UMass Amherst now offers a Professional Certificate in Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS or “drone”) Piloting to professionals and graduate students seeking to build new skills and knowledge in this growing field. Safe and responsible operation is the central element of this 9-credit, 4-course program that can be completed over the course of 1 year. This hybrid both online and in-person program is offered at both UMass Amherst campuses: Amherst and Mt Ida.

UAS offers a wide range of application areas such as infrastructure (e.g., bridge) inspection; traffic flow analysis; analysis of energy loss in buildings; emergency response; natural resource assessment and management; agriculture management; and many more. There are an existing shortage of professional Unoccupied Aerial Systems (UAS) pilots and one recent market research study predicts the demand for UAS services to grow globally by over 50% through the year 2027. 

The certificate’s purpose is to train students in fields such as construction, architecture, engineering, environmental management, wildlife management, agriculture, public sector management, or other relevant fields, on how to pilot and operate unoccupied aerial systems safely and responsibly, and to produce aerial imagery useful for their field of interest. 

Students learn:  

• 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:

• FAA Piloting License Preparation (ECO\GEO\CEE 650, 1 credit, online)
• Piloting UAS (ECO\GEO\CEE 651, 2 credits, in person available at both UMass Amherst and Mt Ida)
• Safety Management for UAS (ECO\GEO\CEE 652, 3 credits, online, 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 and Mt Ida.

Successful completion of the Graduate Certificate in Unoccupied Aerial Systems Piloting prepares students to sit for the initial aeronautical knowledge test, Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG), required for FAA Remote Pilot Certification.

TUITION AND FEES

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

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 $75/semester registration fee.

Contact the UMass Amherst Bursar’s Office at bursar@admin.umass.edu (link sends e-mail) or call 413-545-2368 for questions about tuition, fees, and payments.

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.

QUESTIONS?

• Complete this form and we’ll get back to you via email.

TO REGISTER FOR INDIVIDUAL COURSES 

Students can take individual courses without enrolling for the full certificate.

You can register for classes through the UMass University Without Walls registration system or through the UMass SPIRE system for existing UMass students.

If you have any questions about registration, contact UMass University Without Walls at regoff@uww.umass.edu (link sends e-mail), 413-545-3653 or 800-922-8211.

READY TO ENROLL IN THE FULL CERTIFICATE PROGRAM? 

1. Complete this short Application Form.
2. E-mail us at UMassAir@umass.edu to let us know you are applying. If you have any trouble, contact the program director, Charlie Schweik, at cschweik@umass.edu.

Note: you can register for one or more courses without pursuing the Certificate. (It is not necessary to apply to the program in order to register for courses.)

Questions? Complete this form and we’ll get back to you.