Pasco-Hernando State College is one of the only institutions in the state of Florida offering students degrees in Unmanned Vehicles Systems Operation (UVSO) in land, air, and sea. The Associate in Science UVSO offers a sequence of courses that provides rigorous content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge. The program focuses on problem solving skills with unmanned systems; provides technical skill proficiency, and practical competency applied training that contributes to the academic knowledge, work attitudes, general employability skills, technical skills, occupation-specific skills, and knowledge to problem solving in various industries using unmanned systems.
PHSC’s program uses Remote Operated Vehicles (ROV) to give students hands-on experience while working in the field using simulated operations. It not only offers students a special opportunity to learn but also to work with local companies which could lead to jobs upon completion of the coursework. PHSC’s partnership with C-Innovation has been a tremendous help to our students’ success. PHSC was the only institution in the United States they could find that developed ROV pilots and taught students all three mediums-air, land, and maritime. C-Innovation is an industry leader in subsea Remotely Operated Vehicle services in the oil and gas industry, based out of Louisiana. They specialize in subsea construction projects, as well as drilling, well services and decommissioning, maintenance, and sea-bed construction surveying.
Aviation Instructor Megan Kostelnik expressed her excitement about the program and where it’s heading. "The UVSO program at PHSC is unique in many ways, including the fact that the college diversifies in teaching air, ground, and maritime systems both in the classroom and hands-on in field operations. Thanks to PHSC for always making sure our students have the equipment and tools they need to succeed; three students were already hired to an oil and gas company's unmanned maritime or ROV section for full time employment."
Another one of Megan’s students was hired by Precision Hawk, a Georgia-based UAV company that conducts work in surrounding states, including Sebring, Florida.
"PHSC's unique, cutting-edge Unmanned Vehicles Systems Operation program is another shining illustration of the College's commitment to offering high-skill, high-wage and high-tech programs that fulfill both student career aspirations and workforce needs,” says Dr. Stanley Giannet, Executive Vice President, Chief Academic Officer, and College Provost.
To learn more about this unique program, please visit PHSC's Unmanned Vehicles Systems Operation web page.