Centralia College
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Diesel Equipment Technology
The Diesel Equipment Technology program at Centralia College provides students with the technical knowledge and hands-on skills in the repair and maintenance of heavy-duty trucks and diesel powered equipment used in the agricultural, construction, logging, mining, and commercial trucking industries. Thanks to a Diesel Technology Advisory Committee of industry professionals and diesel technology experts, the curriculum of the Diesel Equipment Technology program stays up-to-date with changing industry trends, providing students with the most up-to-date techniques and the most current technologies.
In the classroom, students receive in-depth lectures on diesel theory and learn the basics of the diesel engine system, including heavy duty truck systems, medium/heavy duty truck engines, and fuel and computerized management systems. Through class discussions, textbooks, and written assignments, students develop strong comprehension in both mathematics and technical writing, and strengthen their critical thinking and reasoning skills. Areas of study include U.S. Standard and Metric measuring systems, gear ratios, effective shop management, and more.
In the laboratory, students gain practical hands-on training, carefully guided by their instructors, as they learn how to inspect, troubleshoot, and repair diesel engines, electrical systems, mobile hydraulic systems, transmissions, and heating, air conditioning, and ventilation systems. Students also acquire valuable hands-on experience in welding for diesel mechanics as well as preventive maintenance and inspection.
Using shop manuals, hand tools, computerized diagnostic machines, gauges, wiring diagrams, and power tools, students disassemble, inspect, diagnose, repair, and reassemble diesel engines and their integrated system components, gaining practical hands-on experience in diesel engine rebuild and tune-up.
Each student will strengthen their mechanical aptitude and develop important analytical, technical, and problem solving skills, as they learn how to work both independently and as a team. Students will also be expected to practice shop safety and effective time management as they complete each task assigned to them by their instructors with proficiency and speed. Work ethics, professionalism, and maintaining a positive workplace attitude will also be stressed. throughout the Diesel Equipment Technology program at Centralia College.
The Diesel Equipment Technology Bachelor of Applied Science Degree
The Diesel Equipment Technology Bachelor of Applied Science Degree program consists of the following career-specific classes:
Diesel Equipment Technology Associate Degree Classes:
- Shop Skills
- Shop Skills Lab
- Power Transmissions
- Power Transmissions Lab
- Electric Systems I Theory
- Electric Systems I Lab
- Mobile Hydraulics Theory
- Mobile Hydraulics Lab
- Engine I Theory
- Engine I Lab
- Welding Theory for Mechanics
- Welding Procedures for Mechanics
- Electric Systems II Theory
- Electric Systems II Lab
- Engine II Theory
- Engine II Lab
- Cooperative Work Experience Seminar
- Power Transmissions II Theory
- Power Transmission II Lab
- Heavy Duty Chassis Theory
- Heavy Duty Chassis Lab
- Practical Applications Theory
- Practical Applications Lab or
- Cooperative Work Experience
- Mobile HVAC Theory
- Mobile HVAC Lab
Students are also required to take Windows OS, Basic Math, Industrial Mathematics, Writing in the Workplace, Safety & Fitness, and Human Relations-Workplace in order to meet the minimum 112 credit hour requirements of the Associate of Applied Science Degree program.
Additional Diesel Equipment Technology Bachelor of Applied Science Classes:
- Applied Management
- Shop/Fleet Management
- Hydraulics II
- Combustion Engine Fuels
- Electrical III
- Power Generation & Maintenance
- Internship
- Emissions Controls
- Applied Failure Analysis
- Regulatory Issues
- Metallurgy & Fabrication
- Hybrid Drives Electric/Hydraulic
Students are also required to take either English 101 or College Level Math (if requirements have not been met), Physics, General Psychology, Ethics, Managerial Statistics, Technical Writing, either Microeconomics or Macroeconomics, and one Humanities Elective in order to fulfill the graduation requirements of the Bachelor of Applied Science Degree program. To be eligible to graduate, students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0, the equivalent of a “C” grade.
The Diesel Equipment Technology Associate of Applied Science Degree
The Diesel Equipment Technology Associate of Applied Science Degree program contains the following career-relevant courses:
- Shop Skills
- Shop Skills Lab
- Power Transmissions
- Power Transmissions Lab
- Electric Systems I Theory
- Electric Systems I Lab
- Mobile Hydraulics Theory
- Mobile Hydraulics Lab
- Engine I Theory
- Engine I Lab
- Welding Theory for Mechanics
- Welding Procedures for Mechanics
- Electric Systems II Theory
- Electric Systems II Lab
- Engine II Theory
- Engine II Lab
- Cooperative Work Experience Seminar
- Power Transmissions II Theory
- Power Transmission II Lab
- Heavy Duty Chassis Theory
- Heavy Duty Chassis Lab
- Practical Applications Theory
- Practical Applications Lab or
- Cooperative Work Experience
- Mobile HVAC Theory
- Mobile HVAC Lab
Students are also required to take Windows OS, Basic Math, Industrial Mathematics, Writing in the Workplace, Safety & Fitness, and Human Relations-Workplace in order to meet the minimum 112 credit hour requirements of the Associate of Applied Science Degree program. All students in the course must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA, the equivalent of a “C” grade, in order to graduate. Students are required to purchase all their own tools. A list of required tools is located in the Program Guide.
What to Expect After College
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 Washington was $53,570 yearly and $25.75 hourly, 19% higher than the national average.
Graduates of the Diesel Equipment Technology program at Centralia College will possess the skills necessary to gain entry-level employment in the diesel equipment technology field, including equipment diagnosis, troubleshooting, repairing, servicing, maintenance, and management. Graduates will be qualified to inspect, service, and repair railroad locomotives, heavy duty trucks, buses, agriculture equipment, and construction equipment, in various segments of the diesel industry, including, heavy-duty construction companies, oil exploration companies, farms, ranches, mining companies, logging companies, train yards, truck repair shops, bus lines, and commercial trucking companies.
The Bachelor of Applied Science Degree and Associate of Applied Science Degree
Centralia College offers a four-year Bachelor of Applied Science Degree in Diesel Equipment Technology. Centralia College also offers a two-year Associate of Applied Science Degree in Diesel Equipment Technology. Both programs are Pell Grant eligible.