Drafters prepare technical drawings and plans used by production and
construction workers to build everything from manufactured products, such as toys, toasters, industrial machinery, or spacecraft; to structures, such as houses, office buildings, or oil and gas pipelines. Their drawings
provide visual guidelines, showing the technical details of the products and structures and specifying dimensions, materials to be used, and procedures and processes to be followed. Drafters fill in technical details, using drawings, rough sketches, specifications, codes, and calculations previously made by engineers, surveyors, architects, or scientists.
Traditionally, drafters sat at drawing boards and used pencils, pens, compasses, protractors, triangles, and other drafting devices to prepare a drawing manually. Most drafters now use computer-aided drafting (CAD) systems
to prepare drawings.
The average length of time for a student taking a full course load is five semesters. A minimum of 79 semester credit hours is required for graduation.
