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- Residential Building Design Technology (AAS)
Residential Building Design Technology (AAS) (RBD3) Degree
The program would prepare students to fill a demand in the residential building design industry for highly skilled design technicians. This position differentiates from the existing architectural drafting program by providing a more specialized education that focuses solely on residential architecture. A survey of Georgia Piedmont Technical graduates working in industry uncovered the deficiencies of a duel-track drafting specialization that teaches broad mechanical and architectural drafting techniques rather than focused instruction on residential building systems. This program seeks to concentrate instruction on the development of skillsets that will best serve the metro-Atlanta demographic. Less focus on basic drafting and more focus on problem-solving for designers has been calculated into the student learning outcomes for the program. Design technicians will study more design topics including history, presentation techniques and design theory, as well as an introduction to the design of structures and systems. Students will also acquire proficiencies in working with presentation software, which is a job requirement for more entry-level positions in this field.
General Education Core (19 Credits) | |
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Area I: Language Arts/Communication (3 Credits) | |
ENGL 1101Composition and Rhetoric
Prerequisite: ENGL 1010 Explores the analysis of literature and articles about issues in the humanities and in society. Students practice various modes of writing ranging from exposition to argumentation and persuasion. The course includes a review of standard grammatical and stylistic usage in proofreading and editing. An introduction to library resources lays the foundation for research. Topics include writing analysis and practice revision and research. Students write a research paper using library resources and using a formatting and documentation style appropriate to the purpose and audience. |
3 |
Area II: Social/Behavioral Sciences (Choose ONE course below.) (3 Credits) | |
ECON 1101Principles of Economics
Provides a description and analysis of economic operations in contemporary society. Emphasis is placed on developing an understanding of economic concepts and policies as they apply to everyday life. Topics include basic economic principles; economic forces and indicators; capital and labor; price competition and monopoly; money and banking; government expenditures federal and local; fluctuations in production employment and income; and United States economy in perspective |
3 |
ECON 2105Principles of Macroeconomics
Provides a description and analysis of macroeconomic principles and policies. Topics include basic economic principles macroeconomic concepts equilibrium in the goods and money markets macroeconomic equilibrium and the impact of fiscal and monetary policies. |
3 |
ECON 2106Principles of Microeconomics
Provides an analysis of the ways in which consumers and business firms interact in a market economy. Topics include basic economic principles consumer choice behavior of profit maximizing firms modeling of perfect competition monopoly oligopoly and monopolistic competition. |
3 |
HIST 1111World History I
Emphasizes the study of intellectual, cultural, scientific, political, and social contributions of the civilizations of the world and the evolution of these civilizations during the period from the prehistoric era to early modern times. Topics include the Prehistoric Era the Ancient Near East, Ancient India, Ancient China, Ancient Rome, Ancient Africa, Islam, the Americas, Japan, Ancient Greece, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance. |
3 |
HIST 1112World History II
Emphasizes the study of intellectual, cultural, scientific, political, and social contributions of the civilizations of the world and the evolution of these civilizations during the period from the prehistoric era to early modern times. Topics include the Prehistoric Era the Ancient Near East, Ancient India, Ancient China, Ancient Rome, Ancient Africa, Islam, the Americas, Japan, Ancient Greece, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance. |
3 |
HIST 2111U.S. History I
Emphasizes the study of U. S. History to 1877 to include the post-Civil War period. The course focuses on the period from the Age of Discovery through the Civil War to include geographical intellectual political economic and cultural development of the American people. It includes the history of Georgia and its constitutional development. Topics include colonization and expansion; the Revolutionary Era; the New Nation; nationalism sectionalism and reform; the Era of Expansion; and crisis Civil War and reconstruction. |
3 |
HIST 2112U.S. History II
Emphasizes the study of the social cultural and political history of the United States from 1865 to the beginning of the twenty-first century and will equip the student to better understand the problems and challenges of the contemporary world in relation to events and trends in modern American history. The course also provides an overview of the history of Georgia and the development of its constitution. Topics include the Reconstruction Period; the great West the new South and the rise of the debtor; the Gilded Age; the progressive movement; the emergence of the U. S. in world affairs; the Roaring Twenties; the Great Depression; World War II; the Cold War and the 1950*s; the 1960*s and 1970*s; and America since 1980. |
3 |
POLS 1101American Government
Emphasizes study of government and politics in the United States. The focus of the course will provide an overview of the Constitutional foundations of the American political processes with a focus on government institutions and political procedures. The course will examine the constitutional framework federalism civil liberties and civil rights public opinion the media special interest groups political parties and the election process along with the three branches of government. In addition this course will examine the processes of Georgia state government. Topics include foundations of government political behavior and governing institutions. |
3 |
PSYC 1101Introductory Psychology
