Computer-Aided Design Technology Internship

Course Description

ETD2941 is a 1-credit supervised work experience course situated within the Engineering Technologies > Engineering Design Drafting taxonomy of Florida's Statewide Course Numbering System (SCNS). The course is designed to enhance students' learning in their field of study and to provide an opportunity for students to develop the appropriate attitudes and skills needed for successful employment in the computer-aided design and drafting (CADD) industry. Students are placed with an approved employer in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) sector or a related technical field, where they apply the CAD skills and drafting standards acquired in prior coursework to real projects under professional supervision. Individual competencies will vary depending on the employer (host site) and the specific discipline within the industry. A minimum of 90 contact hours must be completed to satisfy the internship requirement. This course may be repeated for a maximum of 6 total credit hours, allowing students to deepen experience across multiple terms or employer sites.

Learning Outcomes

Required Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this internship, all students are expected to demonstrate the following competencies:

• Apply CAD software skills (e.g., AutoCAD, Revit, Civil 3D, Inventor, or SolidWorks) to employer-assigned drafting and design tasks in a professional setting.
• Produce technical drawings and documentation that conform to nationally recognized standards (ANSI/ASME Y14 series) as directed by the host employer.
• Demonstrate professional workplace behaviors, including punctuality, communication, teamwork, and adherence to workplace policies and safety protocols.
• Translate ideas, sketches, calculations, and specifications into accurate working drawings suitable for manufacture or construction.
• Complete a minimum of 90 documented internship hours under the guidance of a qualified AEC professional or engineering employer.
• Submit required faculty-advisor check-ins, logs, or reports documenting work activities, skills applied, and progress toward learning objectives.

Optional Outcomes

Depending on the host employer's discipline and the student's area of specialization, the following outcomes may also be addressed:

• Apply 3D parametric modeling techniques, including rendering, motion analysis, and assembly constraints, to employer projects.
• Prepare architectural floor plans, elevations, sections, and schedules for residential or commercial construction documents.
• Develop civil drafting deliverables such as parcel layouts, roadway alignments, profiles, or grading plans.
• Produce mechanical CAD drawings based on 3D models for manufacturing or fabrication purposes.
• Utilize Building Information Modeling (BIM) workflows and tools such as Revit in a collaborative project environment.
• Participate in internship seminars coordinated by the college to discuss professional development, industry trends, and workplace experiences.

Major Topics

Required Topics

The following topic areas form the core framework of this internship experience across all host-employer placements:

• Workplace Orientation and Professional Standards — Introduction to employer policies, workplace safety, organizational structure, and professional conduct expectations in the AEC or engineering industry.
• Applied CAD Software Practice — Day-to-day use of industry-standard CAD software (AutoCAD and/or discipline-specific platforms) to complete assigned drafting and design tasks.
• Technical Drawing Production — Creation of complete, accurate drawings conforming to applicable national drafting standards (ANSI/ASME Y14 or AIA standards) as directed by the supervising professional.
• Professional Communication and Collaboration — Working in close association with engineers, architects, designers, project managers, or fabricators to support project documentation and design development.
• Internship Documentation and Reporting — Maintaining timesheets, work logs, and/or activity journals; completing required faculty-advisor evaluations and mid-term or final progress reports.

Optional Topics

Coverage of the following topics depends on the host employer's specialization and the student's assigned duties:

• Architectural Drafting — Floor plans, building elevations, wall sections, roof plans, and construction details for residential or commercial projects.
• Civil/Site Drafting — Property boundary surveys, contour mapping, roadway alignment and profile sheets, and cut/fill diagrams.
• Mechanical Drafting — Part and assembly drawings, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T), and bill of materials (BOM) generation.
• 3D Modeling and Visualization — Parametric solid modeling, rendering, and model-based documentation using tools such as Inventor, Revit, Civil 3D, SolidWorks, or Creo.
• Building Information Modeling (BIM) — Coordinated BIM workflows, model review, clash detection, and construction document sets in a team environment.
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) — Basic GIS data collection, mapping, or analysis tasks as assigned within a civil or planning context.
• Internship Seminar Topics — Resume development, job search strategies, professional licensing pathways, and industry certification preparation.

Resources & Tools

• CAD Software: AutoCAD, Revit, Civil 3D, Autodesk Inventor, SolidWorks, Creo (platform varies by employer)
• Drafting Standards References: ANSI/ASME Y14 series (mechanical), AIA CAD Layer Guidelines (architectural), ASCE standards (civil)
• Autodesk Education Community: autodesk.com/education — free student software licenses and tutorials
• Florida Department of Education SCNS Course Database: scns.fldoe.org — official statewide course numbering information
• EFSC Career Services / College Internship Coordinator: Students work with their college's career services or program advisor to identify and secure approved host employer sites.
• Internship Log / Journal: Student-maintained timesheets and work activity logs documenting hours, tasks performed, and skills applied — submitted to the faculty advisor.
• Florida Advanced Technological Education Center (FLATE): fl-ate.org — statewide resource for engineering technology education standards

Career Pathways

This internship is a gateway to entry-level and advanced employment in the technical design field. Graduates of Florida CAD programs find employment across a wide range of industries:

• Architectural Drafter / BIM Technician — Architectural and engineering firms (AEC), working on building design and construction documentation
• Civil Drafter / Survey Technician — Civil engineering and land surveying firms, transportation agencies, and municipal governments
• Mechanical Drafter / CAD Designer — Manufacturing, aerospace, and defense industries (e.g., L3Harris, Boeing, Lockheed Martin)
• Structural Drafter — Structural engineering firms and construction companies
• CAD Technician / Design Technologist — Multidisciplinary engineering consultancies and project management firms
• GIS Technician — Government agencies, utilities, and environmental consulting firms

Florida program graduates have secured positions with employers such as Kimley-Horn, Atkins Global, BRPH Architects and Engineers, CAG Architects, and Seadek Marine, among many others. The internship experience frequently leads directly to a job offer upon program completion.

Special Information

Enrollment Eligibility: Students are typically required to have completed a substantial portion of their CAD program coursework before enrolling in ETD2941. At Eastern Florida State College, for example, students must have completed at least 75% of the A.S. Drafting and Design program before taking the internship elective. Department or instructor consent is generally required.

Hour Requirement: A minimum of 90 internship hours must be completed at an approved employer site for the 1-credit section. The course may be repeated for up to a maximum of 6 total credit hours.

Paid Internship: Consistent with Florida CAD program practice, internships are commonly paid positions because students contribute directly to employer projects — not merely observational experiences.

Industry Certification Preparation: Students are encouraged to pursue or maintain relevant industry certifications that complement internship experience, including:

• Autodesk Certified User (ACU) — AutoCAD, Revit, Inventor, or Civil 3D
• Autodesk Certified Professional (ACP) — Advanced credential for experienced users
• Certified Solidworks Associate (CSWA) — For students in mechanical drafting tracks

Seminar Component: Some Florida colleges (including Seminole State College) incorporate internship seminars as part of this course. Regular contact with the assigned faculty advisor is required throughout the term.