Architectural Technology Program Code 106141

Employment Potential

Architectural Technician: works under the direction and supervision of an architect or professional engineer, preparing working drawings for residential, commercial and industrial buildings.

Building Materials Sales Person: works in retail sales of building products in a building materials center.

Building Mechanical Technician: works under the direction and supervision of an architect or professional engineer, preparing working drawings for mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems within a building.

Shop Drawing Draftsperson: works under the supervision of a professional engineer, developing fabrication and erection drawings for components used in construction.

Structural Draftsperson: works under the direction and supervision of an architect or professional engineer, preparing working drawings for steel, concrete, and wood building systems.

Residential Designer: works independently designing and drafting homes for building materials centers or residential contractors.

With additional education and/or work experience, graduates may find other opportunities for employment.

. Architect
. Building Inspector
. Senior Draftsperson
. Commercial or Industrial Estimator
. Structural Engineer
. Specification Writer
. Project Manager

Program Outcomes

. Develop architectural drawings for commercial building using steel, concrete and masonry.
. Develop residential drawings to meet code and client criteria.
. Perform technical calculations and produce drawings for mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems.
. Produce structural drawings and details for residential and commercial buildings.
. Explain the design and construction process.
. Think critically and creatively, solve problems effectively.
. Speak and write effectively about architectural facts and ideas.
. Communicate architectural ideas graphically utilizing sketching techniques.
. Work cooperatively and professionally.
. Display a positive attitude toward their profession.
. Apply mathematical principles,codes, manufacturers' standards, tables, and technical manuals in design and production of construction documents.
. Evaluate structural elements using the principles of static's and the strength of materials.
. Choose appropriate materials for use in building construction.
. Estimate materials required for construction.
. Operate computer based technologies currently used to prepare basic presentation drawings, and construction documents.
. Apply sustainable principles to building construction.
. Explain how loads are distributed and transferred through the structure of a building.

Requirements for Program Entry

. Completed application.
. High school transcript or equivalent. (For a list of equivalents, go to www.nwtc.edu/gettingstarted.)
. As a requirement for program entry, an Academic Skills Assessment (Accuplacer) with appropriate benchmark scores is necessary. Program Benchmarks are Reading Comprehension: 55; Sentence Skills: 75; Elementary Algebra: 61. Students not meeting these benchmarks or the equivalent will be granted pre-program status and will be required to establish an individualized academic plan. Upon completion of the plan, full program status will be granted. Students may have the opportunity to enroll in selected program core courses while completing their individualized plan. However, higher test scores will lead to greater success in core program courses. To learn more about these assessments and program benchmark scores, please contact a counselor (920) 498-5444 or (888) 385-6982.
. High school background in mathematics, science, and industrial education and/or construction related experience.
. High school algebra or equivalent.
. Proficiency with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Windows and the Internet.

Curriculum

The Architectural Technology Associate Degree is a two-year, four-semester program. Upon graduation, a student will have completed 65 credits.

FIRST SEMESTER

SECOND SEMESTER

THIRD SEMESTER

FOURTH SEMESTER

Suggested Electives
Land Survey/Site Development, 10-607-106
Professional Practices, 10-614-203

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

These courses provide an opportunity for students to develop the knowledge, skills, and understanding required for employment in this field.

10-614-210 ARCHITECTURAL PRINCIPLES ...establishes a background in graphic communication and the field of architecture. Creation, interpretation, and effective use of construction documents and specifications will be examined. Basic architectural sketches and drawings will be prepared. (Corequisite: 10-614-213, Bldg Materials)

10-614-211 ARCHITECTURAL REVIT INTRO ...introduces the parametric design software Autodesk Revit used for building information modeling. Basic design and documentation tools will be employed. A simple building design will be modeled that matches given specifications.

