Architectural Drafting and Design

The Architectural Drafting and Design Certificate prepares students to work as drafters/designers in industry and to upgrade the skills of persons presently employed as drafters/designers. This 14 unit certificate will train students in the drafting/design techniques utilized in industry.

Required courses:

ARCH 111  Architectural Drafting and Design I - 3 units

ARCH 121  Architectural Drafting and Design II - 3 units

ARCH 122  Architectural Delineation - 2 units

ARCH 212  Architectural Design Theory I - 3 units

ARCH 222  Architectural Design Theory II - 3 units

Total units - 14

This new program is a subset of the current Architectural Technology Certificate and AA degree programs. Based upon discussions with our students we anticipate that approximately a third of those who enroll in ARCH 212 will complete this new program. During the past three years enrollment for this class has averaged 24 per year so the program is projected to have 8 certificate completers per year. 

The primary goal of the Architecture Department is to prepare students to enter the industry with a secondary goal to provide additional training for those currently in the industry. Employers are seeking students with technical skills in drafting and design who are knowledgeable about the techniques utilized by a majority of those in the industry. This 14 unit certificate will train students in the drafting/design techniques utilized in industry.

Course	Title	Units	Year/Semester (Y1 or S1)
ARCH 111	Architectural Drafting and Design I	3	S1
ARCH 121	Architectural Drafting and Design II	3	S2
ARCH 122	Architectural Delineation	2	S2
ARCH 212	Architecture Design Theory I	3	S1
ARCH 222	Architectural Design Theory II	3	S2

ARCH 111 - Architectural Drafting and Design I (3 units)

This course is an introduction to the preparation of architectural working drawings. The course includes drawing conventions, design considerations, and the relationship between different types of architectural drawings, specifications, and construction techniques. Emphasis is placed on residential construction and commercial buildings. The theory of computer-aided drafting is included.

ARCH 121 - Architectural Drafting and Design II (3 units)

This course is a continuation of the study of methods utilized in the preparation of architectural working drawing. This course includes advanced drawing conventions, design considerations, construction specifications, and structural requirements. Analysis of the materials and construction details of commercial and industrial buildings is given. Emphasis on the purpose and presentation of working drawings and their relationship to building codes is provided.

ARCH 122 - Architectural Delineation (2 units)

This course is a study of, and laboratory experience in, three-dimensional representations including renderings, perspective drawings, paraline drawings and presentation drawings of architectural projects. Emphasis is on the techniques of various drawing media which will enable the students to express their architectural ideas.

ARCH 212 - Architectural Design Theory I (3 units)

This course is an introduction to the creative thinking process and its application to basic architectural design theory. Exercises emphasize the development of basic skills and presentation techniques used in the design of simplified architectural projects. Focus on the investigation of the relationship between theoretical concepts, color, space, form, and texture is emphasized.

ARCH 222 - Architectural Design Theory II (3 units)

This course includes the continued development of the creative thinking process and its application to advance architectural design theory, focusing on the synthesis of the relationship between theoretical concepts, space, color form, and texture. The emphasis of the course is on presentation graphics, models, and the development of a portfolio of student work. This course is particularly applicable to students wishing to transfer into a professional architectural degree program.

This new program is a subset of the current Architectural Technology Certificate and AA degree programs.

East Los Angeles College offers Skill Certificate (9 units) in Architectural Graphics and a Certificate of Achievement (12 units) in Architectural Design. Orange Coast College offers a Certificate of Achievement (19 units) in Architectural Design 1. Los Angeles Harbor College offers a Skills Certificate (17 units) in Architecture: Design and a Skills Certificate (16 units) in Architecture: Production Drafting.

Based upon discussions with our students we anticipate that approximately a third of those who enroll in ARCH 212 will complete this new program. During the past three years enrollment for this class has averaged 24 per year so the program is projected to have 8 certificate completers per year.