Assignment on Bachelor’s Programs in UAS and Drones

Are you a non-engineer and interested in undergoing a graduate program for unmanned aerial systems? No worries, you can get all the information about different programs for non-engineers in this post.

The unmanned aerial system (UAS) or unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) are aircrafts flown remotely and only one person can fly it. They cost only a few hundred dollars.

The cost of military surveillance and attack aircraft are more than $21 million. UAS has significant importance in military and commercial usage. The military is opening positions for non-engineering degree holders who like to work with unmanned aircraft systems.

In America, several colleges are meeting the demand of required graduate programs the repairing of drones. Individuals seeking such programs and education can select several options to have the necessary information and then start their career.

Graduation programs are available across the United States of America for students through campus and online studies. You will find it surprising to know that students after graduating from these institutes are getting high ranked and paying positions (Wald, 2013).

The job placement history illustrates the need for programs and skilled workers without engineering degrees. These programs are enough to provide basic information. After having fundamentals, students are working in well-recognized institutes and getting potential earnings.

In this article, Bachelor’s programs for non-engineers in UAS will be listed.

Current UAS Graduate Programs: In the US, dozens of colleges and institutes are offering aviation programs and courses in the unmanned aerial system. Some universities are offering major degrees as well such as Kansas State University (Akins, 2020).

Graduate Programs

1.      Spartan College: The AET or Aviation Electronics Technology program of Spartan is one of the first to excel and specialize in UAVs. In fact, graduates of this program have the qualifications of working in a variety of industries and positions ranging from UAV, Robotics, Simulator Development, Communications, and Aerospace. The program is certified by the NCATT or National Centre for Aerospace and Transportation Technologies.

Graduates are prepared for FCC or Federal Communications Commissions and CET or Certified Electronics Technician licenses and certificates.

2.      Embry Riddle: The Graduate Program of Embry Riddle in Unmanned Aircraft Systems equips students with necessary skills and knowledge for seeking employment in different UAS or unmanned aircraft system related fields including ground technicians, sensor operators, and UAS pilots. Students enrolled in this graduate program explore diverse coursework in engineering, robotics, computer science, unmanned aircraft systems, and aeronautical science, offering graduates deep knowledge for becoming industry leaders.

In addition, the institute has paired with some local companies for establishing land utilization for academic flight functions and operations.

3.      Oklahoma State University: The UAS option at the Oklahoma State University is available non-engineers and it provides students with emphasis in the graduate domain work in the sector of UAS or unmanned aircraft systems. Students are provided by it with hands-on flight testing, construction, design, and analysis of UAS platforms.

4.      Indiana State University: The university offers graduation in unmanned systems. Students are prepared by this program for advancement and entry within water robotics, land, and aerial workforce. Actually, the program is recognized as one of the first of its kind in the state and one of the only few in the US. Students are provided with technical knowledge by this program. Some suggested minors include computer science, computer engineering technology, geographic information science, and aviation technology.

5.      Kansas State University: As the industry of drones continues to advance, this revolution is being led by Kansas State Polytechnic. The institute comprehends the significance of providing students exclusive education, cutting edge equipment and technology, and research opportunities. In their UAS graduation program, students are able to log flight hours by using a diverse fleet of drones through fixed-wing and structured multirotor training. Once it is completion, students tend to act as instructors in beginner flight classes.

6.      Liberty University: Through graduation in Aeronautics: Unmanned Aerial Systems, you will be become an expert aerial system operator. You will be able to earn Instrument Flight rating and Private Pilot certificate. With this program, you might also get an opportunity of earning a fully industry certification on Aerosonde vehicle.

7.      University of North Dakota: With fifty years of experience in aviation research, training, and education, UND has been the first to offer a degree in 2009. Undergoing this program, you will gain expertise and knowledge to work as a sensor operator or pilot operator in a crew environment. Actually, UND offers a detailed UAS degree including a number of relevant topics like counter UAS applications, crew resource management, and human factors. Students are also given the opportunity of interacting with large and small UAS organizations like Customs Border Protection and General Atomics.

These are some of the best institutions offering graduation programs in UAS.

Types of Careers: The University of North Dakota was the first institute that offered programs for unmanned aerial systems in 2009 and in the first batch, 120 students were enrolled.

Last year in May, Salina graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science degree with a major in unmanned aircraft systems. In 2011, Embry Riddle aeronautical university started a new degree in their Daytona Beach campus and now, they offer 89 major courses dealing with UAS.

This spring, Indiana State University announced major programs in UAS. Most of these graduated students started working in Federal Aviation administration where light-weighted aircraft are rolled out and they developed new technologies to avoid any collision of the system, and to secure the radio communication (Wald, 2013).

Potential Earnings: Students having skills in drone operations and working are getting more chances to work with different organizations such as Lockheed Martin, Northrop, and aircraft manufacturer Boeing.

NASA is currently the giant system that works with the air traffic control system through drones. According to recent law of 27 April 2020, the average salary of the pilot of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is $78, 637 and the typical salary fall between $57,883 and $94, 975 (Salary. com, 2020). The median salary of a drone pilot is approximately $79,000. The base salary falls between $62,000 to $70,000 (Lee, 2019).

The drones are getting more advanced as they are equipped with sensors and cameras. The applications of drones are also increasing such as in assessing the damage after earthquakes and storms, spotting fish, an inspection of transmission lines and pipelines, report of traffic conditions such as blockage, and performing surveillance at the borders.

Career opportunities in this field are not limited to military as there are some other options for the graduates such as in industries, package delivery, disaster relief, military, law enforcement, seismic study, firefighter, oil and gas operations, and computer science.

In the United States, the graduate programs in drones and UAS are getting more attention with increasing requirements. The graduate programs are becoming trendy but they provide more advantage to those who earn these degrees.References of Bachelor’s Programs in UAS and Drones

Akins, J. (2020). 20 BEST DRONE TRAINING COLLEGES. Retrieved from successfulstudent.org/: https://successfulstudent.org/15-best-drone-training-colleges/

Applied Aeronautics. (2018). 10 Drone Training Colleges in the USA. Retrieved from Applied Aeronautics: https://www.appliedaeronautics.com/applied-aeronautics-blog/2018/11/28/10-drone-training-colleges-in-the-usa

Flynt, J. (2019). 14 Best Colleges for Drone Training. Retrieved from 3DInsider: https://3dinsider.com/drone-college/

Lee, I. (2019). Drone Pilot Salary — How Much Money do Drone Pilots Make? Retrieved from uavcoach.com: https://uavcoach.com/drone-pilot-salary/

Philips, A. (2015). Bachelor’s Programs in UAS and Drones . Retrieved from Dronelife: https://dronelife.com/2015/07/02/ranking-the-top-15-drone-training-colleges-in-the-u-s/

Salary. com. (2020). Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Pilot Salary in the United States. Retrieved from www.salary.com: https://www.salary.com/research/salary/posting/unmanned-aerial-vehicle-uav-pilot-salary

Top10Drones. (2018). 20 Best Drone Training Colleges. Retrieved from Top10Drones: https://top-10-drones.com/20-best-drone-training-colleges/

Wald, M. L. (2013). Just Don’t Call It a Drone. Retrieved from www.nytimes.com: https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/03/education/edlife/universities-offer-degrees-in-unmanned-aircraft-systems.html