Drafting Technology

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Drafters prepare technical drawings and plans used by production and construction workers to build everything - from automotive to aerospace, houses to high-rise buildings and oil/gas piping to complex chemical plants. They typically perform their work in an office environment.

Brazosport College’s classes offer hands-on, real-world training - taught by experienced faculty. Employers in our region are asking for trained drafters. Graduates are enjoying good paying jobs and a strong job market.
Drafters work with computer-aided design and drafting systems to prepare drawings, but also need the knowledge of manual drafting and sketching. The most common types of drafters are architectural, civil and mechanical. Our region is experiencing a surge of job openings for drafters.

Brazosport College offers a one-year certificate program. These courses can then be applied toward a two-year degree in Drafting Technology at Brazosport College. A few basic classes, like AutoCAD and MicroStation that are used by most of the local industrial employers, can be enough to secure an entry level position in this creative and thriving field.

Basic Certificate: 15 Credit Hours

Students will be able to find entry-level jobs as a drafter / designers in general, architectural or mechanical specializations.

DFTG 1305 - Technical Drafting Credit Hours: 3
DFTG 1309 - Basic Computer-Aided Drafting Credit Hours: 3
DFTG 2319 - Intermediate Computer-Aided Drafting Credit Hours: 3
DFTG 1317 - Architectural Drafting - Residential Credit Hours: 3 OR DFTG 2328 Architectural Drafting - Commercial
DFTG 1333 - Mechanical Drafting Credit Hours: 3 OR DFTG 1345 Parametric Modeling and Design

Advanced Certificate: 30 Credit Hours

Students will be able to find entry-level jobs as a drafter / designers in general, architectural, mechanical, piping, civil or structural specializations.

In addition to the Basic Certificate, complete the following:

DFTG 2323 - Pipe Drafting Credit Hours: 3
DFTG 2332 - Advanced Computer-Aided Drafting Credit Hours: 3 OR DFTG 1310 Specialized CAD
DFTG 1330 - Civil Drafting Credit Hours: 3
DFTG 1345 - Parametric Modeling and Design Credit Hours: 3 OR DFTG 1333 Mechanical Drafting ¹
ARCE 1352 - Structural Drafting Credit Hours: 3

Associate of Applied Science: 60 Credit Hours

In addition to the Advanced Certificate, complete the following:

PSYC 1300 - Learning Framework Credit Hours: 3
CNBT 1318 - Construction Tools and Techniques Credit Hours: 3 OR DFTG 1325
ENGL 1301 - Composition and Rhetoric I Credit Hours: 3
General Education Elective
Click to view/hide options. Credit Hours: 3
ARTS 1311 - Design I (2-Dimensional) Credit Hours: 3 OR
Elective: Language/Philosophy/Culture OR Creative Arts
Click to view/hide options. Credit Hours: 3
MATH 1332 - Quantitative Reasoning Credit Hours: 3
DFTG 1310 - Specialized CAD Credit Hours: 3 OR DFTG 2345 Advanced Pipe Drafting
DFTG 2332 - Advanced Computer-Aided Drafting Credit Hours: 3
(Not applicable if this course was taken previously to complete the Advanced Certificate)
DFTG 2328 - Architectural Drafting - Commercial Credit Hours: 3 OR DFTG 1317 Architectural Drafting - Residential ¹
ARCE 2352 - Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) Systems Credit Hours: 3
DFTG 2338 - Final Project - Advanced Drafting Credit Hours: 3 OR CNBT 1380
1. Select the course not previously taken for the Basic Certificate.

Occupational Skills Award, CAD Technician: 9 Credit Hours

DFTG 1305 - Technical Drafting Credit Hours: 3
DFTG 1309 - Basic Computer-Aided Drafting Credit Hours: 3
DFTG 2319 - Intermediate Computer-Aided Drafting Credit Hours: 3

Occupational Skills Award: BIM Modeler

Building Information Modeling (BIM) for careers in Architecture, Engineering, and Construction

DFTG 1317 - Architectural Drafting - Residential Credit Hours: 3
DFTG 2328 - Architectural Drafting - Commercial Credit Hours: 3
ARCE 2352 - Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) Systems Credit Hours: 3

Occupational Skills Award: 3D CAD Technician

Prepares 3D CAD Technicians for Mechanical & Industrial Engineering Industries

DFTG 1345 - Parametric Modeling and Design Credit Hours: 3
DFTG 2332 - Advanced Computer-Aided Drafting Credit Hours: 3
DFTG 2338 - Final Project - Advanced Drafting Credit Hours: 3

Occupational Skills Award: Civil Drafter

Prepares CAD Technicians for Civil Industries, projects such as airports, commuter trains, highways, streets, bridges, drainage structures, or roadway lighting.

DFTG 1310 - Specialized CAD Credit Hours: 3
DFTG 1330 - Civil Drafting Credit Hours: 3
ARCE 1352 - Structural Drafting Credit Hours: 3