Computer Aided Drafting

  • Screen grab of SolidWorks
  • Student working on a computer
  • Girl using surveying equipment
  • Student looking at blueprints

It all starts with a plan.

That plan might start on the back of a napkin, but it ends with a professional drafter and drafting software.

Students in Salina Tech’s Computer Aided Drafting program learn to use industry-standard software, such as Revit, AutoCAD, SolidWorks, and AutoCAD Civil 3D to create everything from house plans to complex three-dimensional machine parts.

CAD technicians (or drafters) typically start their career by working directly under licensed architects, engineers and planners to develop support documentation such as drawings, blueprints and profiles. Salina Tech’s CAD program is designed to prepare them for this by covering topics such as mechanical drafting, civil drafting, architectural drafting, 3D modeling, and sheet metal design.

Program Length Program Cost Degree Earned Expected Salary
9 Months $7,710 Technical Certificate $35,000 – $45,000
Two Years $11,565 Associate Degree $40,000 – $50,000

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

  • Knowledge, technical skills, attitudes and workplace skills necessary for successful employment in the drafting profession.

  • Provide relevant learning experiences facilitated by qualified staff using current methods and equipment to meet occupational requirements and needs.

  • Ensure that all students are informed of the performance that is expected of them.

  • Provide a Computer Aided Drafting program that meets the employment needs of the community.

  • Develop and nurture relationships with the engineering community in order to provide adequate and varied job placement for each student.

CAREERS

  • Architectural Firms

  • Construction Companies

  • Mechanical Engineering Firms

  • Civil Engineering Firms

  • Ag-Related Industries

  • Manufacturers

  • City, County, & State Engineering Offices

INFORMATION

Note: Program schedule does not include general education courses required by program.

Learn about CAD software using these additional resources:

  • Free Online guide to learn AutoCAD Fundamentals – The Hitchhiker’s Guide to AutoCAD.
  • Economical textbook to learn AutoCAD Fundamentals – AutoCAD 2023: A Problem-Solving Approach by Sham Tickoo, ISBN 978-1640571440.
  • Live virtual or in-person AutoCAD, Inventor, and Revit courses are available through D3 Technologies. Visit their website or contact them for pricing and a training schedule.
  • Contact Merry Bail for more information about other Computer-Aided Drafting continuing education opportunities.

* For access to AutoCAD, Civil 3D, Revit, or Inventor, a 30-day free trial can be downloaded from Autodesk.

FACULTY

Merry Bail

Merry Bail earned her Associate of Applied Science degree in Computer Aided Drafting from Salina Tech in 2019, and returned to the college in January of 2023 as an instructor.

She has also taken several classes from Kansas State University’s College of Architecture, and earned a perfect score on the Architectural Woodwork Institute’s Quality Certification Program test in 2019.

She has worked as a Detail Drafter, Project Engineer and Project Manager at Salina Planing Mill.

She has chosen to return as a faculty member in hopes to give new perspectives of the industry to the CAD department and further the scope of the program.

merry.bail@salinatech.edu
785-309-3169

CONTACT

Contact the CAD Enrollment Specialist with any questions, admissions requirements, or to set up program shadowing or tours.

Ryan Weber
785-309-3127
ryan.weber@salinatech.edu