10-614-213 BUILDING MATERIALS ...considers material properties, processes of manufacture, installation procedures and performance. Construction methods, building systems and products will be evaluated. Materials will be analyzed and classified based on the Construction Specifications Institute Master Format. (Corequisite: 10-801-136, English Composition 1)

10-614-214 BLDG GREEN INTRODUCTION ...summarizes the history, technology and science underlying sustainable building practices. The human factor and the economics of sustainability will be discussed. Alternative energy including wind, solar, photovoltaic, geothermal and fuel cells will be researched. (Prerequisite: Accepted into Architectural Technology program OR enrolled in Sustainable Design Certificate.)

10-614-222 ARCHITECTURAL CAD INTRO ...incorporates the use of AutoCAD for generating building details. Basic to intermediate CAD commands will be covered as they relate to architectural drawings. Accurate drawings that incorporate symbols, dimensions and notes will be created.

10-614-231 ARCHITECTURAL REVIT ADVANCED ...expands the implementation of additional features found in the parametric design software Autodesk Revit. Advanced modeling and documentation tools will be explored. More complex building information models will be generated, edited and documented. (Prerequisite: 10-614-211, Arch Revit Intro)

10-614-232 STRUCTURAL RESIDENTIAL ...highlights load distribution and coordination of structural components within residential buildings. Foundation systems, framing design and applicable codes will be examined. Various methods will be utilized to select members for use in structural drawings. (Prerequisites: 10-614-210, Archi Principles; 10-614-213, Bldg Materials; 10-614-222, Arch CAD Intro; Corequisites: 10-614-231, Arch Revit Adv; 10-804-118, Interm Algebra w Apps)

10-614-240 ARCHITECTURAL RESIDENTIAL ...emphasizes residential house styles, building codes, and design components related to the site and structure. Conceptual designs of single family residences will be planned collaboratively. Construction drawings will be produced using Autodesk design software. (Prerequisites: 10-614-210, Arch Principles; 10-614-211, Arch Revit Intro; 10-614-213, Bldg Materials; Corequisites: 10-614-231, Arch Revit Adv; 10-614-232, Struct Residential; 10-804-118, Interm Algebra w Apps; 10-614-222, Arch CAD Intro)

10-614-250 ARCHITECTURAL COMM STUDIO I ...outlines working drawing documentation and the construction process of commercial projects. Advanced building information modeling tools will be applied to a steel frame and masonry structure. Plans, elevations, sections and details will be generated. (Prerequisites: 10-614-240, Arch Residential; 10-614-231, Arch Revit Adv; Corequisite: 10-614-253, Struct Commercial)

10-614-251 BUILDING ESTIMATING ...applies mathematics and the knowledge of building materials to the art of blueprint interpretation. Residential and commercial construction plans will be referenced. Manual and computerized methods will be employed to complete material quantity surveys. (Prerequisites: 10-614-240, Arch Residential; 10-614-232, Struct Residential; 10-804-196, Trigonometry w Apps)

10-614-252 STRUCT ANALYSIS I...relates fundamental concepts of physics to architectural design and building construction. Critical thinking will be necessary to perform various calculations. Physical properties of building materials and systems will be analyzed through demonstrations and experiments. (Prerequisites: 10-614-232, Struct Residential; 10-804-196, Trigonometry w Apps)

10-614-253 STRUCTURAL COMMERCIAL ...interprets information necessary to communicate the structural design of commercial buildings. Concrete, masonry and steel structural systems will be compared. Engineering sketches, industry manuals and computers will be utilized to prepare required details. (Prerequisites: 10-614-240, Arch Residential; 10-614-232, Struct Residential; 10-614-231, Arch Rev Adv, 10-614-222 Arch CAD Intro)

10-614-271 STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS II ...explains mathematical interaction between statics and strength of materials. Principles of structural theory will be applied to beam and column design. Basic calculations will be performed to relate concepts to actual wood member conditions. (Prerequisites: 10-804-195, College Algebra w Apps; 10-614-252, Struct Analysis I)

