Ashland Community & Technical College
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Diesel Technology
The Diesel Technology program at Ashland Community & Technical College provides students with the knowledge and training necessary to become highly skilled diesel mechanics. Students learn how to properly diagnose malfunctions, repair, rebuild, and maintain various agriculture equipment, construction equipment, and medium and heavy trucks.
Through specialized classroom instruction and skill-building hands-on training, students learn about diesel engines, fuel injection systems, steering and suspension, electrical and electronic systems, hydraulic power, heavy duty drive train, transmissions, on-board computers, undercarriage, mobile air conditioning systems, heavy duty brakes, preventive maintenance, and diesel theory.
Using computerized diagnostic systems and hand tools, each student will learn how to properly and safely diagnose, troubleshoot, and repair diesel engines, diesel engine systems, and diesel equipment.
Graduates of the Diesel Technology program at Ashland Community & Technical College will be well-equipped with the knowledge, skills, and training needed to succeed as a qualified diesel mechanic in today’s rapidly growing diesel truck and heavy equipment industries.
The Diesel Technology Semester Plan
The semester plan of the Diesel Technology program is as follows:
First Semester (Fall)
- Basic Auto Electricity
- Basic Auto Electricity Lab
- Engine Repair
- Engine Repair Lab
- Power Trains
- Power Trains Lab
- General Education
Second Semester (Spring)
- Brakes (MHTT)
- Brakes Lab
- Steering & Suspension (MHTT)
- Steering & Suspension Lab (MHTT)
- Mechanical Principles
- Climate Control
- Climate Control Lab
- General Education
Summer Session
- Shielded Metal Arc Welding (AET & CET)
- S.M.A.W. Welding Lab (AET & CET)
- Undercarriage Lab (CET)
Third Semester (Fall)
- Fluid Power
- Fluid Power Lab
- Diesel Engine Repair
- Diesel Engine Repair Lab
- Suspension & Steering
- Suspension & Steering Lab
- General Education
Fourth Semester (Spring)
- Powertrains for Construction Equipment (CET & AET)
- Powertains for Construction Equipment Lab (CET & AET)
- Preventive Maintenance Lab
- Cooperative Education
- Computer/Digital Literacy
- General Education
In order to graduate, students must complete every course and maintain at least a 2.0 GPA, the equivalent of a “C” grade.
The Diesel Technology A.A.S. Degree with Medium and Heavy Truck Technician Track
The Medium and Heavy Truck Technician Diesel Technology A.A.S. Degree program consists of the following technical core classes:
- Computer/Digital Literacy
- Basic Electricity for Non-Majors and
- Basic Electricity Lab for Non-Majors or
- Basic Automotive Electricity and
- Basic Automotive Electricity Lab or
- Circuits I
- Climate Control
- Climate Control Lab
- Preventive Maintenance Lab
- Introduction to Diesel Engines and
- Introduction to Diesel Engines Lab or
- Engine Repair and
- Engine Repair Lab
- Diesel Engine Repair
- Diesel Engine Repair Lab
- Hydraulics and
- Hydraulics Lab or
- Fluid Power and
- Fluid Power Lab
- Power Trains
- Power Trains Lab
- Electrical Systems for Diesel Equipment and
- Electrical Systems for Diesel Equipment Lab or
- Electrical Systems and
- Electrical Systems Lab
- Brakes
- Brakes Lab
- Steering and Suspension
- Steering and Suspension Lab
Students are also required to take Written Communication, Quantitative Reasoning, Natural Sciences, Social/Behavioral Sciences, and Heritage/Humanities in order to meet the 64 credit requirements of the Associate in Applied Science Degree program. In order to graduate, students must complete every class and maintain at least a 2.0 GPA, the equivalent of a “C” grade.
Industry 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 Kentucky was $40,650 yearly and $19.54 hourly, just 10% lower than the national average.
The Associate in Applied Science Degree, Diesel Technology Diploma, and Undergraduate Certificate
Ashland Community & Technical College offers a two-year Associate in Applied Science Degree in Diesel Technology and a two-year Associate of Applied Science Degree in Diesel Technology with an emphasis in Medium and Heavy Truck Technician. Ashland Community & Technical College also offers three separate 80-week Diesel Technology Diplomas with Agriculture Equipment Technician, Construction Equipment Technician, and Medium and Heavy Truck Technician specializations, respectively. Finally, Ashland Community & Technical College offers thirteen different 4-month Undergraduate Certificates with various specializations in Diesel Technology. The Associate in Applied Science Degree programs, the Diesel Technology Diploma programs, and the 48-week, 38-week, and 32-week Undergraduate Certificate programs are all Pell Grant eligible.