FORBES: Fullerton College, the oldest continuously operating community college in California, has just announced the launch of its first-ever Bachelor of Science in Drones and Autonomous Systems, starting in Fall 2026. This initiative is the first program of its kind on the West Coast. It positions Fullerton College as a leader in preparing the next generation of professionals for one of the most rapidly evolving sectors of the global economy.
The program got its start in 2018 when Professor Jay Seidel, an army veteran and drone pilot offered the college’s first course on drone media to address industry needs in a rapidly burgeoning field. With strong support from the administration, the initial class has grown into a comprehensive Drone Technology program offering associate degrees and specialized certificates. It will soon complete the next phase of its evolution as it expands into a full-fledged bachelor’s degree. The program has been careful to adopt a skills-first approach that ensures alignment between the curriculum and the real-world applications needed by industry. The focus was initially on certificates and an associate’s degree.
A Bachelor’s Degree In Drones From A Community College
One of the program’s innovative aspects is that it will be a full-fledged bachelor’s degree offered by a community college. In 2017-18, California began allowing community colleges to offer bachelor’s degrees in areas not served by the state’s university systems. The drone program is an example of this policy in action. Once the college approved it in principle, it needed to be reviewed by the University of California and California State University systems. Neither of these systems raised objections due to the program’s unique focus.
More from Forbes at the link below: