About the Additive Manufacturing Program
Effective Spring 2025 this certificate will be discontinued; however, select courses from the program will continue to be offered individually.
Originally used for rapid prototyping, Additive Manufacturing (AM) has evolved into what we know today as 3D printing. Additive Manufacturing is the process of joining materials, layer upon layer, to create an object from a 3D model. Typically, these 3D models are designed utilizing computer-aided-design (CAD) software or a 3D object scanner. This transformative approach that goes from digital to physical enables the creation of stronger, lighter, and more complex products used across many industries including Healthcare, Aerospace, and Automotive.
Additive Manufacturing has revolutionized manufacturing operations and industrial production by offering a more dynamic and flexible digital process. AM provides Engineers with the ability to design and produce parts that incorporate complex structures and materials without requiring assembly. Additionally, they can customize products, produce small quantities at a reasonable price, and increase efficiency by reducing lead times and costs.
The Additive Manufacturing Certificate is designed for professionals, engineering graduates or those seeking to enter the field of AM – 3D printing. Through hands-on experience participants will learn the principles, standards, materials and application of Additive Manufacturing. This highly practical program will allow students to enter the field of Additive Manufacturing.
Note:
Starting in Spring Quarter 2022, we will be offering a newly realigned Specialized Certificate in Additive Manufacturing. The updated format reduces the number of required courses to 4 and now includes an elective track. However, the required number of units will remain the same. Students will be required to take 4 required courses and 1 elective or 15 units to obtain the certificate.
If you are a student who joined the Specialized Certificate in Additive Manufacturing prior to 02/04/22, you may continue to follow the previous program requirements or follow the new requirements if you would like. Please contact unexengr@ucsd.edu with any questions.
Update:
The listed courses below are no longer available.
- Fundamentals of Industrial Robotics (CSE-41335)
- Fundamentals of CAD with CATIA V5 (MAE-40042)
You may opt for alternative courses within the electives or Mechanical Analysis and Design certificate program as substitutes.For any questions, please contact unexengr@ucsd.edu
Program Benefits
- Hands-on experience with applications of modeling AM using SolidWorks and CATIA V5.
- Learn to design components for appropriate use in AM and measure parts in according to industry standards (GD&T).
- Developed and taught by industry professionals.
Key Program Topics
- SolidWorks computer-aided design and analysis software
- Additive Manufacturing technologies, printing process, materials, and post-processing.
- Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T) practical applications
- Industrial Robotics introduction to basic concepts and programming
- CATIA V5 3D Product Lifecycle Management software for product development and CAD.
Additive Manufacturing
Required Courses
Electives
One Required
Demand and Job Prospects
- According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the median salary for Additive Manufacturing is $68,771 per year nationwide.
- Additive Manufacturing jobs posting trends have grown 65% in the past five years.
- According to Burning Glass, top companies hiring individuals for Additive Manufacturing jobs include Lockheed Martin Corp, Northrop Grumman and The Boeing Company.
Who Will Benefit?
Individuals interested in entering the exiting field of AM, specifically
- Professionals with engineering backgrounds, typically Mechanical Engineering
- Students with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering (preferred) or any other Engineering disciplines.
- Students with no technical training that have High School prerequisite knowledge to enter the field.
Advisory Board
Braxton Carter
Javier Garay, Dr.
Alfonso Limon, Dr.
Milenko Masic, Dr.
Tony Nguyen, Dr.
Related Programs
CAD/BIM
