Tidewater Community College
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Diesel and Marine Technology
The Diesel and Marine Technology program at Tidewater Community College is designed to give students a basic understanding of gas and diesel engines and provide them with the training and skills necessary to diagnose, repair, and maintain the diesel engine system and the marine diesel engine.
In the classroom, students gain a basic understanding of diesel theory, through lectures, class discussions, and written assignments, developing string comprehension and communication skills throughout length of the program.
In the lab, students learn how to analyze and repair the complex electric, hydraulic, and diesel fuel systems found in today’s diesel trucks, heavy equipment, and marine vessels. Using the same tools and techniques as the professionals, students learn, hands-on, how to properly inspect and repair gas and diesel engines, diesel electronic systems, electrical systems, diesel fuel injection systems, and hydraulic systems, as well as marine electrical circuits.
The Diesel and Marine Technology Program
The Diesel and Marine Technology Program contains the following courses:
- Diesel Engines I
- Diesel Fuel and Injection Systems
- Marine Maintenance Mechanics
- Diesel Engines II
- Basic Marine Electrical Circuits
- Intro to Hydraulics and Hydraulic Systems
Students must successfully complete each class and maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA, the equivalent of a “C” grade, in order to graduate.
From Graduate to Professional
Students who successfully complete the Diesel and Marine Technology program at Tidewater Community College will not only be well-prepared for the American Yacht and Boat Council certification examination, they will be equipped with the skills, education, and training needed to gain employment as a qualified diesel mechanic in the diesel truck, heavy equipment, and marine vessel repair industry. Graduates can expect to secure an entry-level position at diesel truck dealerships, heavy equipment dealerships, marine vessel dealerships, fleet shops, ship yards, and independent service garages.
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 Virginia was $43,200 yearly and $20.77 hourly, just 4% lower than the national average.
The Undergraduate Certificate
Tidewater Community College offers three different Undergraduate Certificates in Diesel and Marine Technology, each with a different concentration. The first certificate is a 9-month Undergraduate Certificate in Diesel and Marine Technology with a Marine Diesel Technician concentration. The second certificate is a 9-month Undergraduate Certificate in Diesel Technology with a Diesel Engine Technician concentration. The third certificate is a 9-month Undergraduate Certificate in Diesel Technology with a Medium/Heavy Truck Service Technician concentration. All three programs are Pell Grant eligible.