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

Apply now

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:

Students who pass four out of five SolidWorks Associate exams are eligible to sit for the SolidWorks Expert exam, a certification held by only 3,300 CAD professionals worldwide.  

 

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:

AKG  fox design logo honda logo
pureflow logo teague logo  trimech logo
 UFP MID-ATLANTIC  iim logo

Powell
Enterprises,
Inc.

Solidworks user group logo

 

 

*US Bureau of Labor Statistics

View a Campus Map showing where to find us!

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 • NONE

This 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 • NONE

This 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 • NONE

This 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 • NONE

This 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
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-111

This 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 • NONE

This 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-151

This 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-096

This 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-096

This 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
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 110

This 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-152

This 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 • NONE

This 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 • NONE

This 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-152

This 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-152

This 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 • NONE

This 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 • NONE

This 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-211

This 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 • NONE

This 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-121

This 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 • NONE

This 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 • NONE

This 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-152

This 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 • NONE

This 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 • NONE

This 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-111

This 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 • NONE

This 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 • NONE

This 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-151

This 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-152

This 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-152

This 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-096

This 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 • NONE

This 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 • NONE

This 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 • NONE

This 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 • NONE

This 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-151

This 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-152

This 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-152

This 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-152

This 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-211

This 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-152

This 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-152

This 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 • NONE

This 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 • NONE

This 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 • NONE

This 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-111

This 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 • NONE

This 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 • NONE

This 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-151

This 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.

See how many local jobs have been posted recently in the CAD field here (PDF)