OAD: Associate of Applied Science in Drafting and Design

Taught by a licensed architect, this Residential Blueprint Reading Course is designed to provide you with a thorough understanding of how to interpret and analyze residential construction blueprints. This comprehensive, instructor-led course is ideal for beginners looking to gain essential skills, as well as for seasoned professionals seeking to improve their ability to collaborate on residential projects.

• Demonstrate an understanding of the inter-relationship between the drawings included in a set of Construction Documents (blueprints).
• Analyze different drawings and see how scale is presented throughout a set of Construction Documents.
• Evaluate the similarities between all sets of blueprint construction documents submitted for building permits.
• Recognize the need for consistency in presenting information in all types of Construction Documents in this online blueprint reading course.

Learn to interpret and analyze commercial construction blueprints in this Commercial Blueprint Reading Course taught by a licensed architect. Designed for construction professionals and students, this course focuses on mixed-use commercial projects, including hotel, retail, and parking structures. You’ll develop skills to read architectural, structural, mechanical, and electrical plans.

• Gain a comprehensive understanding of architectural, structural, mechanical, and electrical plans as applied to a mixed-use commercial construction project.
• Learn to read and interpret symbols, notations, and technical details in accordance with industry standards. Evaluate the similarities between all sets of construction documents submitted for building permits.
• Work with real-world construction drawings and documents to build practical skills.
• Understand how blueprints are used to estimate costs, plan projects, and ensure on-site accuracy during construction.

Learn AutoCAD in this beginner-friendly online course. You’ll start by drawing drafting symbols and common kitchen and bath fixtures, then create a complete floor plan and assemble everything into a single deliverable sheet file. The course introduces the AutoCAD interface and commands, including drawing and modifying tools, layering standards, text, dimensioning, and plotting.

• Create drafting symbols, kitchen and bath fixtures, and a complete floor plan, then integrate all elements into one deliverable sheet file
• Understand the difference between drawings used for annotation and those used as real-world model components
• Create, insert, and manage blocks and external references, and learn when each should be applied
• Practice file management, drafting on layers, integrating drawing component files, and plotting while completing the residential project

In this course, you’ll create an abbreviated set of CAD construction documents for a Habitat for Humanity project, including floor, roof, foundation, and electrical plans, plus building elevations. You’ll use blocks and external references to link drawings and improve workflows while reinforcing core AutoCAD skills and learning advanced techniques such as file referencing, coordinate systems, dynamic viewing, and model and paper space conventions.

• Create an abbreviated set of construction documents, including floor plan, foundation plan, electrical plan, and building elevations for a small residential project.
• Create and insert blocks, externally reference files, and determine the appropriate times to apply those skill sets to optimize project efficiency.
• Demonstrate layer and file management, external file referencing, use of model/layout environments, and user coordinate systems.
• Apply intermediate-level skills, including layer management, user coordinate system development, creating sheet layout environments, and plotting.

In this course, we use AutoCAD to develop titleblock drawings from scratch, draft a floor plan, multi-scale enlarged plans, roof plan and building elevations for a more complicated one-story residence. You will learn important, relevant & practical CAD workflow skills, including AutoCAD commands, menuing systems and project workflow. The course covers two-dimensional (2D) drawing commands and drafting techniques for developing construction documents, including dimensioning, layout environments, layering systems and plotting. 

• Create titleblock and titleblock/drawing label components for a professional office to facilitate development of deliverable sheet files.
• Create floor plan, enlarged plan, roof plan and building elevation of a moderately complex residential project. Includes the development of floor plan, roof plan and elevation notes.
• Successfully integrate referenced files to create construction documents. Demonstrate layer and file management, use of model/layout environments and multi-scale drawing presentation.
• Organize deliverable sheet set to conform to the National CAD Standards.
• Apply intermediate-level skills to create sheet layout environments and plotting.

