Drone Technology and Applications

The Drone Technology and Applications Certificate program will prepare students to become remote pilots or entrepreneurs in fields that currently deploy small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS). 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, and cultural resource management. This program will provide students with skills in sUAS operations as well as the knowledge necessary to plan, create, and develop an sUAS based business.

The Association for Unmanned Vehicles International (AUVSI) in their recent study of the sUAS job market in California, noted that the top six use cases for sUAS are: 1) Aerial Photography, 2) Real Estate, 3) Aerial Survey (Mapping), 4) Film and TV, 5) Precision Agriculture, and 6) Construction (AUVSI, 2105 -- see attached document). From these statistics, as well as the LMI report for sUAS drone pilots in the San Diego region, San Diego County is a major market and producer of UAS technology across a wide range of disciplines. Based on the review of sUAS job posts and labor statistics, there is a need for qualified sUAS pilots in the region. In consultation with faculty from disciplines across the campus of Southwestern College (including geospatial technology, photography, and environmental waste hazards) we believe that the proposed Drone Technology and Applications program will be very popular for students in these fields. We estimate an annual cohort of students receiving the Certificate to be anywhere from 15 to 30 students. 

Upon successful completion of the program, students will be able to: 1) identify the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations governing small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) operations (and be prepared to pass the FAA Part 107 Commercial License exam); 2) list the safety considerations when operating an sUAS; 3) discuss existing and emerging trends of sUAS applications in various industries; 4) demonstrate an ability to fly a variety of sUAS and process data collected from an sUAS; 5) discuss the fundamental concepts of drones as remote sensing platforms; 6) describe the basics of flight, aerodynamics, sensors, flight control systems, and mission planning; 7) demonstrate an ability to map, analyze, and present data collect from a drone; and 7) describe the process to create a drone related business.

The Drone Technology and Applications Certificate program will prepare students to become remote pilots or entrepreneurs in fields that currently deploy small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS). 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, and cultural resource management. This program will provide students with skills in sUAS operations as well as the knowledge necessary to plan, create, and develop an sUAS based business. The program is 17 units, and is designed to be completed in 1-2 semesters.

Graduates of the program will receive the technical skills and discipline-specific knowledge needed to become a safe and responsible commercial sUAS operator or a small UAS startup businesses owner (e.g. UAS consultant to construction firms, UAS consultant to municipalities). The Drone Technology and Applications Certificate of Achievement aligns with the recommendations identified by the California Community College’s Strong Workforce Task Force (as well as the Mission of Southwestern College). In particular, it enhances career exploration and planning, and creates pathways that prepare students for a variety of occupations with growth potential in the San Diego region.

Students must then choose one elective to take from the following list: GEOG 155 (Intro to Image Analysis - 3 units), ART 192 (Introduction to Digital Imaging - 3 units), ART 205 (Beginning Digital Photography - 3 units), FTMA 100 (Film Editing - 3 units), FTMA 102 (Introduction to Motion Picture Production - 3 units). The elective can be taken in S1 or S2.