Drone/Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Technology

This degree is designed to prepare students to enter the Drone/Unmanned Aircraft Systems Technology field. Students receiving the degree will have the skills to manage and plan flight operations, collect and process imagery data for analysis, and are prepared to take the Part 107 FAA Exam. These skills will provide them with career opportunities in: aerial videography and photography, agricultural and natural resources management, public safety, news reporting, package delivery, and many other industries.

Enrollment – 20, and Completer's - 5 per year

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to: 1. Demonstrate a basic knowledge of aircraft systems, including air-frame, power plants and flight instruments. 2. Demonstrate a basic knowledge of Drones/Unmanned Aircraft Systems, including fixed wing and rotor-wing. 3. Describe and demonstrate knowledge of image acquisition and analysis from images acquired by Drones/Unmanned Aircraft Systems. 4. Select the type of Drone/Unmanned Aircraft System for a specific mission, identify the types of payload to be carried, and complete a mission. 5. Take the FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot aeronautical knowledge test.

AMT225 Introduction to Drones 3 AMT226 Drone Flight Operations and Pilot Certification 3 AMT227 Drone Aerial Photography and Videography 3 AMT228 Drone Maintenance Technician 3 AMT229 Advanced Drone Aerial Photography and Cinematography 3 AMT230 Data Acquisition, Mapping, and Surveys With Drones 3 General Education requirements: A student may complete the Gavilan College A.A./A.S. general education, the CSU-GE Breadth or the IGETC pattern, plus sufficient electives to meet a 60 unit total. See a counselor for details. NOTE: A course may be used to satisfy both general education and major courses. See "Double Counting Rule". Total for Degree: (60 Units)

The Drone/Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Technology program will become a part of the successful and established Career Technical Education (CTE) department at Gavilan College. It has been developed as a part of the new CTE initiatives at Gavilan and is supported by the State of California Strong Workforce Funding (SWF), which has "legislated $200 million annually to expand quality community college Career Technical Education (CTE) and workforce development courses, programs, pathways, credentials, certificates and degrees".

Within the last 2 years West Valley College has developed 4 courses in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Technology and just recently had a Certificate of Achievement approved but are not offering an Associate of Arts degree. In fact, Gavilan College has been working with them to assist us in the development of our program. There are no other colleges in our service area who are offering an Associate of Arts degree. The only other community colleges in our area, who are at the beginning stages of a program, are Ohlone College and City College of San Francisco.