Degree & Certificates
The Fullerton Drone Lab offers a variety of degrees and certificates focused on the drone industry.
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE - DRONE AND AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS - FALL 2026
This program requires the completion of 120 units. In addition to the required 34 general education units, students will complete the following courses:
| Lower Division Required Courses (25 units): | Units | |
| CIS 201 F | Introduction to Python Programming | 3 |
| CIS 261 F | Drone and Autonomous Device Programming | 3 |
| DRON 105 F | Applied Drone Piloting | 3 |
| DRON 120 F | Infrared Thermal Imaging Level 1 | 2 |
| DRON 130 F | Aerial Mapping and Photogrammetry | 3 |
| DRON 140 F | Basic Drone Maintenance and Repair | 3 |
| DRON 201 F | Advanced Drone Piloting Skills | 2 |
| ESC 105 F | Introduction to Weather and Climate | 3 |
| GEOG 230 F | Map-Making with GIS | 3 |
| Upper Division Required Courses (49 units): | Units | |
| CIS 361 F | Drone and Autonomous Device Programming Advanced | 3 |
| CIS 461 F | Drone and Autonomous Device Communications | 3 |
| CIS 462 F | Drone and Autonomous Device Coordination and Behavior | 3 |
| DRON 305 F | Drone Sensor Technology and Applications | 3 |
| DRON 320 F | Safety Management Systems for Drone and Autonomous Technology | 3 |
| DRON 340 F | Advanced Drone Maintenance and Aerodynamic Systems | 3 |
| DRON 350 F | Drone Law | 3 |
| DRON 370 F | Drone LiDAR Application and Operations | 3 |
| DRON 380 F | Advanced Drone Operations | 3 |
| DRON 385 F | Multiplatform Autonomous Operations and Management | 3 |
| DRON 415 F | Introduction to Large Drone Operations | 3 |
| DRON 450 F | Drone Operations Management | 3 |
| DRON 480 F | Drone Practicum | 4 |
| ENGL 301 F | Technical Writing | 3 |
| ESC 330 F | Sensing the Earth System | 3 |
| PHIL 361 F | Technology and Ethics | 3 |
|
Restricted Electives (12 units): |
Units |
|
|
BUS 180 F |
Small Business Management |
3 |
|
CIS 210 F |
Advanced Python Programming |
3 |
|
CIS 212 F |
Robotic Programming |
3 |
|
DRON 170 F |
Introduction to LiDAR acquisition |
3 |
|
DRON 210 F |
Extended Drone Operations and Part 108 |
3 |
|
DRON 240 F |
Advanced Drone Maintenance |
3 |
|
DRON 260 F |
Multispectral and Hyperspectral Sensing with Drones |
3 |
|
DRON 270 F |
Advanced LiDAR Acquisition |
3 |
|
GEOG 231 F |
Spatial Analysis: Mapping for Solutions and Decision-Making |
3 |
|
GEOG 237 F |
Intermediate and Advanced GIS Applications |
3 |
|
GEOG 238 F |
Principles of Map-Making and Cartographic Design |
3 |
|
MKT 103 F |
Principles of Advertising |
3 |
Associate of Science - Drone and Autonomous Systems
| Required Courses : 13 Units |
Units |
| TECH 140 F – Basic Drone Maintenance and Repair | 3 |
| TECH 151 F – Applied Drone Piloting | 3 |
| TECH 158 F – Advanced Drone Piloting Skills | 2 |
| TECH 160 F – Infrared Thermography | 2 |
| TECH 165 F – Aerial Mapping & Photogrammetry | 3 |
| Restricted Electives: 9-13 Units from any of the sections below |
Units |
| Mapping and Geographic Analysis Emphasis Electives (9 units) | |
| Select 9 units from the courses listed below. | |
| GEOG 102 F – Physical Geography | 3 |
or
| GEOG 102 HF – Honors Physical Geography | 3 | |
| GEOG 120 F – Global Environmental Problems | 3 | |
| GEOG 230 F – Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | 3 | |
| GEOG 231 F – Spatial Analysis: Mapping for Solutions and Decision-Making | ||
| GEOG 237 F – Intermediate and Advanced GIS Applications | 3 | |