Introduces the major fields of contemporary psychology. Emphasis is on fundamental principles of psychology as a science. Topics include research design the organization and operation of the nervous system sensation and perception learning and memory motivation and emotion thinking and intelligence lifespan development personality psychopathology and interventions stress and health and social psychology. |
3 |
SOCI 1101Introduction to Sociology
Explores the sociological analysis of society its culture and structure. Sociology is presented as a science with emphasis placed on its methodology and theoretical foundations. Topics include basic sociological concepts socialization social interaction and culture social groups and institutions deviance and social control social stratification social change and marriage and family. |
3 |
Area III: Natural Sciences/Mathematics (ALL REQUIRED) (10 Credits) | |
MATH 1111College Algebra
Emphasizes techniques of problem solving using algebraic concepts. Topics include fundamental concepts of algebra, equations and inequalities, functions and graphs, and systems of equations; optional topics include sequences, series, and probability or analytic geometry. |
3 |
MATH 1113Precalculus
Prepares students for calculus. The topics discussed include an intensive study of polynomial rational exponential logarithmic and trigonometric functions and their graphs. Applications include simple maximum and minimum problems exponential growth and decay. |
3 |
PHYS 1110LConceptual Physics Lab
Prerequisite: ENGL 1101 Selected laboratory exercises paralleling the topics in PHYS 1110. The laboratory exercises for this course include systems of units and systems of measurement, vector algebra, Newtonian mechanics, fluids and thermodynamics, heat, light, and optics, mechanical waves, electricity and magnetism, and modern physics. |
1 |
PHYS 1110LConceptual Physics Lab
Prerequisite: ENGL 1101 Selected laboratory exercises paralleling the topics in PHYS 1110. The laboratory exercises for this course include systems of units and systems of measurement, vector algebra, Newtonian mechanics, fluids and thermodynamics, heat, light, and optics, mechanical waves, electricity and magnetism, and modern physics. |
1 |
Area IV: Humanities/Fine Arts (3 Credits) | |
MUSC 1101Music Appreciation
Explores the formal elements of musical composition, musical form and style, and the relationship of music to historical periods. The course includes listening and analysis of well known works of music. This course encourages student interest in musical arts beyond the classroom. |
3 |
Occupational Courses (42 Credits) | |
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Required Courses: | |
RBDT 1100Introduction to Design
This course establishes the fundamentals of manual delineation, principals and elements of design, visualization skills, and terminology associated with residential building design and construction. Topics include the importance of scale, shapes, lineweight, balance, ergonomics, projection, multiview projection, color, value, and space. Course introduces students to fundamental thinking skills necessary for a foundation in building design. |
4 |
RBDT 1200Fundamentals of Architectural Drawing
Prerequisite: RBDT 1100 Corequisite: RBDT 1210D This course builds on the fundamentals of design and delineation with the introduction of object-based delineation. Students learn to create detailed technical drawings used to communicate the scope, scale, and quality of the design. |
4 |
RBDT 1300Residential Composition Design
This course teaches the mechanics of residential delineation. Spatial relationships through the use of bubble diagrams and site analysis are examined. Students will visit active construction sites in order to build a working knowledge between technical drawings and construction methodology. |
4 |
RBDT 1310Wood Construction Design
Corequisite: RBDT 1300 This course will cover the structural aspects of residential wood framing. Students will construct scaled stick-frame models and produce technical documents to gain an understanding of wood construction techniques. |
4 |
RBDT 1320Sustainable Design
Corequisite: RBDT 1300 This course will introduce students to green and sustainable technology. It will cover how sustainable design methods used in residential planning can be designed to impact the environment in positive, rather than detrimental ways. Terminology, material selection, and planning methods will be covered. |
4 |
RBDT 2100Internship
Prerequisites: RBDT 1300, RBDT 1310 This course provides a practical application of material previously covered in the program. Students will work on a project or job site in order to further develop their skill sets and knowledge bases. Emphasis is placed on production standards, achievement, and quality control. |
2 |
RBDT 2110Portfolio
Prerequisite: RBDT 1300 This course will assist students in the preparation of a professional portfolio used to showcase their work to potential clients and/or employers. Course will also cover resume and cover letter preparation, successful job search techniques, and interviewing skills. |
4 |
RBDT 2120Presentation Techniques
Prerequisite: RBDT 1300 This course will address many of the skills necessary to present work and communicate effectively within a team. Students will learn additional software used in preparation of professional presentations. Students will learn to effectively present their work in different contexts |
4 |
RBDT 2200Capstone Project
Students will participate in a capstone studio project that will showcase the skills they have acquired throughout the course of the program. Final work will be professionally presented to a board of practicing building designers for evaluation. |
4 |
RBDT 2210HVAC/Plumbing/Electrical Design | 4 |
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Notice and Responsibilities Regarding this Catalog
The statements set forth in this catalog are for informational purposes only and should not be construed as the basis of a contract between a student and this institution. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the material stated herein, we reserve the right to change any provision listed in the catalog, including, but not limited to, entrance requirements and admissions procedures, academic requirements for graduation, and various fees and charges without actual notice to individual students. Every effort will be made to keep students advised of such changes.
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