Your Career in Computer-Aided Mechanical Design Technology

Graduates of this program are known as “CDT Technicians,” an industrial name for artist. Designers are artists. They bring shape to the abstract, sculpting pieces of metal into machinery or machinery parts or consumer goods. It takes creativity, inventiveness and passion as well as knowledge of computers, math and industrial blueprints to excel. You’ll learn and apply the latest design techniques. You’ll know how to pick the right materials for your design. You’ll learn how to use the latest CAD software packages. Then you’ll be ready to work as a mechanical designer, a tool designer, a testing technician or a materials lab technician.

Career outlook

Industrial design is a wide-open field that attracts talented, creative people. Overall, design jobs were expected to swell by nearly one-third between 2000-2010, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. And while manufacturing has had its struggles in recent years, demand is expected to be strong for industrial designers as companies emphasize high-quality and safe products that are easy to use. High-technology products in medicine, transportation, and other fields, and growing global competition among businesses is expected to keep designers busy.

Test Engineer I, $44,623 - $52,792

Industrial Engineering Technician I, $31,459 - $41,768

Industrial Designer I, $36,465 - $44,866

Non-Destructive Test Technician, $37,188 - $45,648

(These figures represent the “middle range” wages for these careers. About 25% of employees earn more. Source: salary.com)

Contact: Randall Barnhart, Faculty - P/T, at () or R.Barnhart@RockValleyCollege.edu

2-Year Plan of Study

Fall Semester - Year 1

CDT 108 Computer Drafting - AutoCAD or CDT 133 Computer Drafting I (3)
AMT 110 Manufacturing Processes I (3)
MTH 125 Plane Trigonometry or MTH 132 Precalcululs Mathematics or Technical Mathematics (3 or 5)
CHM 100 Into to Inorganic Chemistry or CHM 101 General Inorganic Chemistry (4)
ENG Composition I (3)

Total 16 to 18

Spring Semester - Year 1

CDT 103 Materials of Industry 4

CDT 141 Descriptive Graphics 3

CDT 142 Technical Graphics 4

AMT 180 Manufacturing Processes II 4
PHY 112 Applied Elec, Sound and Light 4

Total 18

Summer Semester - Year 1

SPH 131 Fundamentals of Communication 3

Total 3

 

Fall Semester - Year 2

CDT 146 Hydraulics and Pneumatics 3

CDT 219 Statics and Strength of materials 5

CDT 220 Mechanisms 4

CDT 208 Mechanical Desktop or CDT 210 Introduction to SolidWorks or CDT 233 Computer Drafting II 3
CDT 219 Statics and Strength of Materials 5

Total 15

 

Spring Semester - Year 2

Credit

GEN ED Elective (if required) 3
CDT 211 Industrial Organization/Operation 3

CDT 221 Machine Design 4

CDT 222 Design of Machine Elements 4

Total 14

 

CERTIFICATES

Mechanical Design Certificate/7701 - 41 credits

CDT 103 4

CDT 108 OR 133 3

CDT 141 3

CDT 142 4

CDT 208, 210 OR 233 3
CDT 146 3

CDT 219 5

CDT 220 4

CDT 221 4

CDT 222 4

 

MINI-CERTIFICATE

Master CAD Certification/7721

- 25 credits

CDT 108 3

CDT 118 3

CDT 250 3

CDT 133 3

CDT 138 3

CDT 141 3

CDT 142 4

CDT 208 3

CDT 210 3
CDT 233 3