Computer Aided Drafting
| Every great product starts with a design that is translated to a blueprint for production. Computer-aided drafting (CAD) is the process that brings designs to life for everything from airplanes and office buildings to medical devices and appliances.
With a degree, diploma, or certificate in computer-aided drafting, you’ll be ready for a job as a CAD technician or operator in today’s high-tech industries. You could be preparing engineering or construction documents, illustrations, or 3-D models. |
Open doors to a rewarding career in a wide range of industries when you sign up for the CAD program.
In this program, you will study:
- Mechanical drafting
- Computer-aided design
- 3-D modeling
- Solid modeling
- Applied mechanics
- Fluid mechanics
Three program options are available. Students can pursue:
- An Associate of Applied Science degree in CAD (approximately 2 years of study)
- A CAD diploma (approximately four semesters of study)
- One of three CAD-related certificates (approximately 1 semester of study)
- Solid Modeling and Design
- Computer Aided Drafting
- Mechanical Drafting Technician
Career opportunities include:
- Mechanical designer
- Solid modeler
- Engineering technician
- Architectural draftsman
- Quality control technician
Valuable Certifications
While studying in the CAD program, students have the opportunity to earn as many as 14 solid modeling industrial certifications, which are highly valued by today’s industries. These include:
- Certified SOLIDWORKS Associate
- Certified SOLIDWORKS Associate Sustainability
- Certified SOLIDWORKS Associate – Electrical
- Certified SOLIDWORKS Associate – Simulation
- Certified SOLIDWORKS Associate – Additive Manufacturing
- Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional
- Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional – Simulation
- Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional – Flow
- Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional Model Based Design
- Certified PDM Professional
- SOLIDWORKS Professional Advanced Surfacing
- Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional Advanced Weldments
- Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional Advanced Mold Making
- Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional Advanced Sheet Metal
- Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional Advanced Drawing Tools
- Certified SOLIDWORKS Expert
- Certified DriveWorks Associate
Earning Potential
2021 Median Pay: $60,290 per year / $28.99 per hour
(Contingent on economy and geographic location)
Most Computer Aided Drafting technologists and designers work full time.
Contact Us
James R. Adkins – Department Head
Design, Engineering & Manufacturing
jradkins175@alamancecc.edu
(336-596-4233)
Ashley Lewis – Lead Instructor
anlewis410@alamancecc.edu
(336-506-4352)
Partner Companies:
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Powell
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*US Bureau of Labor Statistics
print Computer-Aided Drafting Technology • Semester by Semester
| Course Number |
Course Title |
contact hours |
Credit hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| DFT-111 | Technical Drafting I | 0 | 2 |
DFT-111 Technical Drafting I PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • NONEThis course introduces basic drafting skills, equipment, and applications. Topics include sketching, measurements, lettering, dimensioning, geometric construction, orthographic projections and pictorials drawings, sections, and auxiliary views. Upon completion, students should be able to understand and apply basic drawing principles and practices. Register for this class |
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| DFT-111A | Technical Drafting I Lab | 3 | 1 |
DFT-111A Technical Drafting I Lab PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • NONEThis course provides a laboratory setting to enhance basic drafting skills. Emphasis is placed on practical experiences that enhance the topics presented in DFT 111. Upon completion, students should be able to apply the laboratory experiences to the concepts presented in DFT 111. Register for this class |
|||
| DFT-151 | CAD I | 5 | 3 |
DFT-151 CAD I PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • NONEThis course introduces CAD software as a drawing tool. Topics include drawing, editing, file management, and plotting. Upon completion, students should be able to produce and plot a CAD drawing. Register for this class |
|||
| MEC-111 | Machine Processes I | 5 | 3 |
MEC-111 Machine Processes I PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • NONEThis course introduces shop safety, hand tools, machine processes, measuring instruments, and the operation of machine shop equipment. Topics include use and care of tools, safety, measuring tools, and the basic setup and operation of common machine tools. Upon completion, students should be able to manufacture simple parts to specified tolerance. Register for this class |
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| Social/Behavioral Sciences | 3 | 3 | |
| Semester Total | 16 | 12 | |
| Course Number |
Course Title |
contact hours |
Credit hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| DFT-112 | Technical Drafting II | 4 | 2 |
DFT-112 Technical Drafting II PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • DFT-111This course provides for advanced drafting practices and procedures. Topics include detailed working drawings, hardware, fits and tolerances, assembly and sub-assembly, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, intersections, and developments. Upon completion, students should be able to produce detailed working drawings. Register for this class |
