Computer aided design (CAD) is the technology used to prepare technical drawings and plans for manufacturing products such as toys, toasters, industrial machinery and aerospace components. CAD drawings provide visual guidelines, show technical details of products, specify dimensions and tolerances, and identify materials and manufacturing processes used to produce such products. CAD systems create and store drawings electronically that can then be viewed, printed, or programmed directly into automated manufacturing systems. People who produce technical drawings with CAD require the knowledge of engineering drawings in addition to computer and CAD skills.

The UC Clermont CAD certificate program is designed to provide students with prerequisite knowledge required for entering a career that utilizes Computer Aided Design. Topics covered in this certificate program include drafting principles, 3D modeling, assemblies, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T), as well as prototyping and 3D printing.