Beginning this fall, Southwestern University students will have the opportunity to earn a Certificate in Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and 3D Printing, in conjunction with their existing major(s) and minor(s). Introduced by Southwestern’s Physics Department, this new, future-oriented certificate is designed to help students gain technical skills that are becoming increasingly sought after across a wide range of industries.

CAD is a process that uses computer software to create, modify, and analyze two- or three-dimensional models of objects, structures, or systems, while 3D printing is the construction of a three-dimensional object from a CAD model. Students who earn the Certificate will be able to demonstrate a strong working knowledge of CAD and 3D printing software and its applications, providing a competitive advantage to potential employers.

Professor of Physics Steve Alexander and Assistant Professor of Physics Cody Crosby, who both have extensive experience with CAD and 3D printing, will oversee the Certificate program, along with an anticipated new faculty member.

“Computer-Aided Design and 3D printing are rapidly becoming essential tools in the arts and sciences,” Alexander said. “This certificate is designed to give students a better working knowledge of these important technologies.”

To earn the certificate, students must complete a variety of required and elective courses, as well as one high-impact experience, such as an internship, SURF project, study abroad, or King Creativity Fund project. Required courses include Introduction to Engineering, which covers the basics of both 3D printing and CAD, as well as Applications of CAD, a newly-created course that will deepen students’ ability to build complex parts and assemblies, and understand how 3D software programs use CAD designs to manufacture physical objects.

In addition to the six required credits, students must complete 12 additional credits from a list of nine courses that span across the biology, environmental studies, physics, psychology, and theatre departments. These courses were selected to provide students with an opportunity to apply their CAD skills to problems of practical interest. Faculty from several of these courses have previously expressed an interest in having students create 3D-printed prototypes of objects they are creating, such as theatrical scene elements.

As the program grows in the future, the Physics Department hopes to widen the scope of the Certificate, offering elective courses in art history, classics, sociology, studio art, and other natural sciences.

This certificate is the third introduced by Southwestern this year, in addition to Spanish for Healthcare Professions and Legal Studies. View Southwestern’s Certificate webpage to learn more.