College of Southern Idaho

Diesel Technology  

Sponsored by one of the leading diesel truck manufacturers in the nation, the Diesel Technology program at the College of Southern Idaho provides comprehensive knowledge and skills for students of all experience levels who desire to learn how to troubleshoot and repair mechanical systems, electronic systems, and electrical systems found in today’s diesel engines and trucks.

Students are taught by ASE and Freightliner certified instructors in the classroom and in the laboratory where students receive valuable career-specific hands-on training. Thanks to an ongoing partnership with some of the most respected companies in the industry, students are able to learn their trade on some of the latest and most advanced diesel equipment available provided by companies like Case IH, Cummins, Freighliner, General Motors, and John Deere.

Using the most modern technology available, students will learn how to use computers to properly diagnose and troubleshoot equipment. Students will also learn how to properly operate shop equipment, machinery, and precision hand tools and power tools used to repair and maintain mechanical and electronic diesel systems. Because this is an open exit program, students are able to progress at their own pace.

With a proven 95% job placement rate, graduates of the Diesel Technology program at College of Southern Idaho can be confident that they have the knowledge, skills, and training needed to secure an entry-level position as a service manager, parts salesperson, tractor and truck salesperson, service center owner/operator, instructor, line mechanic, field mechanic, or service writer, just to name a few. 

The Diesel Technology Technical Certificate Program

The curriculum of the Diesel Technology Technical Certificate program contains the following classes:

1st Semester

• Any General Education Math Elective 
• Introduction to Diesel Technology 
• Fundamentals of Electricity 
• Electrical Systems 
• Applied Leadership 
• Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning 
• Analysis of Hydraulics 
• Hydraulic and Air Brake Systems

2nd Semester

• English Composition I or
• Fundamentals of Oral Communication
• Diesel Fuel Injection 
• Basic Diesel Engines 
• Advanced Diesel Engines
• Drive Train Fundamentals 
• Suspension & Steering Systems 
• Preventative Maintenance

3rd Semester (Summer)

• Any General Education Social Science Elective

Students are required to complete every class and maintain at least a 2.0 GPA, the equivalent of a “C” grade, in order to graduate.

Job Outlook

As the diesel industry continues to grow rapidly, job opportunities for qualified diesel mechanics is expected to increase 11% by the year 2020, as fast as average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The mean annual wage for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists working in the United States in 2014 was $45,160, while the mean salary for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists employed in the state of Idaho was $40,750 yearly and $19.59 hourly, just 10% lower than the national average.

Graduates of the Diesel Technology program at the College of Southern Idaho will be well-equipped with the knowledge, skills, and training needed to succeed as a qualified diesel mechanic in today’s rapidly growing heavy-duty truck and diesel-powered equipment industry.

The Associates of Applied Science Degree and Technical Certificate

The College of Southern Idaho offers a two-year Associates of Applied Science Degree in Diesel Technology. The College of Southern Idaho also offers an 11-month Technical Certificate in Diesel Technology. Both programs are Pell Grant eligible.