College Offers State Higher Ed System’s First Drone Program

Look, up in the sky. Is it a bird? A plane? Nope, but it could be your next career move.

We’re talking about drones, and now you can earn a certificate to fly one by enrolling in Salt Lake Community College’s new drone program. SLCC’s path toward earning a certificate of proficiency to become a commercial drone pilot is the first of its kind within the Utah System of Higher Education. SLCC instructor and geosciences coordinator Adam Dastrup is credited with starting the program.

“I want people from all around to be able to take these core drone courses we have created that teach them how to fly and get FAA certified,” Dastrup says. “If you’re making any money off of drones working for a company or a nonprofit, you have to be licensed as a commercial pilot by the FAA.”

Adam Dastrup.

The college began offering the program in 2019. Courses include Digital Imaging with Drones, Fundamentals of Drones and Photogrammetry. Dastrup points out that drone technology is a new and quickly growing industry that has multiple interdisciplinary career opportunities for students. Some four-year institutions, he adds, have drone resources but that they are typically reserved for grad students to study subjects like glaciers and climate change. SLCC’s program is directly related to career and technical education.

Students at SLCC can learn about how to use drones for photography, videography, making commercials, photojournalism, criminal justice, environmental science and disaster response, such as monitoring wildfires. With photography and videography alone, Dastrup says students will learn about composition, lighting, the “rule of thirds” and all things that apply to creating great videos and still images. His goal is to work with departments across the college to incorporate drone technology in as many relevant programs as possible.

The certificate of proficiency is designed to be a one-year program, with 23 credits required for completion. The program’s official name in the college's catalog is Small Unmanned Aerial Systems. More information can be found here.

Comments

Rev Up Your Future at SLCC Annuals Hop into College

SLCC West Valley Center will be opening its doors on Friday, August 2, from 6-9 pm for their annual lowrider event that celebrates the automotive culture and welcomes current, past, and future Bruins into the SLCC community. This unique event allows lowriders to showcase their vehicles and for spectators to witness the creativity, craftsmanship, and passion that goes into a lowrider car. From the sleek custom paint jobs to the impressive hydraulics showcased at the hop-off, attendees get immersed in the vibrant culture created by SLCC West Valley’s community. Beyond the car show, Hop into College provides prospective students and their families the opportunity to explore SLCC, engage with their future peers, staff and faculty and obtain valuable insight into the degrees and programs offered. Furthermore, the community is provided with countless beneficial resources not only as an SLCC student but as a community member. Whether interested in learning more about the lowrider community o...

Recognizing SLCC's 2025 Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Andrew Vogt, PhD Associate Professor, Engineering

The Distinguished Faculty Lecturer is a recognition of quality work by one of Salt Lake Community College’s full-time faculty and a charge to develop that work over an academic year into a public presentation. A committee chosen by the Associate Provost for Learning Advancement selects the faculty lecturer each year. The lecture takes place in the spring. Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Andrew Vogt, PhD Associate Professor, Engineering Dr. Andrew Vogt’s teaching philosophy is guided by two principles, curiosity and efficiency. “Curiosity leads us to study a topic and allows us to really understand the ins and outs of research, while efficiency is all about sustainability,” he says. Andrew describes curiosity as a pure, open-minded impulse to explore, such as the ease with which children learn new concepts with virtually no instruction. Efficiency adds maturity to that childlike impulse, creating structures and pathways for accomplishment. Andrew’s work has alwa...

SLCC Automotive Repairs

Click to enlarge. Attention: SLCC Students, staff and faculty! Many SLCC automotive programs need vehicles to work on in these areas: 30 point inspections Oil changes Tire rotation Engine repair Brake systems repair Automatic and transmission repairs Air conditioning repair Electrical troubleshooting & repair Suspension & steering system repair Auto-body repair and painting (on a very limited basis) Please be advised that any repairs are done at the discretion of the instructors due to the subject areas they are teaching. Because we are using your vehicles for training purposes, we offer members of the College discounts on parts and labor. Parts are at our cost plus 15% and the service fee is $20 per hour based on industry time standards (if the industry assigns an hour for a repair, that's all you're charged for, regardless of how much time it takes the student). We can also offer these services to non-college personnel on a limited basis with...

Official SLCC Blog

Search This Blog