Computer Aided Drafting
Your Own Future
A drafter's renderings connect innovative ideas to the realities of tomorrow. Imagine seeing your own ideas and detailed illustrations come to life, being used as a guide for assembly of items we all use every day. Take your creativity and drawing skills, and map out the bueprints for a well-paying and satisfying career.
Whether it's on a piece of paper or a computer screen, every building, structure, or new product starts as a drawing. Nearly everything that is manufactured, from spacecraft to race cars, iPods to laptops, from furniture to toothbrushes, and the specialized tools required to make these products, has a blueprint that specifies how the item is to be made, the materials to be used, the dimensions of the item, and other specific details. A Drafter produces these precise technical blueprints, to be followed exactly by production and construction workers.
A successful Drafter has the ability to visualize three-dimensional objects and translate that vision into a drawing. If you enjoy working with computers, creating designs, and doing detail work, and if you like solving puzzles or problems, visualizing shapes and objects, and numerical reasoning, you may enjoy a career in Computer Aided Drafting (CAD).
Want to find out if this career is for you? Check it out on the web at http://www.acinet.org/, and select Occupation Information.
Program Description
PPCC will teach you the skills that today's employers need. Receive the hands-on training necessary to become a drafting technician and become familiar working with the latest computer aided drafting (CAD) software used in the industry. The two-year AAS program lets you choose a Mechanical, HVAC, or Electronics Emphasis for your degree. Short-term certificates are also offered in Basic CAD Skills, Advanced CAD Skills, Professional CAD, Parametric Modeling, and CAD – Quality Assurance.
This program will prepare you for drafting positions in manufacturing, engineering, and other areas requiring production-ready drawings and models. You will learn to prepare 2D and 3D drawings for fabrication using the latest release of AutoCAD. In addition, you will learn blueprint reading, problem-solving techniques, methods for customizing AutoCAD, use of research tools, general organizational skills, and applications in geometry and trigonometry.
Career Path Notes
In the PPCC CAD program, you’ll have the opportunity to gain practical work experience in an Internship under the supervision of industry professionals. It’s a great chance to build your resume, and make contacts with potential employers.
Program Information
Click here for program specific information.
For More Information
Call the Division of Communications, Humanities, and Technical Studies at 719-502-3200. \
Employment Opportunities
The Computer Aided Drafting field is continuing to grow as various professions are relying more on CAD skills. About a third of all drafters and CAD technicians work in engineering and architectural services, one third work in durable goods manufacturing, and the remaining third are employed in construction, communications, and utilities businesses.
An AAS degree will prepare you for entry-level jobs, such as: Mechanical Drafter, CAD Technician, Electrical Drafter, Structural Drafter, and Electro-Mechanisms Design Drafter.
Earnings Outlook
In Colorado, the median hourly salary in 2005 for Mechanical Drafters was $19.72 with a salary range of $12.97 - $37.93. In Colorado from 2004 to 2014, there are expected to be an average of 70 job openings per year. The median hourly salary in Colorado in 2005 for Electrical Drafters was $23.96, with a salary range of $15.41-29.79. In Colorado from 2004 to 2014, there are expected to be an average of 40 job openings per year. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Financial Aid
Advising
Apply
www.ppcc.edu/Apply Find Out More About Your Future Career
Contact Career Planning and Advising at (719) 502-3232
www.ppcc.edu/Advising
Associate of Applied Science Degrees
CAD Mechanical Degree
1st Semester - Fall
CAD 100 Blueprint Reading for CAD
CAD 101 Computer Aided Drafting I
ENG 121 English Composition I
MAC 101 Introduction to Machine Shop
MAT 108 Technical Mathematics
Semester 1 Credit Hours 16
2nd Semester - Spring
CAD 102 Computer Aided Drafting II
CAD 202 Computer Aided Drafting / 3D
ENG 131 Technical Writing
MAC 252 Metallurgy
MAT 109 Geometry
Semester 2 Credit Hours 15
3rd Semester - Fall
CAD 151 CAD/Technical Drafting Applications
CIS 118 Introduction to PC Applications
COM 217 Group Communication
MAC 250 Advance Inspection Techniques
One Approved Technical Elective Course
Semester 3 Credit Hours 16-17
4th Semester - Spring
ARC 227 Architectural Structures
CAD 217 3D Studio VIZ
CAD 255 SolidWorks Mechanical
TEC 205 Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing
Semester 4 Credit Hours 14
Total Credit Hours 61-62
CAD Electronics Degree
1st Semester - Fall
CAD 100 Blueprint Reading for CAD
CAD 101 Computer Aided Drafting I
ELT 106 Fundamentals of DC/AC
ELT 112 Advanced DC/AC
MAT 108 Technical Mathematics
Semester 1 Credit Hours 16
2nd Semester - Spring
CAD 102 Computer Aided Drafting II
CAD 202 Computer Aided Drafting / 3D
CAD 217 3D Studio VIZ
ELT 134 Solid State Devices I
ELT 135 Solid State Devices II
Semester 2 Credit Hours 15
3rd Semester - Fall
CAD 151 CAD/Technical Drafting Applications
CAD 255 SolidWorks Mechanical
CIS 118 Introduction to PC Applications
ENG 121 English Composition I
MAT 109 Geometry
Semester 3 Credit Hours 16
4th Semester - Spring
COM 217 Group Communication
ELT 147 Digital Devices I
ELT 148 Digital Devices II
ENG 131 Technical Writing
One Approved Technical Elective Course
Semester 4 Credit Hours 15-16
Total Credit Hours 62-63
CAD HVAC Degree
1st Semester - Fall
CAD 100 Blueprint Reading for CAD
CAD 101 Computer Aided Drafting I
ENG 121 English Composition I
HVA 102 Basic Refrigeration
MAT 108 Technical Mathematics
Semester 1 Credit Hours 17
2nd Semester - Spring
CAD 102 Computer Aided Drafting II
CAD 202 Computer Aided Drafting / 3D
ENG 131 Technical Writing
MAT 109 Geometry
WEL 106 Blueprint Reading for Welders & Fitters
Semester 2 Credit Hours 16
3rd Semester - Fall
CAD 151 CAD/Technical Drafting Applications
CIS 118 Introduction to PC Applications
COM 217 Group Communication
HVA 105 Electricity for HVAC/R
Semester 3 Credit Hours 14
4th Semester - Spring
CAD 217 3D Studio VIZ
CAD 255 SolidWorks Mechanical
EGT 262 Sheet Metal Fabrication Drawings
One Approved Technical Elective Course
Semester 4 Credit Hours 13-14
Total Credit Hours 60-61
Certificates
Basic CAD Skills
Advanced CAD Skills
Professional CAD
Parametric Modeling
CAD–Quality Assurance