Unmanned Aerial Systems
Explore the future of flight with Purdue’s unmanned aerial systems major. Master drone operations, design and policy — gaining hands-on experience in a field transforming industries from agriculture to emergency response and creating thousands of new jobs.
Why Purdue?
With a degree in Unmanned Aerial Systems from Purdue, you will be well-prepared to step into various critical roles within the aviation industry. Careers in this field are diverse and include:
- UAV pilot
- Flight operations analyst
- Systems integration engineer
- Test and airworthiness engineer
- Geospatial scientist
- Cyber systems operations specialist
- Avionics technician
Our graduates thrive across various high-impact roles, contributing to the success of some of the most prestigious organizations in the aviation sector, including:
- Apple
- NASA
- Uber
- FedEx
You should pursue the most rigorous high school curriculum available to you. Succeeding in challenging courses will allow you to be a stronger candidate for Purdue’s competitive admission process and better prepare you for college success.
Minimum high school coursework (many applicants exceed these minimums):
- Math – 4 years
- English – 4 years
- Lab science – 3 years
- Social studies – 3 years
- World language – 2 years
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Polytechnic Recruiting
765-494-4935
techrecruit@purdue.edu
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Apply
Ready to take the next step? Apply to begin your journey at Purdue in the unmanned aerial systems program.
Hudson Tsang
Hudson Tsang always dreamed of becoming a pilot, inspired by his childhood love of flying remote-controlled planes. But at 12, his dreams hit a roadblock when the FAA denied his medical certificate due to a childhood cyst that affected his eyesight. Determined to pursue his passion, Hudson spent years appealing the decision, but the path to piloting wasn’t meant to be. Instead of giving up, he found a new way to stay in the aviation world — and his journey led him to unexpected opportunities.
Transfer to Unmanned Aerial Systems
Purdue admits to individual majors. Transfer students must meet Purdue’s overall transfer criteria, as well as any major-specific requirements. Before you apply, check the closed programs page to confirm this major is open to transfer students. If it is, refer to the information below for major-specific transfer criteria.
- Minimum 2.5 GPA
