Technology & Design
Pending professional review: this program and its curriculum has not yet been verified by an industry-certified professional. Study draft only.
GIS / Surveying / Drone Operations
9–12 mo full-time · 1800 clock hours. VT-BUILD-V1 #9754 (2026-09-28): courses, lessons and assessments written for the trade by the build hub; draft pending review.
Core curriculum
Workplace safety, lockout/tagout, and PPE practicesapplied math and technical communication for surveying and GIScareer readiness and job-search skillsvector and raster GIS workflows in QGIS and Esri ArcGIS ProGNSS principles, equipment setup, and field data collectiontotal station operation, traverse calculations, and field traverse closureconstruction layout techniques including grade stakes and control pointsdrone preflight, flight operations, and post-processing for photogrammetric mappingintroduction to hydrographic survey concepts and equipmentcartographic design and map production standardsintegrated capstone project combining GIS, survey, and drone deliverablesexternship and supervised worksite placement with industry partnerstargeted preparation for FAA Part 107, Esri ArcGIS Pro, and NSPS CST Level I–II certification exams
Course & assessment plan
11 courses · 1,800 clock hours · tuition $17,790 COMPLIMENTARY (exam and licensing fees separate; see tuition). Universal core → one competency course per curriculum area → capstone → externship/clinical → exam prep. Open the full plan with every assessment.
Certification & licensure
| Credential | Type | Issuing body |
|---|---|---|
| Esri ArcGIS Pro | Vendor certification | Esri |
| FAA Part 107 | Industry certification | Federal Aviation Administration |
| NSPS CST L1-2 | Industry certification | National Society of Professional Surveyors |
Universal core (all programs)
| Module | Hours |
|---|---|
| Workplace safety (OSHA 10) | 10 |
| First aid / CPR / AED | 8 |
| Applied math & measurement | 40 |
| Technical reading & writing | 30 |
| Digital literacy (IC3/MOS) | 30 |
| Career readiness (NCCER Core / WorkKeys) | 30 |
Stackable pathways
Built Environment Data: Drafting / CAD / BIM → GIS / Surveying / Drone Operations → Construction Management / Estimating
