Skip to main content
Woman looking at CAD images on dual monitors

Minnesota State College Southeast's 100% online CAD program attracts students from all around the world. Begin your CAD designer career path by earning a Drafting Certification from Southeast's nationally recognized program. With a CAD drawing certificate from Minnesota State College Southeast, you'll learn basic drafting skills & concepts in technical drafting skills that will prepare you for your next CAD drafting job and serve as a building block for further education.


Career Area: Engineering, Manufacturing & Trades
Program: Computer Aided Design (CAD) Drafting Technologies
Campus(es): Online

 Major Details

Complex products all start with a plan. By starting your education with a Basic Drafting Technologies Certification from Minnesota State College Southeast, you will learn how to translate ideas at the product conception stage into physical work plans using computer aided design and drafting that launch the design process. As a CAD designer, you will be an essential part of any technical team.

Southeast's online drafting certificate from our nationally recognized education program will increase your value in a CAD drafting career path.

Our highly experienced CAD drafting faculty at Southeast will teach you the tools of the trade so that you can be successful in your drafting career on day one. In your drafting classes online, you'll learn how to apply Solidworks and AutoCAD, industry-standard CAD software programs, on a project basis just as you will on the job.

Have a busy schedule or just like to work at your own pace? Southeast's online CAD drafting program is flexible enough to accommodate your busy lifestyle, but rigorous enough to ensure you develop the skills employers demand. Take the next step to achieve an online CAD degree, and put a new CAD drafting career path in motion!

Apply now for admission to Minnesota State College Southeast


Cluster/Pathway

Career Field: Engineering, Manufacturing & Technology
Cluster: Manufacturing
Pathway: Manufacturing Production Process Development
Recommended high school classes and basic job/program skills

Download the Program Plan

 Courses

1) 1000 level (minimum) General Education courses required unless specified.


TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
Choose one or more Technical electives.
4 cr
MDAD1204
AutoCAD is one of the most common computer-aided design software used in industry. This course will introduce the AutoCAD software user interface, sketching tools, layers, Multiview projection, dimensioning styles, and other basic drawing and editing tools used in the creation of 2D engineering drawings. (Prerequisite: none) (3 credits: 1 lecture/2 lab)
3 cr
MDAD1241
This course covers the fundamentals of Solidworks parametric drawing and design. The student will use Solidworks to create 3D parametric models as well as use these models to create engineering drawings and documentation. (Prerequisite: none) (3 credits: 1 lecture/2 lab)
3 cr
MDAD1250
This is essentially a blueprint reading course that focuses on drafting essentials. Content will include 2d view projection, line types, dimensions, tolerances, sections, auxiliary views, and all the other basics required to understand a basic engineering drawing. This course lays the building blocks for the remainder of the Drafting and Design courses. (Prerequisite: none) (3 credits: 3 lecture/0 lab)
3 cr
MDAD1251
This course covers an introduction to manufacturing processes and an overview of automated manufacturing systems relating to plastics, metals, ceramics, and composite materials. The processes related to these materials covered will be forming, separating, fabricating, conditioning, and finishing. This course also briefly covers material handling, JIT, inventory reductions, etc. This will help the student in fitting into today and tomorrow's manufacturing climate. (Prerequisite: none) (3 credits: 3 lecture/0 lab)
3 cr
 
16 crs

Total Credits Required for this Major: 16

 Cost

Estimated Costs for this Major
Approximate Tuition/Fees: $3,479
Minimum Tool Cost: $50
Books/Supplies: $475
Estimated Total: $4,004

 Career Opportunities

  • Mechanical Designers

  • Plant Designers

  • Mechanical Drafters

  • CAD Technicians

Use the MN DEED Career and Education Explorer Data Tool to learn about wages, job growth, and much more in this career field.

 Outcomes

Program graduates will be able to:

  1. Complete industry standard assembly drawings using 2d and 3d CAD.

  2. Complete industry standard part drawings using 2d and 3d CAD.

  3. Calculate mating part conditions to guarantee part fits.

  4. Define and apply proper design materials.

  5. Define and apply proper standard part vendors.

  6. Communicate verbally and in written forms.

 Highlights

  • Courses are taught using state of the art CAD 3D Parametric software

  • Excellent training for self-starters

  • CAD Drafters/Designers are in constant demand

  • The courses are focused on developing your skills for employment

  • Instructors are licensed because of their experience in the drafting and design field

  • Excellent placement

  • Online CAD degree in two years or less.

 Instructors

Tyler Litscher

Computer Aided Drafting and Design instructor Tyler Litscher is a graduate of the CAD AAS program at Minnesota State College Southeast. Tyler has more than 9 years of experience in the mechanical design field. His experience includes mechanical design work in heavy duty lifting equipment (winches, hoist, cranes, etc.), theater/stadium rigging, and some experience with electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic designs. Tyler began teaching at MSC Southeast in 2017 and became a full-time member of the faculty in 2022.