Kansas State Salina Bolsters UAS Education With New Degree, Minor
Photo: AUVSI.
Kansas State University Salina has added a new bachelor’s degree and a minor in unmanned aircraft systems, starting this fall.
The new degree is a Bachelor of Science in engineering technology with a UAS option that combines unmanned aircraft technology with coursework in computer science, electronic engineering and mechanical engineering.
The new study course complements the existing aeronautical technology bachelor's degree in UAS, which is centered on piloting and field operations. The new UAS minor includes a flight operations focus and a data acquisition and management focus. The program is being led by doctoral-level faculty members, the school says.
Students enrolling in the new engineering technology with an unmanned aircraft systems option degree won’t be required to have flight ratings but will instead study the way UAS function, including software and data, sensors and actuators, camera systems, and other payloads.
"When most people think of an unmanned system, they usually envision the pilot, not the engineers who design, build and keep it operating properly," Saeed Khan, K-State Salina engineering technology associate professor and lead of the new program, said in a press release. "But the growing UAS industry needs graduates who have technical expertise and a passion for problem solving. Previously, students would have to double major if they wanted to focus on the engineering side of unmanned systems, but this new program will give them an integrated education without added hours or costs."
The new unmanned aircraft systems minor is aimed at students outside of the UAS program and from other universities who are looking to supplement their education. It emphasizes air vehicle operations — and requires a private pilot certificate with an instrument rating — and data acquisition and management.
