Program Description/Purpose: This career studies certificate is designed to prepare students for a career as a small unmanned aircraft systems flight operator. Upon successful completion of the coursework, students will demonstrate basic proficiency in the area of sUAS operations, general maintenance and repair, and sUAS collection and processing of aerial images, videos, and geospatial data.
Occupational Outcomes: Coursework aligns with the aeronautical knowledge required for FAA-approved commercial operations as a Remote Pilot with an sUAS rating and prepares students to sit for the FAA Part 107 exam. sUAS/Drone operators are in demand by a variety of industries with potential commercial uses in disaster responses, police, fire and EMS response and investigation, search and rescue, scientific research, agriculture, farming, ranching, land, livestock, and wildlife surveys, pipeline and power line inspection, industrial and residential inspection, delivery and transport, and aerial photography.
Program Student Learning Outcomes
- Students will understand commercial multi-rotor and fixed-wing sUAS aircraft and components.
- Students will understand drone payload, camera systems, and geospatial technology.
- Students will use industry-standard best practices for mission planning and implementation.
- Students will demonstrate flight proficiency utilizing pre- and post-flight checklists.
- Students will pass the FAA Part 107 exam.
Courses are displayed under the semester in which they are regularly offered and are recommended to be taken in this sequence to ensure timely graduation. It is possible that a course shown in a particular semester may not be offered due to low enrollment or other factors.
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