rapid growth of the Unmanned Aerial Systems industry has created many new and expanded career opportunities for those pursuing a career in civil and commercial applications of the technology. Major opportunities exist in the areas of Precision Agriculture, First Responders, Geographic Information Systems, and Aerial Sensing Data Analysis. There is current and expanding industry demand for personnel with capabilities in Unmanned Aerial System operations, maintenance, data analysis.