AUTOCAD ESSENTIALS

Program Overview

The Continuing Education Center AutoCAD® Essentials Certificate Program is designed to provide students with the basic functions including software features associated with basic drafting options.

Students enrolling in the  Continuing Education Center AutoCAD® Certificate Program should possess a solid background in a Windows-based PC environment and should also have an educational or work-related background in basic drafting. Students who do not have the necessary prerequisite skills should consider the Continuing Education Center's Drafting with AutoCAD® Career Diploma Program.

Program Outline

Here's how it works
Your certificate program consists of courses designed to take you step-by-step toward understanding AutoCAD. Your first course will be sent to you as soon as your enrollment has been accepted. Other courses will follow as you complete your exams, so that you will always have study materials to work with.

You will need access to a Microsoft® Windows®-based computer (running Windows Vista or later) and the Internet in order to complete your program with the Continuing Education Center.

You must complete the following courses in the order indicated to earn your AutoCAD® Certificate.

MET 080 AutoCAD® – Basic Commands

This course provides instruction and practice on the basic functions of AutoCAD® software. The student will learn to open or begin a drawing, save their work and safely exit the software. They will also use help menus, dialog boxes, and software features associated with basic drafting options. Also covered is the construction of basic geometric objects, as well as the insertion of various lines and text, followed by the construction of complex geometric figures while using advanced object selection method. The student will also learn to properly dimension a drawing and properly configure their work for plotting. The student will submit an AutoCAD® drawing constructed using the basic commands and techniques learned throughout the course. (The drawing will be submitted electronically.)

AutoCAD® – Basic Commands

• Lesson 1 Harnessing AutoCAD®, Part 1
• Lesson 2 Harnessing AutoCAD®, Part 2
• Project: Basic Commands
• Software: AutoCAD® Student Portfolio
• Textbooks:
  Harnessing AutoCAD®
  Harnessing AutoCAD® Exercise Manual

MET 090 AutoCAD® Blocks and Layers

In this course the student will build upon skills developed in MET 080. Coverage includes hatching commands, the creation and insertion of block references, attaching and detaching reference files, and using the AutoCAD® Design Center. The student will also learn utility commands, the basics of 3D drawings, and using the Internet within the AutoCAD® process. The course concludes with instruction on digitizing tablets and the process of customizing AutoCAD® for your specific drafting needs. The student will submit an AutoCAD® drawing using more advanced techniques and features of AutoCAD®. (The drawing will be submitted electronically.)

AutoCAD® – Blocks and Layers

• Lesson 1 Harnessing AutoCAD®, Part 3
• Lesson 2 Harnessing AutoCAD®, Part 4
• Lesson 3 Harnessing AutoCAD®, Part 5
• Project: AutoCAD® Commands: Blocks and Layers

Online Library and Librarian
Students in the Continuing Education Center have access to an online library for use during their studies. Students can use this library to do the required research in the courses they complete or can use it for general reference and links to valuable resources. The library contains helpful research assistance, articles, databases, books, and Web links. A librarian is available to answer questions on general research-related topics via email and to assist students in research activities during their studies with the Continuing Education Center.

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