Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) is launching a new standalone drone degree program, aimed at meeting the demand of a growing uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) industry.

Beginning with the fall 2023 semester, NMC will be offering an associate’s degree in UAS. That degree program will replace an existing UAS specialization currently housed within NMC’s engineering technology associate degree. According to the Tony Sauerbrey, who serves as UAS program coordinator for NMC, adding a standlone UAS degree to NMC’s coursework catalog “creates a clearer path for students and allows NMW to prepare for future industry demand.”

The Ticker previously reported that NMC was starting to see more demand around its UAS program offerings, including from the Michigan State Police (MSP). MSP troopers will sometimes visit NMC’s Aero Park campus to get training on UAS drones, as well as underwater ROVs (remote operated vehicles). Increasingly, law enforcement professionals utilize these remote technologies for a range of different applications, from search-and-rescue missions to underwater body recoveries.

In addition to the new degree path, NMC will also continue to offer a previously introduced “micro-credential” certificate in UAS operations.

Sauerbrey says the new degree program will give NMC “more flexibility to add classes [around UAS] as the industry changes.” For instance, evolving technologies in wireless technology and connectivity are expected to make the concept of Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) commonplace in the drone world. BVLOS refers to situations where the drone flies beyond the point where the drone pilot can see it. New federal regulations are expected soon around BVLOS, at which point additional credentials would be needed for pilots to be allowed to take on such advanced operations. NMC would add new classes at that point to address those higher-level credentialing requirements.

Per Sauerbrey, UAS was previously the abbreviation for a different term: “unmanned aerial systems.” NMC has changed its program langauge to the more gender-neutral “uncrewed aerial systems,” both to stay true to its strategic plan (which calls for inclusive and equitable language across the college by 2025) and to keep up with the lexicon of the broader drone industry.

“The entire aviation industry has begun adopting new, gender-neutral terminology, from the FAA on down,” Sauerbrey says. “As we made plans for this degree, it was perfect timing for us to make the change as well. As training on UAS is further integrated at the high school level, we expect to see an increase in interest from female students.”