NBC.COM: Fullerton College will soon give students the opportunity to receive a unique degree in drone autonomy.
The community college will be offering a Bachelor of Science in Drone and Autonomous Systems in 2026, a first of its kind at the college and in the West Coast.
Jay Seidel, the program’s director and a professor at Fullerton College, started the program in 2018.
It combined Seidel’s passion for aviation and visual storytelling, and eventually grew into what is now the Fullerton Drone Lab.
“Personally, I’ve always had a passion for aviation, even when I was a kid,” Seidel said. “But then as I got older I found a passion for photography, videography and visual storytelling. That’s what brought me into journalism.”
Seidel taught journalism for 20 years, but the idea for the drone class sparked after he attended a drone journalism training done by the National Press Photographers Association.
What started out as an idea for a drone class turned into four specialized certificates, two associate’s degrees now a bachelor’s degree.
“I just realized that hey, there’s an opportunity here to create a training program that’s on the leading edge to meet the needs for tomorrow’s workforce by preparing the students today,” Seidel said.
Since starting the program, Seidel has dedicated time to developing the program by working with partners in various different industries to see how drones can be utilized and then integrating that into the program.
“There’s a level of excitement that’s off the charts as far as putting this program together,” Seidel said. “But yeah there is a sense of pride, that I’m happy that this is groundbreaking and this is happening at Fullerton College and I’m a part of it.”
According to their website, the program is recognized by the FAA as part of its Collegiate Training Initiative.
Students not only learn about what it takes to fly a drone safely, they are also prepared for a wide variety of careers in which drones can be utilized.
https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/fullerton-college-drone-program-bachelor-degree/3576993/