|||
| DFT-112A | Technical Drafting II Lab | 3 | 1 |
DFT-112A Technical Drafting II Lab PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • NONEThis course provides a laboratory setting to enhance advance drafting skills. Emphasis is placed on practical experiences that enhance the topics presented in DFT 112. Upon completion, students should be able to apply the laboratory experiences to the concepts presented in DFT 112. Register for this class |
|||
| DFT-152 | CAD II | 5 | 3 |
DFT-152 CAD II PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • DFT-151This course introduces extended CAD applications. Emphasis is placed upon intermediate applications of CAD skills. Upon completion, students should be able to use extended CAD applications to generate and manage drawings. Register for this class |
|||
| ENG-115 | Oral Communication | 3 | 3 |
ENG-115 Oral Communication PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • Take DRE-096This course introduces the basic principles of oral communication in both small group and public settings. Emphasis is placed on the components of the communication process, group decision-making, and public address. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate the principles of effective oral communication in small group and public settings. Register for this class |
|||
| PHY-110 | Conceptual Physics | 3 | 3 |
PHY-110 Conceptual Physics PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • DMA-010 DMA-020 DMA-030 and DRE-096This course provides a conceptually-based exposure to the fundamental principles and processes of the physical world. Topics include basic concepts of motion, forces, energy, heat, electricity, magnetism, and the structure of matter and the universe. Upon completion, students should be able to describe examples and applications of the principles studied. Register for this class |
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| PHY-110A | Conceptual Physics Lab | 2 | 1 |
PHY-110A Conceptual Physics Lab PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • RED-080 and DMA-010 DMA-020 DMA-030; Coreq PHY 110This course is a laboratory for PHY 110. Emphasis is placed on laboratory experiences that enhance materials presented in PHY 110. Upon completion, students should be able to apply the laboratory experiences to the concepts presented in PHY 110. Register for this class |
|||
| Semester Total | 20 | 13 | |
| Course Number |
Course Title |
contact hours |
Credit hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| DFT-153 | CAD III | 5 | 3 |
DFT-153 CAD III PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • DFT-152This course introduces advanced CAD applications. Emphasis is placed upon advanced applications of CAD skills. Upon completion, students should be able to use advanced CAD applications to generate and manage data. Register for this class |
|||
| MEC-210 | Applied Mechanics | 4 | 3 |
MEC-210 Applied Mechanics PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • NONEThis course is a study of forces, stresses, and strains acting upon mechanical components. Topics include static equilibrium; normal, shear, and bending stresses; mathematical and graphical solution techniques; and the relationship between stress and strain. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate proficiency in analyzing the forces, stresses, and strains common to applications in the workplace. Register for this class |
|||
| Semester Total | 9 | 6 | |
| Course Number |
Course Title |
contact hours |
Credit hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARC-114 | Architectural CAD | 4 | 2 |
ARC-114 Architectural CAD PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • NONEThis course introduces basic architectural CAD techniques. Topics include basic commands and system hardware and software. Upon completion, students should be able to prepare and plot architectural drawings to scale within accepted architectural standards. Register for this class |
|||
| DDF-211 | Design Process I | 7 | 4 |
DDF-211 Design Process I PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • DFT-112 and DFT-152This course emphasizes design processes for finished products. Topics include data collection from manuals and handbooks, efficient use of materials, design sketching, specifications, and vendor selection. Upon completion, students should be able to research and plan the design process for a finished product. Register for this class |
|||
| DFT-154 | Intro to Solid Modeling | 5 | 3 |
DFT-154 Intro to Solid Modeling PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • DFT-152This course is an introduction to basic three-dimensional solid modeling and design software. Topics include basic design, creation, editing, rendering and analysis of solid models, and creation of multiview drawings. Upon completion, students should be able to use design techniques to create, edit, render and generate a multiview drawing. Register for this class |
|||
| MAC-121 | Introduction to CNC | 2 | 2 |
MAC-121 Introduction to CNC PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • NONEThis course introduces the concepts and capabilities of computer numerical control machine tools. Topics include setup, operation, and basic applications. Upon completion, students should be able to explain operator safety, machine protection, data input, program preparation, and program storage. Register for this class |
