This comprehensive program will instruct you in:

• the underlying science and physics around UAS flight; 
• public policies, regulations and ethical considerations that are required to operate UAS properly and needed to  successfully test for a remote pilot license; 
• the skills to operate and safely control a vehicle at launch, flight and landing; 
• the human factors critical for safe flying; 
• how to identify and mitigate risk; 
• how to develop a comprehensive organizational UAS safety management system for themselves and/or their organization;  and,
• the processing of acquired true-color (RGB) imagery via photogrammetry to produce ortho mosaic imagery, digital surface models, and 3D models for use in management decision-making.

The 9-Credit Curriculum and when they are typically offered:

• FAA Piloting License Preparation (ECO\GEO\CEE 650, 1 credit, online. Offered at varying times a year.)
• Piloting UAS (ECO\GEO\CEE 651, 2 credits, in person available at both UMass Amherst and Mt Ida, Fall semesters at UMass Amherst, Summers at Mt Ida campus)
• Safety Management for UAS (ECO\GEO\CEE 652, 3 credits, online, Spring semesters); and,
• Applications in UAS – a capstone course where students design and fly their own mission (ECO\GEO\CEE 653, 3 credits, in person, offered at both UMass Amherst (spring semesters) and Mt Ida (Fall semesters).

David Price, UAS PILOT, CO-DIRECTOR OF FLIGHT OPERATIONS, ADJUNCT FACULTY, UMASS AMHERST, UMASS AMHERST MT. IDA CAMPUS. David is a professional unoccupied aerial systems pilot and has taught aviation related courses for more than 20 years.

Ryan Wicks, UAS PILOT, CO-DIRECTOR OF FLIGHT OPERATIONS, DATA ANALYST, CONTRACT SERVICES CO-LEAD AND ADJUNCT FACULTY, UMASS AMHERST. Ryan is a professional Unoccupied Aircraft System (UAS) pilot, a data analyst, and the lead equipment technician for UMassAir.

Professionals in a wide range of industries will benefit from this certificate program:

• Construction management
• Utility management
• Environmental or natural resource management
• Agriculture
• Emergency response
• Civil engineering
• Robotics
• Telecommunications
• Mining
• Security
• Real estate
• Insurance
• Wildlife management
• and more...

Tuition Details:

• Tuition is currently at $631/credit.
• Tuition for each 3-credit course is $1,893.
• The total certificate tuition cost is $5,679.
• There is also a $60/semester registration fee.

Note for Undergraduates: While this program is intended for professionals and graduate students already with a bachelor’s degree in hand, matriculated undergraduate students at UMass Amherst may also enroll in courses with instructor approval but are not eligible to receive the certificate unless they already hold a separate Bachelor’s degree. Also  course tuition is not included as part of your UMass tuition bill – a separate payment will be necessary.

University Without Walls (UWW) at UMass Amherst administers registration and payments for these courses.