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

Admissions 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

This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:

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 Show expanded career information for Cartographers and Photogrammetrists

Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians

$67,530 Show expanded career information for Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians

Remote Sensing Technicians

$65,020 Show expanded career information for Remote Sensing Technicians

Surveying and Mapping Technicians

$55,640 Show expanded career information for Surveying and Mapping Technicians

* 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
Part-time

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	Prerequisites: Writing test score or (C or better in ENG091 or ESL097or WAC101) or (B or better in ALT100) or (ALT100 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+) or (ESL202 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+). or Prerequisites: Writing test score or (C or better in ENG091 or ESL097or WAC101) or (B or better in ALT100) or (ALT100 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+) or (ESL202 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+).	Critical course	FYC or FYC	3
MAT187	Precalculus	Prerequisites: A grade of B or better in MAT12+, OR an appropriate district placement.	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	Area	Credits
UAS205	sUAS Instruments and Autopilot Programming and Uses			3
ENG102 or ENG108	First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL	Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in ENG101. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG107.	FYC or FYC	3
CRE101	College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in (ENG101 or ENG107) and (RDG095 or RDG100 or RDG111 or RDG112 or RDG113 or an appropriate district placement or permission of Instructor).	L	0–3
COM100 or COM110 or COM225 or COM230	Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication	No requisites or No requisites or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG101, or ENG107, or equivalent. or No requisites	SB or SB or L or SB	3
UAS206	sUAS Instrument and Autopilot Flight Lab	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in UAS100, UAS101, and UAS107. Corequisites: UAS205.		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	Credits
AET208	Aviation Safety	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in AET107, or permission of Instructor.	3
UAS100	sUAS Batteries and Electronics	Prerequisites: Appropriate placement test score in Reading, Writing and Math, or [eligibility in ENG101, (RDG100 or RDG100LL), MAT120, MAT121, and MAT122].	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	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	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT182 or MAT187 or MAT188 or MAT220 or MAT221 or eligibility for MAT220 as indicated by appropriate placement or 1 yr high school Trigonometry with a grade of C or better or permission of Department or Division.	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	Prerequisites: Writing test score or (C or better in ENG091 or ESL097or WAC101) or (B or better in ALT100) or (ALT100 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+) or (ESL202 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+). or Prerequisites: Writing test score or (C or better in ENG091 or ESL097or WAC101) or (B or better in ALT100) or (ALT100 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+) or (ESL202 & Corequisites: ENG101LL or ENG107LL or WAC101 or ENG100A+).	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	No requisites or No requisites or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG101, or ENG107, or equivalent. or No requisites		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	Prerequisites: A grade of B or better in MAT12+, OR an appropriate district placement.	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	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in (ENG101 or ENG107) and (RDG095 or RDG100 or RDG111 or RDG112 or RDG113 or an appropriate district placement or permission of Instructor).		L	0–3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number	Course Name	Requisites	Area	Credits
UAS205	sUAS Instruments and Autopilot Programming and Uses			3
ENG102 or ENG108	First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL	Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in ENG101. or Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG107.	FYC or FYC	3
UAS206	sUAS Instrument and Autopilot Flight Lab	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in UAS100, UAS101, and UAS107. Corequisites: UAS205.		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	Prerequisites: Appropriate placement test score in Reading, Writing and Math, or [eligibility in ENG101, (RDG100 or RDG100LL), MAT120, MAT121, and MAT122].			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	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	Credits
AET208	Aviation Safety	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in AET107, or permission of Instructor.	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	Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in MAT182 or MAT187 or MAT188 or MAT220 or MAT221 or eligibility for MAT220 as indicated by appropriate placement or 1 yr high school Trigonometry with a grade of C or better or permission of Department or Division.		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.