AutoCAD Construction Documents II is an advanced-level course designed to elevate your expertise in producing professional construction documents using AutoCAD. This course builds upon fundamental drafting and AutoCAD skills, focusing on the creation of precise, detailed construction drawings that meet industry standards. You will learn how to create cohesive and technically accurate sets of plans, allowing for better communication across various teams.

• Create building elevations, building sections, wall sections; modify detail drawings; create metes and bounds (Civil) drawing; create relevant deliverable sheet files for a moderately complex residential project. Includes the development of title sheet and appropriate general and keynote legends.
• Successfully integrate referenced files to create construction documents. Demonstrate layer and file management, use of model/layout environments and multi-scale drawing presentations.
• Apply intermediate/advanced-level skills to create sheet layout environments and plotting.
• Organize deliverable sheet set to conform to the National CAD Standards.

Create detail drawings in this CAD detailing course. Students learn the two dominant CAD standards that AEC firms use, making detail drawings from scratch and by referencing and clipping information from other drawings. Learn drawing standards and about organizing your details.

• Create detail drawings pertinent to the course project.
• Create relevant deliverable sheet files.
• Integrate referenced files to create details for construction documents.
• Demonstrate layer and file management, use of model/layout environments and multi-scale drawing presentations.
• Apply intermediate/advanced-level skills to create sheet layout environments and plotting.

In this beginner-friendly Intro to Revit course, you'll dive into how Revit (BIM) links all your project information using the Revit Architecture tools. You'll learn how to design 3D models that automatically generate 2D architectural drawings, including floor plans, elevations, and 3D perspective views. Starting with a pre-made template, you’ll build a Building Information Model, create floor plans and elevations, generate 3D views, place them on sheets, and print them to PDF.

• Describe Primary Revit Concepts and how they relate to Building Information Modeling (BIM).
• Explore the Revit User-Interface.
• Design a 3D building model to explain how information is interrelated
• Determine the appropriate workflow to complete tasks within Revit.
• Develop a project that includes floors, walls, ceilings, stairs, curtain walls, and roof design to strengthen 3D modeling and 2D documentation skills.
• Create presentation-level architectural graphics.
• Catalog building information using schedules.

In this intermediate BIM class, you'll learn advanced Revit techniques for documenting projects, including scheduling components, creating 2D/3D families, refining graphics, and making a streamlined construction document set. You’ll also build on an existing model, explore design options, create custom schedules, and develop custom Revit families. By the end, you’ll turn a conceptual model into a complete, integrated construction document set.

• Integrate DWG Files to create Revit details.
• Tag elements for cost estimation and material take-offs.
• Explore the capabilities of design options and how to present different options.
• Create 3D parametric families.
• Build customized door, material, and room schedules that can be used for construction take-offs.
• Explore BIM project Management techniques to keep models efficient and user-friendly.

This online Revit course is the first of two focused on creating construction documents. You’ll model a single-story commercial building, import AutoCAD drawings, create a site model, and then add a two-story extension, simulating real-world AEC workflows. The course covers advanced Revit techniques for commercial projects, led by an Autodesk Certified Instructor with experience in commercial, medical, and biotech design.

• Using BIM tools to model existing buildings, partial demolition, and new constructions.
• Creating site plans with topography, hardscape, and landscaping.
• Differentiating construction phases through graphics.
• Producing presentation-quality renderings for documentation.

In this intermediate course, you'll create construction documents for the commercial building and site created in BIM 301. You'll also create the sheet drawings and will add keynotes, detail drawings, and schedules.

• Prepare a set of architectural construction documents incorporating the site and building models created in BIM 301.
• Develop progress sets of construction documents, reflecting 30/60/90/100 percent deliverable submittals.
• Produce plan, section, and elevation views of the project for sheet layout.
• Keynote elements of the project model. Develop schedules and a limited number of architectural details extracted from the BIM model.

This advanced BIM construction documents course covers both residential and commercial projects, helping you develop skills for creating floor plans, elevations, and 3D perspectives. You'll learn to create detailed 3D building models and generate professional 2D architectural drawings using Revit.

