Drone Technology and Applications

Certificate of Proficiency
Career/Technical (Major Code: 01672)

The Drone Technology and Applications Certificate of Proficiency program will introduce students to how drones are being applied in their specific field of study. These fields include (but are not limited to) environmental science and management, real estate, journalism, search and rescue, precision agriculture, disaster response and management, fire science, maintenance and operations, law enforcement, photography and videography, mapping and surveying, remote sensing, fire science, and cultural resource management. This program will provide students with skills in sUAS operations specific to their chosen field of study.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

  • Student will analyze FAA regulations governing safe and responsible operation, licensing and registration requirements of small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS).
  • Student will assess and analyze a variety of problems that can be potentially solved using a UAS, and identify appropriate solutions.
  • Student will process and analyze data gathered from a UAS.
  • Student will describe the functions and limitations of various UAS hardware components (e.g. battery, gimbal, GPS module, flight controller, frame, sensor), and identify the appropriate components for particular applications.
  • Student will discuss the social, ethical, economic, and legal implications of UAS operations on individuals, organizations, and society in general.
  • Student will research how drones are being employed in specific disciplines.
Core Courses:
GEOG/AERO 107REMOTE PILOT GROUND SCHOOL1
GEOG/AERO/FTMA 108/ART 188INTRODUCTION TO DRONE TECHNOLOGY AND APPLICATIONS3
Choose one elective course from the list below:3-5
ART 205
BEGINNING DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
EHMT 150
WASTE MANAGEMENT APPLICATIONS
GEOG 145
INTRODUCTION TO MAPPING AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS (GIS)
CI 70
INSPECTION OF ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS AND STRUCTURAL INSPECTION
CI 90
CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGEMENT
GEOL 100
PRINCIPLES OF GEOLOGY
BIOL 140
ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY
LNT 136
INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT
LA 201
ADVANCED COMPUTER-AIDED LANDSCAPE DESIGN
FTMA 102
INTRODUCTION TO MOTION PICTURE PRODUCTION
ART 131
INTRODUCTION TO MOTION PICTURE PRODUCTION
FTMA 112
MOTION PICTURE PRODUCTION I
ART 132
MOTION PICTURE PRODUCTION I
FTMA 124
DOCUMENTARY VIDEO PRODUCTION
FS 101
FIRE PROTECTION ORGANIZATION
FS 102
FIRE BEHAVIOR AND COMBUSTION
Total Units7-9

Note:  Students will take two drone core courses and then select an elective that reflects their area of interest. Elective tracks include: Photography/Videography (ART 205), Environmental Waste Management (EHMT 150), Mapping (GEOG 145), Construction Inspection (CI 70 or CI 90), Geology (GEOL 100), Environmental Biology (BIOL 140), Plant Pest and Disease Control (LNT 136), Landscape Architecture (LA 201), Film and Video (FTMA 102, FTMA 112, or FTMA 124), and Fire Science (FS 101 or FS 102). Other electives can be used upon the approval of the Program Director.