|||
| MEC-265 | Fluid Mechanics | 4 | 3 |
MEC-265 Fluid Mechanics PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • NONEThis course covers the physical behavior of fluids and fluid systems. Topics include fluid statics and dynamics, laminar and turbulent flow, Bernoulli's Equation, components, applications, and other related topics. Upon completion, students should be able to apply fluid power principles to practical applications. Register for this class |
|||
| Semester Total | 22 | 14 | |
| Course Number |
Course Title |
contact hours |
Credit hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| DDF-212 | Design Process II | 0 | 4 |
DDF-212 Design Process II PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • Take DDF-211This course stresses the integration of various design practices. Emphasis is placed on the creation of an original design. Upon completion, students should be able to apply engineering graphics and design procedures to a design project. Register for this class |
|||
| DFT-254 | Intermediate Solid Modeling & Rendering | 5 | 3 |
DFT-254 Intermediate Solid Modeling & Rendering PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • NONEThis course presents a continuation of basic three-dimensional solid modeling and design software. Topics include advanced study of parametric design, creation, editing, rendering and analysis of solid model assemblies, and multiview drawing generation. Upon completion, students should be able to use parametric design techniques to create and analyze the engineering design properties of a model assembly. Register for this class |
|||
| Humanities/Fine Arts Elective | 3 | 3 | |
| MAC-124 | CNC Milling | 4 | 2 |
MAC-124 CNC Milling PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • MAC-121This course introduces the manual programming, setup, and operation of CNC machining centers. Topics include programming formats, control functions, program editing, part production, and inspection. Upon completion, students should be able to manufacture simple parts using CNC machining centers. Register for this class |
|||
| MEC-260 | Fundamentals of Machine Design | 5 | 3 |
MEC-260 Fundamentals of Machine Design PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • NONEThis course introduces the fundamental principles of machine design. Topics include simple analysis of forces, moments, stresses, strains, friction, kinematics, and other considerations for designing machine elements. Upon completion, students should be able to analyze machine components and make component selections from manufacturers' catalogs. Register for this class |
|||
| Semester Total | 17 | 15 | |
| Course Number |
Course Title |
contact hours |
Credit hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major Elective | - | 2 | |
| Semester Total | 0 | 2 |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 62 | |||
printComputer-Aided Drafting Technology
| Course Number |
Course TITLE |
contact hours |
Credit hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARC-114 | Architectural CAD | 4 | 2 |
ARC-114 Architectural CAD PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • NONEThis course introduces basic architectural CAD techniques. Topics include basic commands and system hardware and software. Upon completion, students should be able to prepare and plot architectural drawings to scale within accepted architectural standards. Register for this class |
|||
| DDF-211 | Design Process I | 7 | 4 |
DDF-211 Design Process I PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • DFT-112 and DFT-152This course emphasizes design processes for finished products. Topics include data collection from manuals and handbooks, efficient use of materials, design sketching, specifications, and vendor selection. Upon completion, students should be able to research and plan the design process for a finished product. Register for this class |
|||
| DFT-111 | Technical Drafting I | 4 | 2 |
DFT-111 Technical Drafting I PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • NONEThis course introduces basic drafting skills, equipment, and applications. Topics include sketching, measurements, lettering, dimensioning, geometric construction, orthographic projections and pictorials drawings, sections, and auxiliary views. Upon completion, students should be able to understand and apply basic drawing principles and practices. Register for this class |
|||
| DFT-111A | Technical Drafting I Lab | 3 | 1 |
DFT-111A Technical Drafting I Lab PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • NONEThis course provides a laboratory setting to enhance basic drafting skills. Emphasis is placed on practical experiences that enhance the topics presented in DFT 111. Upon completion, students should be able to apply the laboratory experiences to the concepts presented in DFT 111. Register for this class |
|||
| DFT-112 | Technical Drafting II | 4 | 2 |
DFT-112 Technical Drafting II PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • DFT-111This course provides for advanced drafting practices and procedures. Topics include detailed working drawings, hardware, fits and tolerances, assembly and sub-assembly, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, intersections, and developments. Upon completion, students should be able to produce detailed working drawings. Register for this class |
|||
| DFT-112A | Technical Drafting II Lab | 3 | 1 |