| GEOG 238 F – Principles of Map-Making and Cartographic Design | 3 | |
| Photography/Cinematography Emphasis Electives (9 units) | ||
| CRTV 157 F -Digital Production/Non-Linear Editing for Video/Film | 3 | |
| CRTV 164 F – Advanced Digital Editing Production/Non-Linear Editing for Video/Film | 3 | |
| CRTV 175 F – Documentary Filmmaking | 3 | |
| JOUR 215 F – UAV/Drone Reporting | 3 | |
| PHOT 101 F – Introduction to Photography | 3 | |
| PHOT 103 F – Intermediate Photography | 3 | |
| PHOT 216 F – Advanced Digital Photography | 3 | |
| Construction and Inspection Emphasis Electives (9-13 units) | ||
| ARCH 111 F Introduction to Architecture | 3 | |
| ARCH 124 F Architectural CAD I | 3 | |
| CSTR 041 F International Residential Code | 3 | |
| CSTR 108 F Surveying for Builders | 2 | |
| CSTR 110 F Residential Estimating | 3 | |
| DRAF 101 F Blueprint Reading for Manufacturing | 3 | |
| DRAF 140 F AutoCAD For Industry | 3 | |
| ENGR 101 AF Surveying I | 4 | |
| WELD 096 F Welding Inspection Technology | 5 | |
| Public Safety Emphasis Electives (9-11 units) | ||
| Select 9-11 units from the courses listed below | ||
| AJ 050 F Accident Reconstruction by Drone | 2 | |
| AJ 051 F Night Operations by Drone | 1 | |
| AJ 052 F Search and Rescue by Drone | 1 | |
| AJ 053 F Tactical Operations by Drone | 1 | |
| AJ 223 F Criminal Investigation | 3 | |
| AJ 230 F Crime Scene Techniques | 3 | |
| AJ 252 F Police Patrol | 3 | |
| AJ 279 Contemporary Issues in Law Enforcement | 3 | |
| Agriculture Emphasis Electives (9-12 units) | ||
| Select 9-12 units from the courses listed below | ||
| HORT 001 F Principles of Horticulture I | 4 | |
| HORT 045 F Pest Control Certification and Safety | 3 | |
| HORT 156 F Plant Nutrition | 2 | |
| HORT 207 F Plant Pathology | 3 | |
| HORT 215 F Diseases/Pests Ornament Plants | 4 | |
| HORT 219 F CAD Appl in Horticulture | 3 | |
| TECH 260 F Multispectral and Hyperspectral Sensing with Drones | 3 | |
| Environmental Science Emphasis Elective (9-11 Units) | ||
| Select 9-11 units from the courses listed below | ||
| ENVS 105 F Environmental Biology | 3 | |
| ENVS 141 F Desert Natural History | 1 | |
| ENVS 142 F Geology and Marine Biology of the Channel Islands | 2 | |
| ESC 101 F Earth Science Survey | 3 | |
| ESC 105 F Introduction to Weather and Climate | 3 | |
| ESC 106 F Geology of the Orange County Area | 2 | |
| ESC 110 F Introduction to Climate Science | 3 | |
| ESC 120 F Geology of California | 3 | |
| ESC 142 F Geology of Mojave Desert Area | 1 | |
| ESC 144 F Geology of Southern California Mountain Areas | 1 | |
| ESC 230 F Coastal Oceanography | 3 | |
| Total Units | 22-26 |
Associate of Science - Autonomous Systems Development
| Required Courses : 20-21 Units |
Units |
| CIS 212 F – Robotic Programming | 3 |
| ENGR 110 F – Introduction to Engineering | 3 |
| ENGR 203 F – Electric Circuits | 4 |
| ENGR 203L F -Electric Circuits Lab | 1 |
| MACH 101 F – Introduction to Machine Tools | 5 |
| TECH 150 F – Basic Drone Piloting | 2 |
or
| TECH 151 F – Applied Drone Piloting | 3 |
| TECH 155 F – Applied Drone Lab | 2 |
| Restricted Electives: 6-9 Units | Units |
| CIS 201 F – Introduction to Python Programming | 3 |
| DRFT 944 F – Solidworks | 3 |
| TECH 151 F – Applied Drone Piloting | 3 |
| ENGR 105 F – Engineering CAD | 4 |
| MACH 102 F – Intermediate Machine Tools | 5 |
| MACH 150 F – CNC Programming Using Mastercam | 3 |
| MATH 151 F – Calculus I | 4 |
| or | |
| MATH 151H F – Honors Calculus I | 4 |
| MATH 152 F – Calculus II | 4 |
| or | |
| MATH 152H F -Honors Calculus II | 4 |
