TSTC students learning to draft ‘civil’ futures

(RED OAK, Texas) - Daniel Vu, of Arlington, always liked building with Legos as a kid.

Now Vu, a fourth-semester student at Texas State Technical College's North Texas campus, is pursuing an Associate of Applied Science degree in Architectural/Civil Drafting Technology.

"I believe there is always room for creativity, as long as you like building," Vu said. "It helps make it feel like less of a job and more like a hobby or something you do for fun."

One of the classes that Vu is taking this semester focuses on civil drafting.

"Most of civil drafting is matter-of-fact, specific," Vu said.

Civil drafting is a support role for engineering and design for project sites and property surveys, said Joe Chalifoux, principal project manager at MTG Engineers & Surveyors in Texarkana. Chalifoux is a member of TSTC's statewide Drafting and Design program advisory board.

"It is definitely more computer than out in the field," Chalifoux said of the work that the program's graduates do.

Students in TSTC's Drafting and Design program learn AutoCAD, Autodesk Civil 3D and Autodesk Revit.

"We don't teach every program the students may use in industry, but most of the time if you can work in one program, the learning curve you can pick up in a workplace is very short," said Tyson Skinner, an instructor in TSTC's Drafting and Design program at the North Texas campus.

In the program's civil drafting classes, students learn how erosion and different soil types can impact foundations and how to determine the legal boundaries of properties. Students also learn that civil drafters have to be part of the conversation when there is intent to build infrastructure, do urban planning or improve transportation.

"Without a (land) survey and without a plat, the architect can't do anything," said Oscar Hernandez, another instructor in the program.

Students who pursue the Drafting and Design program need to have good problem-solving skills and attentiveness to the work that needs to be done.

"You need to know what you are supposed to be building on," Skinner said. "We are trying to present them with the principles of design to show how it comes into play."

Chalifoux said it was difficult to fill civil drafting positions at MTG Engineers & Surveyors before some of its representatives joined the Drafting and Design program's advisory board at TSTC. The board gives professional insight to the program so that instructors are teaching what students can realistically experience in their careers.

"TSTC is a great pipeline, so now it is an easy position for us to fill," he said. "You have several candidates to choose from. They know enough to get off the ground."

According to onetonline.org, architectural and civil drafters earn an average of $58,540 per year in Texas, where the number of such jobs was projected to increase 15% from 2020 to 2030.

"If someone is looking for a stable field, drafting is certainly open to go into," Chalifoux said. "Just the knowledge you gain from it is huge. I think it is a very fulfilling career."

For more information on TSTC, go to tstc.edu.

Applications are now being accepted for the spring semester.

Interested in helping the program? Reach out to The TSTC Foundation to learn more about giving opportunities.

Does your business have jobs that need to be filled? Reach out to TSTC's Career Services to learn more.

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