They prepare technical drawings and plans used by production and construction workers to build everything from manufactured products, such as toys, toasters, industrial machinery, and spacecraft, to structures such as houses, office buildings, and oil and gas pipelines.
Their computer drawings provide visual guidelines, show the technical details of the products and structures, and specify dimensions, materials, and procedures. Computer drafters fill in technical details, using drawings, rough sketches, specifications, codes, and calculations previously made by engineers, surveyors, architects, or scientists. CAD professionals use technical handbooks, tables, calculators, and computers to complete their work.
An SFCC CAD degree leads to high paying jobs in many areas, including:
• MECH, which includes these disciplines: PLM, solid modeling, rapid prototyping, manufacturing, and Mechanical Drafting
• AEC, which includes Architectural Drafting, Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Construction Management, and Facilities Management
• Plant, which includes plant design, process piping, instrumentation and maintenance
• GIS, including Location-Based Services, mapping, GIS, LMS, and automated mapping
• EDA (Electronic Design Automation), chip and PCB design, simulation, and verification
• Graphic arts, animation, and associated industries
How much money can a CAD graduate make?
The salary range for CAD careers varies by specialty and level of responsibility. Median annual earnings of architectural and civil computer drafters, mechanical drafters and electrical and electronics drafters in 2004 ranged from $34,700 to $62,160.
Students are required to complete a four-credit-hour internship in their last semester. Most of those students are offered full-time positions in the companies for which they intern, so the job outlook is excellent.
Does the CAD degree transfer into a bachelor's degree?
SFCC offers 2+2 transfer degrees with Missouri universities. This means you can transfer the 64 credit hours from your AAS degree in CAD into a Bachelor of Science of Industrial Technology degree with an emphasis in CAD. There also are other bachelor's transfer degree opportunities with engineering, CAD and architectural colleges.
Bring in free credit from your high school!
SFCC has articulation agreements in place with most area career and technical schools. Up to 15 credit hours may be articulated into the CAD program.
How long does it take to complete a CAD degree?
Prerequisite requirements have been minimized. Most students can complete the CAD degree program in two calendar years. However, course sequences have been logically arranged to facilitate a progression from basic to complex skills. Therefore, the sequence should be followed.
Contact
Kevin Haulotte
Coordinator, Computer Aided Drafting Program
Fielding Building Classroom 227, Room 229-A
(660) 596-7419
khaulotte@sfccmo.edu