Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Technology

Certificate of Achievement in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Technology

This certificate is designed to prepare students to enter the Unmanned Aircraft Technology field. The required course work provides the students with the skills to manage and plan flight operations. Students demonstrate the ability to collect and process imagery data for analysis. Students also develop skills that they can apply in multiple applications including agriculture, natural and cultural resources management, emergency response, aerial videography and photography.

Upon completing this certificate students should be able to: Upon completing this certificate students should be able to:

  • Demonstrate a basic knowledge of aircraft systems, to include airframe, power plants and flight instruments
  • Demonstrate a basic knowledge of Unmanned Aircraft Systems including fixed wing and rotor-wing Unmanned Aircraft Systems.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of image acquisition and analysis from images acquired by Unmanned Aircraft Systems.
  • Select the type of Unmanned Aircraft System for a specific mission and identify types of payload to be carried and to complete a mission.
  • Take the Part 107 FAA Exam

This is a new and emerging field so standards are still evolving. The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) has developed the Part 107 regulations for commercial operations and Section 333 exemption. Aircraft need to be registered with the FAA.

Career Paths

  • Aerial Videographer
  • UAS Avionic Technician
  • UAS Data Analyst
  • UAS Instructor
  • UAS Maintenance Technician
  • UAS Remote Pilot

Required Courses (15 units)

Course Name Course Title Units
AVIA 30B Introduction to Unmanned Aircraft Systems 3 units
AVIA 30A Aviation – Pilot Ground School 3 units
AVIA 30C UAS Image Analysis and Visualization 3 units
AVIA 30D UAS Flight Operations and Flight Planning 3 units
PMGT 16G Introduction to Remote Sensing 3 units
  OR 3 units
PMGT 16A Introduction to Geospatial Technology 3 units

For a certificate, only the major requirements listed above must be completed.

Students should check with a counselor to verify their catalog rights and program requirements.

First Semester (Fall)

AVIA 30A; AVIA 30 B

Second Semester (Spring)

AVIA 30C; AVIA 30D; PMGT 16G or PMGT 16A

Associate of Science Degree in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Technology

This Associate of Science degree in Unmanned Aircraft Technology is designed to prepare students to enter the workplace with new skills to enhance their current positions and create new opportunities in the field of Unmanned Aircraft Technology. The required and elective courses provide students the ability to apply skills through hands-on experience working directly in both public and private sector organizations. Students demonstrate the skills necessary to manage and plan flight operations, collect data, and process imagery for analysis. Students also have the opportunity to develop skills that they can apply in multiple applications including agriculture, natural and cultural resources management, emergency response, aerial videography, and photography. Students will prepare for and complete practice exams for the FAA Part 107 exam.

Upon completion of this associates degree, students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate basic knowledge of aircraft systems, including airframe, power plants, and flight instruments.
  • Demonstrate basic knowledge of aircraft systems, including fixed-wing and rotor-wing UAS systems.
  • Demonstrate image analysis techniques with Unmanned Aircraft derived images.
  • Select the correct aircraft and sensor to accomplish the data collection mission.
  • Demonstrate basic knowledge of the National Airspace and all of the FAA regulations regarding drone use in the United States.

Career Paths

  • UAS Remote Pilot
  • UAS Maintenance Technician
  • UAS Avionics Technician
  • Aerial Videographer
  • Image Analyst Technician

Required Courses (21 units)

Course Name Course Title Units
AVIA 30A Aviation - Pilot Ground School 3 units
AVIA 30B Introduction to Unmanned Aircraft Systems 3 units
AVIA 30C UAS Image Analysis and Visualization 3 units
AVIA 30D UAS Flight Operations and Flight Planning 3 units
GIST 16A Introduction to Geospatial Technology 3 units
GIST 16G Introduction to Remote Sensing 3 units

Complete the following number of rules

Course Name Course Title Units
PMGT 20A Employment Preparation 1 units
PMGT 20B Internship 2 units

Electives (9-12 units)

Course Name Course Title Units
ARTS 62A Basic Photography 3 units
AVIA 30E Drone Videography and Photography 3 units
BIOL 12 Introduction to Ecology and Wildlife 3 units
BUSN 15 The Entrepreneurial Mindset 3 units
DIGM 22A Digital Video 1 3 units
ENGR 10 Introduction to Engineering 3 units
GIST 16C Spatial Analysis for GIS 3 units
PMGT 26 Regenerative Agriculture for Parks 3 units
PSCI 20 Weather and Climate 3 units

Fall, Year 1 (9 Units)

Course Number Course Title Units
AVIA 30A Aviation – Pilot Ground School 3 units
AVIA 30B Introduction to Unmanned Aircraft Systems 3 units
GIST 16A Introduction to Geospatial Technology 3 units

Winter, Year 1 (3-4 Units)

Electives: Take one of the following

Course Number Course Title Units
ARTS 62A Basic Photography 3 units
AVIA 30E Drone Videography and Photography 3 units
BIOL 12 Introduction to Ecology and Wildlife 4 units
BUSN 15 The Entrepreneurial Mindset 3 units
DIGM 22A Digital Video 1 4 units
ENGR 10 Introduction to Engineering 4 units
GIST 16C Spatial Analysis for GIS 3 units
PMGT 26 Regenerative Agriculture for Parks 3 units
PSCI 20 Weather and Climate 3 units

Spring, Year 1 (9 Units)

Course Number Course Title Units
AVIA 30C UAS Image Analysis and Visualization 3 units
AVIA 30D UAS Flight Operations and Flight Planning 3 units
GIST 16A Introduction to Geospatial Technology 3 units

Fall, Year 2 (3-4 units)

Electives: Take one of the following

Course Number Course Title Units
ARTS 62A Basic Photography 3 units
AVIA 30E Drone Videography and Photography 3 units
BIOL 12 Introduction to Ecology and Wildlife 4 units
BUSN 15 The Entrepreneurial Mindset 3 units
DIGM 22A Digital Video 1 4 units
ENGR 10 Introduction to Engineering 4 units
GIST 16C Spatial Analysis for GIS 3 units
PMGT 26 Regenerative Agriculture for Parks 3 units
PSCI 20 Weather and Climate 3 units
Last Updated 10/15/21