COURSE CURRICULUM

The Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) major at Southeast Missouri State University is a 62–63 hour degree program designed to prepare students for careers in the rapidly growing field of drone and unmanned aviation technology. The program focuses on the practical use, operation, maintenance, customization, and commercial application of unmanned aircraft systems rather than building drones from scratch. Students develop strong technical knowledge through coursework in electrical circuits, UAS fundamentals, aviation systems, drone design, sensor technology, mission planning, aviation law, policy, and safety. They also study aviation fundamentals, capstone project development, and applied industrial and engineering technology projects that connect classroom learning with real-world industry needs. A major part of the curriculum includes geospatial and environmental technologies such as remote sensing, meteorology, and geographic information systems (GIS), including introductory and advanced GIS courses that help students analyze spatial data for applications like mapping, agriculture, environmental monitoring, and public safety. The program also strengthens computing and technical skills through courses in microcomputer maintenance, programming, and technical communication, along with engineering economic systems and industrial safety supervision to prepare students for professional environments. Foundational mathematics and physics courses support understanding of flight dynamics and system performance. Students may further customize their education by selecting electives in computer programming or technical applications along with physics-based coursework. Overall, the UAS degree blends aviation knowledge, engineering principles, computing, and geospatial analysis to prepare graduates for careers in drone operations, aerial surveying, infrastructure inspection, precision agriculture, law enforcement support, environmental monitoring, and other emerging technology fields. The program is designed to be highly practical, industry-focused, and aligned with workforce needs in unmanned systems and aerospace-related technologies.