B.S. in Uncrewed Aircraft Systems
B.S. in Airport Administration: Uncrewed Aircraft Systems
We offer a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management: Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) where students earn their Part 107 Remote Pilot certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as well as education for Part 108 UAS Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) and Part 146 Automated Data Service Providers programs. Students with these degrees can craft careers in the rapidly expanding and far reaching UAS commercial, public safety and military aviation industries.
This new program is designed to meet the rapidly growing demand for drone pilots in the booming $82 billion uncrewed aircraft industry through FAA-aligned training, hands-on research, and industry partnerships. The program includes 120 credit hours over four years. Hampton’s program prepares students for roles in FAA regulations, flight operations, data collection, and systems integration.
Potential Careers
- Agricultural, Environmental Services, or Wildlife Conservation Drone Pilot
- Aerial Photography (Real Estate, Film) Drone Pilot
- Aerospace and Defense Drone Pilot
- Construction and Infrastructure Inspection Drone Pilot
- Delivery Drone Operator
- Drone Drone Data Analyst and Operations Manager
- Drone Technician/Engineer
- Inspection and Monitoring Specialist
- Public Safety and Emergency Services Drone Pilot
- Search and Rescue Drone Pilot
- Surveying and Mapping Drone Pilot/Engineer
- Transportation Drone Pilot
- UAV Pilot Instructor
$100k
The UAS sector expects to create 100,000 jobs and contribute over $82 billion to the U.S. economy in the next decade. Drone pilots are making around $100,000 as of 2025. They can expect successful careers within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other aviation companies.
Hampton University is a proud member of the United States Air Force’s University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) for Tactical Autonomy. Through this, AUSM students will contribute to federally funded projects in AI, remote sensing, and autonomous flight. The AUSM program will prioritize outreach to STEM-based public high schools in Hampton Roads, as well as statewide technical community colleges, to build a highly skilled autonomy pipeline.
The university is also a member of the FAA UAS-Collegiate Training Initiative (UAS_CTI) along with an elite network of academic partners recognized for their rigorous UAS training standards. The Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management with a concentration in Uncrewed Aerial Systems (AUSM) program is available this Fall 2025.