• Create and place graphic-symbol and material legends; standardize view titles and sheet presentation
• Dimension exterior/interior plans consistently, add partition schedules, and apply wall types per intent
• Add and manage keynotes across plans, elevations, sections, and the roof—using a shared keynote table
• Develop enlarged plans and interior elevations with coordinated tags, dimensions, and view templates
• Set up phasing for tenant-fit layouts; QC, revision-cloud/tag sheets, and export a scaled PDF set for midterm and final

Master the art of creating detailed construction drawings that ensure structural integrity, safety, and design clarity. This course focuses on developing your skills in Revit to create comprehensive building system details and manage them according to industry standards.

• Create detail drawings of building systems which illustrate structural integrity and sound building construction practices.
• Create and integrate detail drawings which limit or prevent accidental injury or death among users of the buildings.
• Prepare detail drawings illustrating construction systems, products, and finishes.
• Develop details and manage the detail information to conform with project-based lineweight and National CAD/BIM standards.

Learn the Adobe Photoshop user interface and the specific tools and features that make Photoshop valuable. Learn major strategies to adjust, correct and supplement photos and graphic projects.

• Recognize the basic tools of Photoshop and appropriately utilize these tools for the desired adjustments and corrections.
• Carry out techniques to adjust, enhance, supplement, and compose files necessary to produce marketing materials.
• Implement proper understanding and organization of files and layers within the layers panel and Photoshop interface.
• Appropriately adjust and export images with variations in image file-type, dimension and color.

This Photoshop class reinforces techniques and expands on the Introduction to Photoshop class. You will learn important strategies on how to work successfully, how to plan, design, collaborate and export a project.

• Reinforce the basic tools of Adobe Photoshop and appropriately use these tools for the desired adjustments and corrections.
• Carry out techniques to adjust, enhance, supplement, and compose files necessary to produce marketing materials.
• Incorporate client’s determined goals, audience, and branding.
• Assess and adjust image strategy based on determined marketing and design goals.

Learn Adobe Illustrator, the industry-standard professional vector drawing program. Gain real-world, practical experience using Illustrator to produce vector art for both print and web design.

• Recognize the basic tools of Illustrator and appropriately use these tools for the desired adjustments and corrections.
• Carry out techniques to adjust, enhance, supplement, and compose files necessary to produce marketing materials.
• Implement proper understanding and organization of files and layers within the layers panel and Illustrator interface.
• Appropriately adjust and export images with variations in image file-type, dimension and color.

Learn to use Adobe Illustrator, including the tools and features that make Illustrator useful for photo and graphic projects. This class reinforces basic strategies of Introduction to Adobe Illustrator and introduces intermediate techniques for graphic design. Learn additional tools and methods to craft a series of graphic marketing materials. In this online training class, students will learn basic Illustrator strategies necessary for adjusting, correcting, and supplementing photos and graphics. This course is for professional designers, architects, engineers, contractors, marketers, and others seeking professional advancement or job transition.

• Recognize the basic tools of Illustrator and appropriately utilize these tools for the desired adjustments and corrections.
• Carry out techniques to adjust, enhance, supplement, and compose files necessary to produce marketing materials.
• Implement proper understanding and organization of files and layers within the layers panel and Illustrator interface.
• Appropriately adjust and export images with variations in image file-type, dimension and color.

Adobe InDesign is a desktop publishing program that allows you to design high-quality brochures, flyers, business cards, postcards, books, and even pages for digital publishing. In this course, you will learn how to add, place, and resize graphics; how to create text, import text, and work with text in a document; how to draw shapes and use those shapes in your document; and how to package your work for a commercial printer.

• Recognize the basic tools of InDesign and appropriately use the tools for the desired adjustments and corrections.
• Carry out techniques to adjust, enhance, supplement, and compose files necessary to produce marketing materials.
• Implement proper understanding and organization of files and layers within the layers panel and InDesign interface.
• Appropriately adjust and export images with variations in image file-type, dimension, and color.