sUAS (Drones) Field Technician

Associate in Applied Science

sUAS (Drones) Field Technician

Drone flying

Spring Registration Callout

This program prepares students for a career as a small-unmanned aircraft systems technician. Upon successful completion of the program students will demonstrate basic proficiency in the area of small UAS operations, general maintenance and repair, the use of a small UAS for the collection of and pre and post-processing of aerial images and videos, and geospatial data collection.

Students are required to sit for, and pass a federal aviation administration aeronautical knowledge examination. Passing the examination leads to the earning of The Federal Aviation Administration’s Remote Pilot Certificate with a Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Rating. The RPC grants the holder the rights and privileges to safely operate for commercial purposes for less than 55 lbs. drone in the National Airspace System. This program requires off campus fieldtrips and fieldwork. Students are required to develop a portfolio containing examples of completed projects and selected examples of coursework.

 

Upon completion of this program students will be able to:

  • Earn a Federal Aviation Remote Pilot Certificate with a Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Rating;
  • Safely execute the rights and privileges of a remote pilot in command of a less than 55 pound small unmanned aircraft system;
  • Safely maintain and repair a small unmanned aircraft system;
  • Perform safety inspections and explain the benefits of recordkeeping;
  • Effectively support the collection of various types of data and process that data into actionable intelligence.

For additional information, please contact faculty advisor, Anthony Esposito, or department chair, Dr. Otto Hernandez.

Degree Requirements

Degree requirements
Courses Credits

GENERAL EDUCATION COURSES - 20 credits

When a General Education course is not specified, refer to the list of approved General Education courses.

Communication Courses  (6 credits)
    ENGL101-Composition I
3
    ENGL230-Technical Writing
3
Mathematics-Science-Technology Courses (3 credits)
    CISM125-Introduction to Computers
3
Social Science or Humanities Courses (3 credits)
    General Education Social Science or Humanities course
3
General Education Electives (8 credits)

    Choose 8 credits of General Education courses

(Students are strongly encouraged to meet with their faculty advisor before making a choice.)

8
TOTAL GENERAL EDUCATION CREDITS
20
PROGRAM COURSES - 40 credits
    ATCT120-Aviation Weather
3
    AVIT140-Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operation-Multi-Rotor
3
    AVIT185-Remote Sensing Using Unmanned Aircraft Systems 
4
    AVIT225-Mobilizing a Drone-Powered Economy
3
    AVIT245-Professional sUAS Operations
3
    AVIT250-sUAS Maintenance & Repair
4
    AVIT263-Aerial Video Production
1
    AVIT290-Unmanned Aircraft Systems Capstone Project 1
    CISM143-Introduction to Project Management 3
    CISM280-Capstone Portfolio 1
    ENVL122-Agricultural Technology 3
    ENGR125-Introduction to Electronics
4
    GIST101-Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
4

      Program Elective - Choose three credits from the following course alphas: ACCT, AVIT, BUSN, CISM, OSTM, TCOM, TVRF

3
TOTAL PROGRAM CREDITS
40
TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED FOR DEGREE
60

 (SUAS) EFFECTIVE   FALL 2022

Recommended Sequence of classes

Recommended sequence of courses
Course Code Course Name Credits
n/a First Semester (15 credits)
ATCT120 Aviation Weather 3
AVIT140 sUAS Operation-Multi-Rotor 3
AVIT245 Professional sUAS Operations 3
CISM125 Introduction to Computers 3
ENGL101 Composition I 3
n/a Second Semester (14 credits)
AVIT185 Remote Sensing Using Unmanned Aircraft Systems 4
GIST101 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems 4
Choose Social Science or Humanities General Education course 3
ENGL230 Technical Writing 3
n/a Third Semester (17 credits)
AVIT225 Mobilizing a Drone-Powered Economy 3
CISM143 Introduction to Project Management 3
ENGR125 Introduction to Electronics 4
ENVL122 Agricultural Technology 3
Gen Ed General Education Elective 4
n/a Fourth Semester (14 credits)
AVIT250 sUAS Maintenance & Repair 4
AVIT263 Aerial Video Production 1
AVIT290 Unmanned Aircraft Systems Capstone 1
CISM280 Capstone Project 1
Choose Program Elective 3
Gen Ed General Education Elective 4
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This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 1801014.