Drone Applications and Technologies
Associate in Science Graphic Communications · Palomar College · 2026-2027 Catalog
This program will prepare students to become remote pilots or entrepreneurs in fields that currently deploy Drones / Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in their operations. These fields include environmental science and management, real estate, journalism, search and rescue, agriculture, disaster response and management, and cultural resource management among others. This program will provide students with skills in UAS operations as well as the knowledge necessary to plan, create, and develop a UAS based business.
Learning Outcome(s):
- Use intelligent mission planning modes to script out flight paths for image capture.
- Demonstrate successful mission planning, drone operation and image capture of mapping project within two hours of solar noon, and use photogrammetry software to post-process.
- Differentiate between the airspace classes with an emphasis on controlled vs uncontrolled, shape, and aircraft allowed.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Program Requirements | 21 | |
| GCIP 140 OR PHOT 120 | 3 | |
| GCIP 140 | Photoshop for Digital Imaging I | 3 |
| orPHOT 120 | Digital Photography | 3 |
| GCIP 158 | Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Procedures and Regulations | 1 |
| GCIP 168 | Digital Imaging with Drones | 3 |
| GCIP 268 | Digital Imaging with Drones II | 3 |
| GEOG 140 | Introduction to Remote Sensing and Drone Data Processing | 3 |
| GEOG 120 | Digital Earth: Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | 4 |
| BMGT 153 | Small Business Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| Elective (select one of the following two courses) | 1 | |
| CE 150 | Cooperative Education Internship | 1 |
| orCE 100 | Cooperative Education | 1 |
| Select two courses: | 4-8 | |
| GEOG 145 | LiDAR Data Processing and GIS Integration | 1 |
| GEOG 132 | Database Management and Data Acquisition | 4 |
| ENGR 126 | Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering | 4 |
| GCMW 165 | Digital Video Design | 3 |
| BUS 152 | Social Media for Business | 3 |
| GCMW 205 | Digital Video for Multimedia | 3 |
| Total | 25-29 | |