Cert in Construction Engineering Technology/Technician

Drafting by computer is the heart of this certificate, which introduces the building design and civil engineering fields and the many jobs connected to them. Students learn the conventional visual language that architects, engineers and builders share when they exchange plans. Coursework puts the computer to work as the main drafting instrument. Students apply math to finish drawings, then prepare detailed sheets showing structural and architectural details of buildings, along with terrain maps used for roads, bridges and other public works projects. Software instruction covers both civil and architectural applications. The sequence runs two semesters and also includes a design course, a communication course and an introduction to robotics. The department notes that drafting, architecture and civil engineering are occupations with favorable national growth outlooks, and Massachusetts projections are also positive.