This major provides the skills for Design Engineering technicians to prepare detailed drawings based on rough sketches, specifications and calculations made by engineers and designers. It also demonstrates how to work with computer-assisted models and to prepare graphic display materials, from charts to technical illustrations. Those interested in a career as a Design technician should have an aptitude for math and science, enjoy technical work, and have a great appreciation for detail and accuracy. Any computer skills are a plus. Past Rhodes State graduates have accepted positions as designer technicians, detailers, drafters, modelers, engineering technicians, and lab technicians

Additional Resources

• American Design and Drafting Association – Certified Curriculum
• West Central Ohio Tech Prep – Course articulations
• West Central Ohio Manufacturing Consortium – Pathways and Partners

The IT/ET Division fosters the professional and intellectual growth of students by offering contemporary technical curricula taught by qualified faculty who provide a supportive environment intended to develop critical thinking, an appreciation of global diversity and the capacity for life-long learning. The IT/ET Division seeks to be the premier technology educator in West Central Ohio.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, opportunities will be best for individuals with an associate degree or extensive job training in engineering technology. As technology becomes more sophisticated, employers will continue to look for technicians who are skilled in new technology and require a minimum of additional job training. An increase in the number of jobs related to public health and safety should create job opportunities for engineering technicians with the appropriate certification.

Overall employment of engineering technicians is expected to increase about as fast as the average for all occupations through 2014. Competitive pressures will force companies to improve and update manufacturing facilities and product designs, resulting in more jobs for engineering technicians. However, the growing use of advanced technologies, such as computer simulation and computer-aided design and drafting will continue to increase productivity and limit job growth.

The Design Engineering major is certified by the American Design Drafting Association (ADDA) assuring competent design drafting professionals for the future. The ADDA certification program and the commitment to excellence it represents, provides a quality assurance program which benefits both education and industry. Currently, Rhodes State is the only college in Ohio that holds this certification.

Candidates for the Associate of Applied Science Degree must meet all curriculum requirements as outlined in the curriculum models with a GPA of at least 2.00 and a minimum of 90 credit hours to a maximum of 110 credit hours completed in the program area. Credits transferred from other institutions will be subject to evaluation on a course-by-course basis. In some instances, students who have been absent from the College for more than one regular quarter (excluding summer) may have technical credits which will be re-evaluated on an individual basis. Each program is designed with required technical courses, in which, students must maintain a 2.00 average or better to progress to graduation. To obtain divisional certificates, students must earn a grade of “C” or better on all listed courses or receive authorization from program chair and division dean.