A.S. in Drone Technology

The drone technology degree program will prepare students to enter the sUAS/drone industries and  prepare them to take the Part 107 FAA Exam to work with drones commercially.  Students will acquire skills in flight operations, government regulations, crew resource management, aerial photography, GIS/digital mapping, sUAS maintenance and repair, media and data processing as well as field data collection. These skills will provide them a solid foundation in drone technology, preparing them for diverse career opportunities in jobs such as agriculture, engineering, film making, surveying, and environmental monitoring, natural resources management, public safety, cartography, drone light show production, power line and pipeline inspection, roof inspection, news reporting, package delivery, and many others. The program will equip students with practical skills in piloting drones, capturing and analyzing data, and utilizing drone-related software and applications. Coursework will prepare students for industry certifications. Classwork will foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork skills through hands-on projects and real-world applications utilizing cutting edge technology with the latest in professional software and curriculum will prepare graduates for the growing drone employment market as well as emerging industries utilizing drones and robotics and addresses the needs of students seeking non-traditional degrees. The program will also provide local business and public safety organizations an option for professional drone training for their current workplace needs.

A.S. Degree Level Student Learning Outcomes

Students completing the Drone Technology A.S. Degree will:

1. Demonstrate a basic knowledge of sUAS drone systems, flight theory, maintenance logs/record keeping, pre-flight checklists, crew resource management and software/hardware necessary for flight, media and data collection.

2. Demonstrate a basic knowledge of the applications and use of sUAS/drone systems in specific environments and purposes and of the sensor, payload, media and data collection tools and software necessary to perform commercial, public safety and scientific drone missions.

3. Take the FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot aeronautical knowledge test to become commercially licensed to operate sUAS systems.

This degree requires meeting the Citrus College General Education and proficiency requirements combined with successful completion (grades of “C” and above) of the following major requirements: