Unmanned Aircraft Systems

The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) program prepares students for entry level positions in the UAS industry by providing foundational knowledge and skills in UAS mission planning, applications, maintenance, laws and regulations, data analytics, and project management using UAS platforms. Program content includes an introduction to UAS flight, history, avionics, sensors, communications systems and selectable paths including data analysis and applications such as emergency responders, geographic information systems, precision agriculture, and in commercial and government sectors. Students will prepare for and conduct unmanned flights similar to those commonly performed in the industry observing Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) regulations that govern sUAS operations. This program helps prepare students for the FAA Part 107 Certification.

Details

Field of Interest
Applied Technology
Degree Type
Associate in Applied Science (AAS)
Academic Plan
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (DEG)
Academic Plan Code
3184
Total credits required
61-68
Catalog Year
2024-2025
Effective Term
Fall 2022
Admission criteria

Students wishing to enroll in the Unmanned Aircraft Systems program must complete an application process before being officially accepted into the program.

Notes

Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.

What You'll Learn
  • Operate small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) proficiently according to Federal Aviation (FAA) Rules and Regulations.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the aviation and emerging sUAS environment.
  • Employ safety, legal, ethical, and moral standards related to sUAS operations.
  • Demonstrate basic radio skills and procedures to communicate with air traffic control (ATC), airport operators, and others as legally required.
  • Design flight and mission plans using computer applications and processes associated with sUAS operations.
  • Conduct basic maintenance and repair of sUAS.
  • Utilize problem solving skills in a dynamic environment for data analysis, evaluation, and reporting.
  • Mitigate human factors risks in sUAS operations.
  • Prepare for FAA Part 107 Certification.
  • Apply relevant knowledge, skills, and habits of mind to seek career opportunities in the field.

Successful completion of this degree may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Arizona-based wages* for this degree. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information. You can click on any occupation to view the detail regarding education level, wages, and employment information.

Cartographers and Photogrammetrists

$63,420

Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians

$67,530

Remote Sensing Technicians

$65,020

Surveying and Mapping Technicians

$55,640

* Career and wage information provided by Pipeline AZ using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources. Sources

Course Sequence by Term

The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:

  • Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Degree Progress Report Tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
  • The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
  • Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
  • Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.
  • Consult with your faculty mentor or academic advisor to determine educational requirements, including possible university transfer options, for your chosen career field.

Full-time Sequence

Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
UAS101 Introduction to Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operation Critical course Gateway course 3
ENG101 or
ENG107		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL Critical course FYC or FYC 3
MAT187 Precalculus Or higher level mathematics course MA 3–6
UAS107 Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operator Certification Required for certification to fly sUAS. 3
FYE101 or
FYE103		 Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success 1–3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
UAS205 sUAS Instruments and Autopilot Programming and Uses 3
ENG102 or
ENG108		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC or FYC 3
CRE101 College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking L 0–3
COM100 or
COM110 or
COM225 or
COM230		 Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication SB or SB or L or SB 3
UAS206 sUAS Instrument and Autopilot Flight Lab 2
SB Social-Behavioral Sciences 3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
AET208 Aviation Safety 3
UAS100 sUAS Batteries and Electronics 5
UAS208 sUAS Dynamics and Design Lab 2
UAS207 sUAS Dynamics and Design 5
HU Humanities, Fine Arts, and Design 3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
UAS211 Ground Control Stations, Telemetry, and Comms 3
UAS212 Maintenance Lab 2
UAS215 Commercial Flight Training 3
SQ or SG Natural Sciences 4
PHY111 General Physics I SQ 4

Part-time Sequence

Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
UAS101 Introduction to Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operation Critical course Gateway course 3
ENG101 or
ENG107		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL Critical course FYC or FYC 3
COM100 or
COM110 or
COM225 or
COM230		 Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication SB or SB or L or SB 3
FYE101 or
FYE103		 Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success 1–3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
MAT187 Precalculus Or higher level mathematics course MA 3–6
UAS107 Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operator Certification Required for certification to fly sUAS. 3
CRE101 College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking L 0–3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
UAS205 sUAS Instruments and Autopilot Programming and Uses 3
ENG102 or
ENG108		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC or FYC 3
UAS206 sUAS Instrument and Autopilot Flight Lab 2

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
UAS207 sUAS Dynamics and Design 5
UAS208 sUAS Dynamics and Design Lab 2

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
UAS100 sUAS Batteries and Electronics 5
SQ or SG Natural Sciences 4

Term 6

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 6
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
SB Social-Behavioral Sciences 3
UAS211 Ground Control Stations, Telemetry, and Comms 3
UAS212 Maintenance Lab 2

Term 7

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 7
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
AET208 Aviation Safety 3
HU Humanities, Fine Arts, and Design 3
UAS215 Commercial Flight Training 3

Term 8

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 8
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
PHY111 General Physics I SQ 4
Course Area Key

Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.

Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.

  • FYC = First Year Composition
  • L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
  • MA = Mathematics
  • SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
  • SQ = Natural Sciences Quantitative
Disclaimer

Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.

Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.

View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm13?id=176665).

At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.

Previous Catalog Years

The pathway map presented above is for the current catalog year and is the intended pathway map for new students. All previous catalog years for this pathway map are available at the link below.

Previous catalog years for Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Unmanned Aircraft Systems