| PHYS 221 F – General Physics I | 4 |
| Total Units | 26-30 |
Autonomous Systems Technician Certificate
| Required Courses : 13-15 |
Units |
| TECH 081 F – Technical Mathematics I | 3 |
| TECH 108 F – Manufacturing Processes | 3 |
| or | |
| TECH 127 F – Industrial Safety | 1 |
| TECH 132 F – Basics of Electric Motor Controls | 5 |
| TECH 150 F – Basic Drone Piloting | 2 |
or
| TECH 151 F- Applied Drone Plioting | 3 |
| TECH 155 Applied Drone Lab | 2 |
| Total Units | 13-15 |
Uncrewed Aerial Systems Piloting Certificate
| Required Courses : 10-11 Units |
Units |
| TECH 080 F – Federal Aviation Administration Drone Pilot Test Preparation |
1 |
| TECH 150 F – Basic Drone Piloting | 2 |
or
| TECH 151 F – Applied Drone Piloting | 3 |
| TECH 158 F – Advanced Drone Piloting Skills | 2 |
| ESC 105 F – Introduction to Weather and Climate | 3 |
| TECH 127 F – Industrial Safety | 2 |
| Total Units | 10-11 |
Drone Business and Entrepeneurship Certificate
| Required Courses (8-9 units) | ||
| BUS 180 F – Small Business Management | 3 | |
| or | ||
| BUS 181 F- The Entrepreneurial Mindset | 3 | |
| BUS 170 F – Principles of E-Commerce | 3 | |
| or | ||
| MKT 103 F – Principles of Advertising | 3 | |
| TECH 150 F – Basic Drone Piloting | 2 | |
| or | ||
| TECH 151 F – Applied Drone Piloting | 3 | |
| Restricted Electives (4-6 units) | Units |
| ACCT 100 F – Small Business Accounting | 3 |
| DART 132 F – Digital Imaging I | 3 |
| PHOT 101 F – Introduction to Photography | 3 |
| TECH 158 F – Advanced Drone Piloting Skills | 2 |
| TECH 160 F – Infrared Thermography | 2 |
| TECH 165 F – Aerial Mapping and Photogrammetry | 3 |
| Total Units | 12-15 |
Drone Journalism Certificate
| Required Courses : 16 Units |
Units |
| TECH 080 F – Federal Aviation Administration Drone Pilot Test Preparation | 1 |
| JOUR 101 F – Reporting and Writing | 3 |
| JOUR 210 F- Multimedia Reporting | 3 |
| JOUR 215 F – UAV/Drone Reporting | 3 |
| PHOT 111 F – Introduction to Photography from Analog to Digital | 3 |
| ESC 105 F – Introduction to Weather and Climate | 3 |
| Restricted Electives – 2-4 Units | Units |
| CRTV 157 F – Digital Production/Non-Linear Editing for Video/Film | 3 |
| GEOG 102 F – Physical Geography | 3 |
| or | |
| GEOG 102HF – Honors Physical Geography | 3 |
| GEOG 102LF – Physical Geography Lab | 1 |
| JOUR 102 F – Advanced Reporting and Writing | 3 |
| JOUR 222 F – Introduction to News Media Production | 3 |
| PHOT 216 F – Advanced Digital Photography | 3 |
| PHOT 217 F – Applied Digital Photography | 3 |
| PHYS 130 F – Elementary Physics | 4 |
| TECH 155 F – Applied Drone Lab | 2 |
| Total Units | 18-20 |
Autonomous Industrial Inspection Certificate - FALL 2026
| Required Courses (12 Units): | Units | |
| DRON 101 F | Basic Drone Piloting | 2 |
| DRON 120 F | Infrared Thermal Imaging Level 1 | 2 |
| DRON 150 F | Autonomous Industrial Inspection | 3 |
| WELD 240 F | Welding Inspection | 5 |
| Total Units | 12 | |
Drone and Precision Agriculture Technician Certificate - FALL 2026
| Required (15 Units): | Units | |
| DRON 105 F | Applied Drone Piloting | 3 |
| DRON 130 F | Aerial Mapping and Photogrammetry | 3 |
| DRON 260 F | Multispectral and Hyperspectral Sensing with Drones | 3 |
| DRON 265 F | Drone Spraying Operations and Certification Training | 3 |
| HORT 045 F | Pest Control Certification and Safety | 3 |
| Electives (4-6 Units): | Units | |
| DRON 120 F | Infrared Thermal Imaging Level 1 | 2 |
| DRON 140 F | Basic Drone Maintenance and Repair | 3 |
| DRON 210 F | Extended Drone Operations and Part 108 | 3 |