10-614-272 BUILDING MEP SYSTEMS ...correlates the relationship between a building and its mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. Codes, space requirements and specifications will be related to the building. MEP plans and necessary calculations will be prepared for a building. (Prerequisites: 10-614-222, Arch CAD Intro; 10-614-240, Arch Residential; 10-614-231, Arch Revit Adv)

10-614-280 ARCH COMM STUDIO II ...integrates content from previous program courses while discovering the professional practice of architecture. Reinforced and precast concrete framed building structures will be highlighted. A set of commercial working drawings will be developed. (Prerequisites: 10-614-250, Arch Comm Studio I; 10-614-253, Struct Commercial)

10-801-136 ENGLISH COMPOSITION 1 ...learners develop knowledge/skills in planning, organizing, writing, editing. Students will also analyze audience/purpose, use elements of research, format documents using standard guidelines, and develop critical reading skills. (Prerequisite: Accuplacer-Sentence Skills =75 AND Accuplacer-Reading =55 OR ACT-English =16 AND ACT Reading =15 OR 77-851-759; BE Communication Prep IIB OR 10-831-103, Intro to College Writing with "C" or better OR equivalent) 3 cr.

10-804-118 INTERM ALGEBRA WITH APPLICATIONS ...algebra content with applications. Topics include properties of real numbers, order of operations, algebraic solution for linear equations and inequalities, operations with polynomial and rational expressions, operations with rational exponents and radicals, algebra of inverse, logarithmic and exponential functions. (Prerequisite: Accuplacer-Algebra=61 OR 10-804-107, College Mathematics OR 10-834-110, Elem Alg w/ Apps OR 77-854-759, BE Math Prep IIB with "C" or better OR equivalent) 4 cr.

10-804-196 TRIGONOMETRY WITH APPLICATIONS ...topics include circular functions, graphing of trigonometry functions, identities, equations, trigonometric functions of angles, inverse functions, solutions of triangles complex numbers, DeMoivre's Theorem, polar coordinates, and vectors. (Prerequisite: Accuplacer-CM=63 OR 10-834-118, Intermediate Alg w/ Apps with "C" or better OR equivalent) 3 cr.

10-809-198 INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY ...survey of theoretical foundations of human behavior such as sensation and perception, motivation, emotions, learning, personality, psychological disorders, therapy, stress, and human diversity in personal, social and vocational settings. (Prerequisite: Accuplacer-Sentence Skills =60 AND Accuplacer-Reading =55 OR ACT-English =16 AND ACT Reading =15 OR 77-851-759 BE Communication Prep IIB OR 77-858-759 BE Reading Prep IIB w/ a "C" or better) 3 cr.

10-801-197 TECHNICAL REPORTING ...principles of report writing and correspondence, proposals, feasibility reports, progress reports, investigation reports, evaluation reports, meeting reports, memos, and correspondence. (Prerequisite: 10-801-136, English Composition I OR 10-801-195, Written Communication with “C” or better) 3 cr.

10-804-195 COLLEGE ALGEBRA WITH APPLICATIONS ...skills needed for success in Calculus and many application areas on a baccalaureate level. Topics include the real and complex number systems, polynomials, exponents, radicals, solving equations and inequalities (linear and nonlinear), relations and functions, systems of equations and inequalities (linear and nonlinear), matrices, graphing, conic sections, sequences and series, combinatories, and the binomial theorem. (Prerequisite: Accuplacer-CM=63 OR 10-834-118, Intermediate Alg w/ Apps with "C" or better OR equivalent) 3 cr.

10-809-172 RACE ETHNIC & DIVERSITY ...basic American values of justice and equality by teaching vocabulary, history of immigration/conquest, transcultural communication, legal liability, multicultural majority/minority relations, ageism, sexism, gender, sexual orientation, the disabled/ADA. (Prerequisite: Accuplacer-Sentence Skills= 60 AND Accuplacer-Reading =55 OR ACT-English =16 AND ACT Reading =15 OR 77-851-759 BE Communication Prep IIB OR 77-858-759 BE Reading Prep IIB w/ a "C" or better) 3 cr.