DFT-112A Technical Drafting II Lab PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • NONEThis course provides a laboratory setting to enhance advance drafting skills. Emphasis is placed on practical experiences that enhance the topics presented in DFT 112. Upon completion, students should be able to apply the laboratory experiences to the concepts presented in DFT 112. Register for this class |
|||
| DFT-151 | CAD I | 5 | 3 |
DFT-151 CAD I PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • NONEThis course introduces CAD software as a drawing tool. Topics include drawing, editing, file management, and plotting. Upon completion, students should be able to produce and plot a CAD drawing. Register for this class |
|||
| DFT-152 | CAD II | 5 | 3 |
DFT-152 CAD II PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • DFT-151This course introduces extended CAD applications. Emphasis is placed upon intermediate applications of CAD skills. Upon completion, students should be able to use extended CAD applications to generate and manage drawings. Register for this class |
|||
| DFT-153 | CAD III | 5 | 3 |
DFT-153 CAD III PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • DFT-152This course introduces advanced CAD applications. Emphasis is placed upon advanced applications of CAD skills. Upon completion, students should be able to use advanced CAD applications to generate and manage data. Register for this class |
|||
| DFT-154 | Intro to Solid Modeling | 5 | 3 |
DFT-154 Intro to Solid Modeling PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • DFT-152This course is an introduction to basic three-dimensional solid modeling and design software. Topics include basic design, creation, editing, rendering and analysis of solid models, and creation of multiview drawings. Upon completion, students should be able to use design techniques to create, edit, render and generate a multiview drawing. Register for this class |
|||
| ENG-115 | Oral Communication | 3 | 3 |
ENG-115 Oral Communication PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • Take DRE-096This course introduces the basic principles of oral communication in both small group and public settings. Emphasis is placed on the components of the communication process, group decision-making, and public address. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate the principles of effective oral communication in small group and public settings. Register for this class |
|||
| MAC-121 | Introduction to CNC | 2 | 2 |
MAC-121 Introduction to CNC PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • NONEThis course introduces the concepts and capabilities of computer numerical control machine tools. Topics include setup, operation, and basic applications. Upon completion, students should be able to explain operator safety, machine protection, data input, program preparation, and program storage. Register for this class |
|||
| MEC-111 | Machine Processes I | 5 | 3 |
MEC-111 Machine Processes I PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • NONEThis course introduces shop safety, hand tools, machine processes, measuring instruments, and the operation of machine shop equipment. Topics include use and care of tools, safety, measuring tools, and the basic setup and operation of common machine tools. Upon completion, students should be able to manufacture simple parts to specified tolerance. Register for this class |
|||
| MEC-265 | Fluid Mechanics | 4 | 3 |
MEC-265 Fluid Mechanics PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • NONEThis course covers the physical behavior of fluids and fluid systems. Topics include fluid statics and dynamics, laminar and turbulent flow, Bernoulli's Equation, components, applications, and other related topics. Upon completion, students should be able to apply fluid power principles to practical applications. Register for this class |
|||
| Semester Total | 59 | 35 | |
printComputer-Aided Drafting/CAD Certificate
| Course Number |
Course TITLE |
contact hours |
Credit hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| DFT-151 | CAD I | 5 | 3 |
DFT-151 CAD I PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • NONEThis course introduces CAD software as a drawing tool. Topics include drawing, editing, file management, and plotting. Upon completion, students should be able to produce and plot a CAD drawing. Register for this class |
|||
| DFT-152 | CAD II | 5 | 3 |
DFT-152 CAD II PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • DFT-151This course introduces extended CAD applications. Emphasis is placed upon intermediate applications of CAD skills. Upon completion, students should be able to use extended CAD applications to generate and manage drawings. Register for this class |
|||
| DFT-153 | CAD III | 5 | 3 |
DFT-153 CAD III PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • DFT-152This course introduces advanced CAD applications. Emphasis is placed upon advanced applications of CAD skills. Upon completion, students should be able to use advanced CAD applications to generate and manage data. Register for this class |
|||
| DFT-154 | Intro to Solid Modeling | 5 | 3 |
DFT-154 Intro to Solid Modeling PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • DFT-152This course is an introduction to basic three-dimensional solid modeling and design software. Topics include basic design, creation, editing, rendering and analysis of solid models, and creation of multiview drawings. Upon completion, students should be able to use design techniques to create, edit, render and generate a multiview drawing. Register for this class |