| HORT 153 F | Landscape Irrigation | 3 |
| HORT 155 F | Soils | 3 |
| HORT 156 F | Plant Nutrition | 2 |
| HORT 157 F | Irrigation Principles | 3 |
| Total Units | 19 – 21 | |
Drone Applications for Marine and Environmental Research Certificate - FALL 2026
| Required Courses (15 units): | Units | |
| BIOL 141 F | Marine Mammal Biology and Conservation | 3 |
| BIOL 222 F | Marine Biology | 3 |
| DRON 105 F | Applied Drone Piloting | 3 |
| DRON 145 F | Beginning ROV Piloting | 3 |
| ESC 130 F | Introduction to Oceanography | 3 |
| or | ||
| ESC 130HF | Honors Introduction to Oceanography | 3 |
| Restricted Electives (4-6 units): | Units | |
| DRON 120 F | Infrared Thermal Imaging Level 1 | 2 |
| DRON 130 F | Aerial Mapping and Photogrammetry | 3 |
| DRON 170 F | Introduction to LiDAR acquisition | 3 |
| ENVS 142 F | Geology and Marine Biology of the Channel Islands | 2 |
| ESC 110 F | Introduction to Climate Science | 3 |
| ESC 230 F | Coastal Oceanography | 3 |
| Total Units | 19 – 21 | |
Drone Cinematics and Visual Storytelling Certificate - FALL 2026
| Required Courses (13 Units): | Units | |
| DRON 095 F | FPV Drone Piloting | 1 |
| DRON 105 F | Applied Drone Piloting | 3 |
| DRON 115 F | Aerial Imaging and Storytelling | 3 |
| PHOT 101 F | Introduction to Photography | 3 |
| PHOT 275 F | Drone Photography | 3 |
| Restricted Electives (5-6 Units): | Units | |
| CRTV 157 F | Digital Production/Non-Linear Editing for Video/Film | 3 |
| CRTV 164 F | Advanced Digital Production/Non-Linear Editing for Video | 3 |
| DART 180 F | Digital Video | 3 |
| DART 181 F | Advanced Digital Video | 3 |
| DART 182 F | Motion Graphics and Special Effects | 3 |
| DRON 130 F | Aerial Mapping and Photogrammetry | 3 |
| DRON 201 F | Advanced Drone Piloting Skills | 2 |
| JOUR 210 F | Multimedia Reporting | 3 |
| PHOT 103 F | Intermediate Photography | 3 |
| PHOT 217 F | Applied Digital Photography | 3 |
| PHOT 224 F | Business Practices for Photography | 3 |
| PHOT 228 F | Introduction to Adobe Photoshop for Photographers | 3 |
| Total Units | 18 – 19 | |
Drone Maintenance and Repair Technician Certificate - FALL 2026
| Required Courses (18 units): | Units | |
| CIS 201 F | Introduction to Python Programming | 3 |
| DRAF 944 F | Solidworks | 3 |
| DRON 101 F | Basic Drone Piloting | 2 |
| DRON 140 F | Basic Drone Maintenance and Repair | 3 |
| DRON 240 F | Advanced Drone Maintenance | 3 |
| DRON 255 F | Applied Drone Lab | 2 |
| TECH 131 F | Basic Electricity and Basic Electronics | 2 |
| Total Units | 18 | |
LiDAR Acquisition Technician Certificate - FALL 2026
| Required Courses (11-12 Units): | Units | |
| DRON 101 F | Basic Drone Piloting | 2 |
| or | ||
| DRON 105 F | Applied Drone Piloting | 3 |
| DRON 130 F | Aerial Mapping and Photogrammetry | 3 |
| DRON 170 F | Introduction to LiDAR acquisition | 3 |
| DRON 270 F | Advanced LiDAR Acquisition | 3 |
| Restricted Electives (3 units): | Units | |
| AJ 230 F | Crime Scene Techniques | 3 |
| ARCH 111 F | Introduction to Architecture | 3 |
| DART 104 F | Introduction to Maya 3D | 3 |
| ESC 100 F | Physical Geology | 3 |
| GEOG 230 F | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | 3 |
| Total Units | 14 – 15 | |
Solar Panel Inspection Technician Certificate - FALL 2026
| Required Courses (12 units): | Units | |
| CSTR 128 F | PV Solar – Installation and Maintenance | 3 |
| DRON 101 F | Basic Drone Piloting | 2 |
| DRON 120 F | Infrared Thermal Imaging Level 1 | 2 |
| DRON 125 F | Solar Panel Thermal Inspection | 2 |
| TECH 081 F | Technical Mathematics I | 3 |
| Total Units | 12 | |