Drafting Internship

Course Description

TDR0940 – Drafting Internship is a supervised, work-based learning experience in which students apply technical drafting and design skills in a real-world professional setting. The course is designed to enhance students' learning in their field of study and to provide an opportunity to develop the professional attitudes and technical skills needed for successful employment in the drafting and design industry. Individual competencies will vary depending on the employer (host site) and the specific discipline within the industry (e.g., mechanical, architectural, civil, or aerospace drafting).

This course falls within the Engineering Technologies > Technical Drafting (TDR) taxonomy of Florida's Statewide Course Numbering System (SCNS). As a 900-series course, it is not automatically transferable between institutions and must be evaluated individually by the receiving institution.

Students enrolled in an approved Drafting and Design Technology program who have completed a substantial portion of their required coursework are eligible to participate. The internship is typically completed during the final semester of the program. Students work at an approved employer host site and are supervised jointly by a site mentor and a college instructor or internship coordinator.

Learning Outcomes

Required Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Apply technical drafting skills — including orthographic projection, dimensioning, and geometric tolerancing — to real industry projects at the host site.
• Produce accurate working drawings conforming to nationally recognized standards (ANSI/ASME Y14) as directed by site supervisors.
• Operate CAD software (e.g., AutoCAD, Revit, Inventor, Civil 3D, SolidWorks, or Creo) proficiently in a professional workplace environment.
• Demonstrate professional workplace behaviors, including punctuality, communication, adherence to deadlines, and respect for workplace safety and confidentiality protocols.
• Collaborate effectively with engineers, designers, architects, project managers, and fabricators to translate specifications into complete, accurate technical documents.
• Follow industry codes of conduct and applicable professional and ethical standards in all project and team activities.
• Complete and submit required internship documentation, including timesheets, learning objectives, and supervisor evaluation forms, as required by the college internship coordinator.

Optional Outcomes

Depending on the host site and discipline specialty, students may also:

• Prepare parametric 3D models, assemblies, and renderings using parametric design tools.
• Create architectural floor plans, elevations, sections, and schedules for residential or commercial projects.
• Develop civil drafting drawings, including parcel and roadway layouts, profiles, and site plans.
• Produce mechanical or aerospace component drawings for manufacturing or engineering documentation purposes.
• Apply Geographical Information Systems (GIS) tools in support of civil or land development projects.
• Assist in the preparation of permit documentation or construction document sets under the supervision of a licensed professional.

Major Topics

Required Topics

• Workplace Orientation and Professional Standards – Site safety, confidentiality policies, workplace procedures, professional communication, and employer expectations.
• Application of CAD Software in Industry – Practical use of one or more CAD platforms (AutoCAD, Revit, Inventor, SolidWorks, Civil 3D, or Creo) on actual employer projects.
• Technical Drawing Production – Creation of industry-standard drawings including orthographic views, detail drawings, assembly drawings, and/or site plans conforming to ANSI/ASME Y14 or applicable standards.
• Drawing Review and Revision – Interpreting redlines, incorporating design changes, maintaining drawing version control, and managing project files.
• Coordination with Technical Staff – Working under the direction of engineers, architects, designers, or senior drafters; participating in project meetings and design reviews.
• Internship Documentation and Reporting – Completion of weekly or bi-weekly timesheets, student self-evaluations, learning objective tracking, and final supervisor performance evaluations.

Optional Topics

Coverage of the following topics depends on the host site industry sector and available project assignments:

• Architectural and Residential Drafting – Floor plans, roof plans, building sections, interior/exterior elevations, door/window schedules.
• Mechanical and Manufacturing Drafting – Part drawings, bill of materials (BOM), GD&T annotations, assembly exploded views.
• Civil and Site Drafting – Grading plans, road profiles, drainage layouts, utility plans, parcel maps.
• 3D Modeling and Rendering – Parametric solid modeling, assembly constraints, motion analysis, photorealistic rendering.
• BIM (Building Information Modeling) – Use of Revit or similar BIM software for coordinated building documentation.
• Aerospace and Defense Drafting – Engineering drawings for precision components, parts lists, and modification orders per MIL-STD or company standards.
• GIS and Geospatial Data – Introduction to geospatial data layers, map preparation, and spatial analysis in support of civil/land projects.

Resources & Tools

• CAD Software Platforms: Autodesk AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor, Autodesk Revit, Autodesk Civil 3D, Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks, PTC Creo
• Drawing Standards: ANSI/ASME Y14 series (Engineering Drawing and Related Documentation Practices)
• Internship Agreement / Learning Contract: Tri-party agreement between student, employer, and college outlining learning objectives, hours, duties, and evaluation criteria
• Supervisor Evaluation Forms: Provided by the college internship coordinator; completed by the employer host site supervisor at mid-point and end of term
• Student Timesheet / Work Log: Weekly or bi-weekly documentation of hours worked and tasks completed, submitted to the college internship coordinator
• College Learning Management System (LMS): Canvas or equivalent platform used to submit internship documentation and complete any required orientation modules
• American Design Drafting Association (ADDA): Professional organization providing industry resources, networking, and certification information at adda.org
• Autodesk Certification Center: Resources for AutoCAD, Revit, and Inventor user certification exams

Career Pathways

Successful completion of TDR0940 supports entry into and advancement within the following occupations in Florida's growing engineering and construction sectors:

• CAD Drafter / CAD Technician – Produces technical drawings for engineering and design firms across multiple industries.
• Architectural Drafter – Prepares construction documents for residential and commercial building projects under the direction of architects.
• Civil Drafting Technician – Creates site plans, roadway drawings, and utility layouts for civil engineering firms.
• Mechanical Drafter – Documents machine parts, assemblies, and manufacturing specifications for product development firms.
• BIM Technician / Revit Specialist – Develops coordinated building models for architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) projects.
• Aerospace / Defense Drafting Technician – Supports precision engineering documentation for aerospace manufacturers such as L3Harris, Boeing, or Lockheed Martin, prominent employers in Florida's Space Coast region.
• GIS Technician (with additional GIS coursework) – Supports spatial data management and mapping for government agencies and engineering firms.

Students who complete an internship nearly double their chances of securing employment after graduation. Florida's Space Coast, Tampa Bay, Orlando, and South Florida regions host significant concentrations of engineering, construction, and aerospace employers actively recruiting drafting and design graduates.

Special Information

Program Completion Requirement: Students must typically have completed at least 75% of their Drafting and Design Technology (or Computer-Aided Drafting and Design) program before enrolling in TDR0940. Enrollment requires instructor or internship coordinator approval prior to registration.

Minimum Work Hours: The minimum number of contact/work hours required at the employer host site is determined by the awarding institution. Based on comparable Florida college internship courses in the Technical Drafting taxonomy, a minimum of 60 contact hours at the work site is standard for this course designation. Some institutions may require 90 or more hours for expanded credit options.

Industry Certifications: Students are encouraged to pursue the following industry-recognized credentials to enhance employability:

• Autodesk Certified User (ACU) or Autodesk Certified Professional (ACP) – Available for AutoCAD, Revit, Inventor, and Civil 3D
• American Design Drafting Association (ADDA) Certification – Drafting Technologist (DT) or Certified Drafter (CD) credentials
• SolidWorks Certified Associate (CSWA) or SolidWorks Certified Professional (CSWP)

Transferability Notice: As a course in the X900–999 series under the Florida SCNS, TDR0940 is not automatically transferable between institutions and must be evaluated individually by any receiving institution.