Dear NEARC subscribers: 

We thought some on the NEARC listserve might be interested in knowing about a new Professional Graduate Certificate in Unoccupied Aerial Systems Piloting (UAS or “Drones”) being offered by The University of Massachusetts Amherst and the Mt Ida campus in Newton, MA.

The 9-credit course sequence – with a core (online) course on UAS Safety Management that may be the only course of its kind offered anywhere – can be completed part-time, over a single year. Students can also enroll in individual courses if they prefer.

Students will learn:

• Material needed to pass the FAA 107 remote pilot licensing test,

• Mission planning and safety management,

• Hands-on piloting of professional-grade quadcopters; and,

• How to take aerial photographs and use photogrammetry processes to compile them into aerial maps and digital models that are GIS-ready.

Upcoming courses include:

• Spring 2023 (February 6 - May 17 2023) - enrollment ends soon

Safety Management for Unoccupied Aerial Systems - Online remote learning; 3 credits; Tuesday\Thursday 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM (enroll using link)

Applications in Unoccupied Aerial Systems - In-person, UMass Amherst campus. 3 credits; Tuesday\Thursdays 2:30 PM - 3:45 PM (email to enroll)

• Summer Session 1 2023 (May 30 – July 12, 2023)

FAA Remote Pilot Certification Preparation - Online remote learning

1-credit; Thursdays, 4:00-6:00 pm (email to enroll)

Piloting Unoccupied Aerial Systems - In person, Mt Ida campus

2-credits; Tuesdays, 4:00-7:00 pm (email to enroll)

For more information about the full Certificate visit https://umassair.org/training-2/uas-piloting-certificate/. Questions or two enroll? Email [log in to unmask].