Frederick Community College

What you'll study

Instruction is arranged across four study areas and through individual course titles that can be taken alone or combined:

• CAD & BIM: AutoCAD I, AutoCAD II and Revit (BIM); the sequence is designed so AutoCAD I is the usual starting point, AutoCAD II expands those skills, and Revit introduces Building Information Modeling. Completion of these courses can prepare students for Autodesk Certified User (ACU) or Autodesk Certified Professional (ACP) exams, and may count toward CEU requirements for certain professional licenses.
• Microsoft Office Suite: Word and Excel courses are offered from Introduction through Intermediate to Advanced; the sequence is intended to be taken in order to build proficiency.
• Digital Design & Photography: Classes covering Adobe Creative Cloud applications such as Photoshop and InDesign for marketing, design and communications tasks.
• Foundational Computing & Cloud Skills: Core computing, Google Workspace and other workplace tools to develop essential digital literacy.

Entry requirements

Courses are open to first-time users and current professionals; individual course descriptions provide specific instructional hours and other details. Online courses are self-paced and require that students have their required software installed and operational before the course begins. Minimum technology specifications: PC with Windows 8 or later or Mac with macOS 12 or later; Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox preferred (Edge and Safari compatible); Adobe Acrobat Reader; access to a personal email account, a calculator and a printer. Hybrid courses require in-person attendance for scheduled sessions plus online participation as outlined by the instructor; required hybrid software is available through the FCC Bookstore.

Career prospects

Computer applications skills taught in these courses map to a wide range of workplace functions. Microsoft Office competency supports administrative, business, healthcare, education and government roles; Adobe Creative Cloud abilities align with marketing, design and communications positions; and AutoCAD/Revit expertise is applicable in architecture, engineering and construction fields. Certificates and demonstrated software skills help students perform daily tasks more efficiently and demonstrate practical capabilities to employers.

Scholarships & funding angle

Most courses cost $129 each while CAD & BIM courses are listed at $497 each. A one-time-per-year $15 non-refundable registration fee applies at first registration; Maryland residents incur an additional $5 per course and non-Maryland students an additional $10. Financial assistance options for eligible Continuing Education and Workforce Development students include CEWD scholarships, workforce development funding, program-specific aid and payment plans; students are advised to consult FCC's financial assistance resources and the CEWD office for details.