Hampton University offers the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS). Upon completion of the program, UAS students will have earned 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.
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New four-year degree prepares students for leadership in the booming $82B uncrewed aviation industry through FAA-aligned training, hands-on research, with commercial industry, public safety and tactical autonomy partnerships.
Hampton University has launched a pioneering Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management with a concentration in Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (AUSM), reinforcing its reputation as a national leader in innovation, STEM education, and autonomous systems research. The program, designed to meet the rapidly growing demand in the $82B uncrewed aircraft industry, includes FAA-aligned training, hands-on research, and industry partnerships.Â
“This new program reflects our commitment to preparing graduates for the future of flight,” said Dr. Betty H. Stewart, Executive Vice President and Provost of Hampton University. “The AUSM concentration is built not just on theory, but on direct industry engagement and applied research, providing our students a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving global market.”Â
Students will learn to operate and evaluate Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS), earning their remote pilot license, and participating in campus-wide and national research projects and competitions. The program includes 120 credit hours over four years, with a focus on UAS technology and operational systems management.Â
As the UAS sector is expected to create 100,000 jobs and contribute over $82 billion to the U.S. economy in the next decade, Hampton’s program prepares students for roles in FAA regulations, flight operations, data collection, and systems integration.Â
“At Hampton, we’re engineering the future of flight,” said Dr. Joyce Shirazi, Dean of the School of Engineering, Aviation, and Architecture. “Our new AUSM program, coupled with a proposed Aviation Flight Safety Center (AFSC), puts us at the forefront of aviation innovation and workforce development. We’re not just training students—we’re shaping leaders who will redefine what’s possible in air mobility, safety, and autonomy.”Â
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The program also strengthens the university’s leadership within the national defense research landscape. Hampton is a proud member of the United States Air Force’s University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) for Tactical Autonomy. Through HU autonomy research and the HU autonomy infrastructure facilities, many AUSM students will contribute to federally funded projects in AI, remote sensing, and autonomous flight, using real-world tools to explore how uncrewed systems interact with the built environment. These facilities serve as the nerve center for mission planning, data visualization, and interdisciplinary collaboration—equipping students with high-demand skills to tackle tomorrow’s challenges.Â
To build a highly skilled autonomy pipeline, the AUSM program will prioritize outreach to STEM-based public high schools in Hampton Roads, as well as statewide technical community colleges through 2+2 articulation agreements and summer Uncrewed Systems Education (USE) camps. These efforts reflect Hampton’s vision to broaden access to high-growth STEM careers and create opportunities for all students.Â
Hampton University is 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.