|||
| Semester Total | 20 | 12 | |
printComputer-Aided Drafting/Solid Modeling Certificate
| Course Number |
Course TITLE |
contact hours |
Credit hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| DDF-211 | Design Process I | 7 | 4 |
DDF-211 Design Process I PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • DFT-112 and DFT-152This course emphasizes design processes for finished products. Topics include data collection from manuals and handbooks, efficient use of materials, design sketching, specifications, and vendor selection. Upon completion, students should be able to research and plan the design process for a finished product. Register for this class |
|||
| DDF-212 | Design Process II | 7 | 4 |
DDF-212 Design Process II PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • Take DDF-211This course stresses the integration of various design practices. Emphasis is placed on the creation of an original design. Upon completion, students should be able to apply engineering graphics and design procedures to a design project. Register for this class |
|||
| DFT-153 | CAD III | 5 | 3 |
DFT-153 CAD III PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • DFT-152This course introduces advanced CAD applications. Emphasis is placed upon advanced applications of CAD skills. Upon completion, students should be able to use advanced CAD applications to generate and manage data. Register for this class |
|||
| DFT-154 | Intro to Solid Modeling | 5 | 3 |
DFT-154 Intro to Solid Modeling PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • DFT-152This course is an introduction to basic three-dimensional solid modeling and design software. Topics include basic design, creation, editing, rendering and analysis of solid models, and creation of multiview drawings. Upon completion, students should be able to use design techniques to create, edit, render and generate a multiview drawing. Register for this class |
|||
| DFT-254 | Intermediate Solid Modeling & Rendering | 5 | 3 |
DFT-254 Intermediate Solid Modeling & Rendering PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • NONEThis course presents a continuation of basic three-dimensional solid modeling and design software. Topics include advanced study of parametric design, creation, editing, rendering and analysis of solid model assemblies, and multiview drawing generation. Upon completion, students should be able to use parametric design techniques to create and analyze the engineering design properties of a model assembly. Register for this class |
|||
| Semester Total | 29 | 17 | |
printComputer-Aided Drafting Technology Certificate
| Course Number |
Course TITLE |
contact hours |
Credit hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| DFT-111 | Technical Drafting I | 4 | 2 |
DFT-111 Technical Drafting I PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • NONEThis course introduces basic drafting skills, equipment, and applications. Topics include sketching, measurements, lettering, dimensioning, geometric construction, orthographic projections and pictorials drawings, sections, and auxiliary views. Upon completion, students should be able to understand and apply basic drawing principles and practices. Register for this class |
|||
| DFT-111A | Technical Drafting I Lab | 3 | 1 |
DFT-111A Technical Drafting I Lab PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • NONEThis course provides a laboratory setting to enhance basic drafting skills. Emphasis is placed on practical experiences that enhance the topics presented in DFT 111. Upon completion, students should be able to apply the laboratory experiences to the concepts presented in DFT 111. Register for this class |
|||
| DFT-112 | Technical Drafting II | 4 | 2 |
DFT-112 Technical Drafting II PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • DFT-111This course provides for advanced drafting practices and procedures. Topics include detailed working drawings, hardware, fits and tolerances, assembly and sub-assembly, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, intersections, and developments. Upon completion, students should be able to produce detailed working drawings. Register for this class |
|||
| DFT-112A | Technical Drafting II Lab | 3 | 1 |
DFT-112A Technical Drafting II Lab PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • NONEThis course provides a laboratory setting to enhance advance drafting skills. Emphasis is placed on practical experiences that enhance the topics presented in DFT 112. Upon completion, students should be able to apply the laboratory experiences to the concepts presented in DFT 112. Register for this class |
|||
| DFT-151 | CAD I | 5 | 3 |
DFT-151 CAD I PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • NONEThis course introduces CAD software as a drawing tool. Topics include drawing, editing, file management, and plotting. Upon completion, students should be able to produce and plot a CAD drawing. Register for this class |
|||
| DFT-152 | CAD II | 5 | 3 |
DFT-152 CAD II PREREQUISITES and COREQUISITES • DFT-151This course introduces extended CAD applications. Emphasis is placed upon intermediate applications of CAD skills. Upon completion, students should be able to use extended CAD applications to generate and manage drawings. Register for this class |
|||
| Semester Total | 24 | 12 | |
Graduates should qualify for employment in mechanical areas such as manufacturing, fabrication, research and development, and service industries.