Contact Information
Seth Simonson, associate professor/UAS lead
Unmanned Aircraft Systems
Seth.Simonson@ndscs.edu
701-671-2345
Horton Hall 235
Jeff Jelinek, associate professor/program coordinator
Land Surveying & Civil Engineering Technology
701-671-2268
Horton Hall 242
Delivery Methods
Face-to-Face: Wahpeton
Online: Some classes
The Unmanned Aircraft Systems Associates of Applied Science (AAS) degree program is designed to prepare students with the knowledge and ability to use various types of unmanned aircraft systems, the legal guidelines for operating UAS in a commercial environment, preflight planning, how to pilot UAS and collect data using various types of sensors, process the data, analyze, and understand the data related to a specific discipline. Students will utilize high resolution camaras, thermal imaging sensors, LiDAR, and other sensors for collecting various types of data and then learning to process and analyze that data.
The Land Surveying Emphasis will prepare students for work as surveying technicians in construction related industries with the ability to utilize drone technology. The MS degree will broaden the students understanding of UAS as it applies to Land Surveying and will provide them with enough Land Surveying credits to pursue Professional Land Surveying Licensure in North Dakota or transfer on to a four-year college or university in related fields such as land surveying.
In addition. students take courses in communications, human relations, computers and technical mathematics, which will help provide them with the skills to advance in their careers.
Upon graduation, students can be employed with state, county, and city engineering offices as well as private engineering firms, land surveyors, contractors, and drone service providers.
NOTE: This program requires a ZBOOK Laptop or equivalent Please refer to the NDSCS website for specifications. For further information, call Seth Simonson, at 701- 671-2345.
Admission Requirements*
The applicants must be high school graduates or equivalent. Students considered for acceptance must complete all admission requirements.
Please Note: Students are placed into English. math and reading courses based on ACT. ACCUPLACER or other nationally recognized tests. Please see www.NDSCS.edu/current-students/student-suocess/test-center for the NDSCS Course Placement Policy and testing information. Students may be on an extended plan of study pending their course placement.
*Program Admission Requirements are subject to revision. Please check the department or program website under Program Admission Requirements for current information.
Award
Upon successful completion of the required courses, students will be awarded an Associate in Applied Science degree in Unmanned Aircraft Systems.