Somerset Community College
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Diesel Technology
The Diesel Technology program at Somerset Community College provides students with the specialized knowledge and training necessary to succeed in the diesel equipment service and repair profession.
Career-focused classroom instruction and practical hands-on training allow every student to develop their academic, technical, and mechanical skills as they study the various components that make up the diesel engine system including diesel engines, electrical systems, diesel electronic systems, hydraulics, heavy duty drive train, fuel injection systems, steering and suspension, transmissions, mobile air conditioning systems, heavy duty brakes, and even preventive maintenance. Students obtain valuable communication and leadership skills as they work both independently and as a team.
Using sophisticated computerized diagnostic equipment, wiring diagrams, and hand tools, each student will learn how to properly and safely diagnose, troubleshoot, and repair the diesel engines, systems, and components that work in unison to create today’s diesel trucks and heavy equipment.
Graduates of the Diesel Technology program at Somerset Community College will be highly qualified to gain entry-level employment in the diesel industry, repairing and maintaining medium and heavy trucks, buses, locomotives, agricultural equipment, and construction equipment.
The Diesel Technology A.A.S. Degree with Agricultural Technician Track
The Agricultural Technician Diesel Technology A.A.S. Degree program is made up of the following courses:
- 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
- Powertrain for Construction Equipment
- Powertrain for Construction Equipment Lab
- Introduction to Maintenance Welding Lab or
- Welding for Maintenance and
- Welding for Maintenance Lab or
- Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) and
- Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) 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.
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 each class and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0, the equivalent of a “C” grade.
The Agriculture Equipment Technician Diploma
The Agriculture Equipment Technician Diploma program consists of the following courses:
- Computer/Digital Literacy course or
- Demonstrated Competency
- Climate Control
- Climate Control Lab
- Basic Electricity for Non-Majors and
- Basic Electricity Lab for Non-Majors or
- Basic Automotive Electricity and
- Basic Automotive Electricity Lab or
- Circuits I
- 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
- Introduction to Maintenance Welding Lab or
- Welding for Maintenance and
- Welding for Maintenance Lab or
- Shielded Metal Arc Welding and
- Shielded Metal Arc Welding Lab
- Hydraulics and
- Hydraulics Lab or
- Fluid Power and
- Fluid Power Lab
- Power Trains
- Power Trains Lab
- Powertrain for Construction Equipment
- Powertrain for Construction Equipment Lab
- Electrical Systems for Diesel Equipment and
- Electrical Systems for Diesel Equipment Lab or
- Electrical Systems and
- Electrical Systems Lab
Students are also required to take Written Communication, either Oral Communication or Humanities/Heritage, Social/Behavioral Science, and either Natural Sciences or Quantitative Reasoning in order to meet the 55 credit hour requirements of the Diploma program. In order to graduate, students must complete every course and maintain at least a 2.0 GPA, the equivalent of a “C” grade.
The Medium and Heavy Truck Technician Diploma
The curriculum of the Medium and Heavy Truck Technician Diploma program contains the following courses:
- Computer/Digital Literacy course or
- Demonstrated Competency
- Climate Control
- Climate Control Lab
- Basic Electricity for Non-Majors and
- Basic Electricity Lab for Non-Majors or
- Basic Automotive Electricity and
- Basic Automotive Electricity Lab or
- Circuits I
- 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
- Steering and Suspension
- Steering and Suspension Lab
- Brakes
- Brakes
- Electrical Systems for Diesel Equipment and
- Electrical Systems for Diesel Equipment Lab or
- Electrical Systems and
- Electrical Systems Lab
Students are also required to take Written Communication, either Oral Communication or Humanities/Heritage, Social/Behavioral Science, and either Natural Sciences or Quantitative Reasoning in order to meet the 55 credit hour requirements of the Diploma program. Students must finish each course and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0, the equivalent of a “C” grade, in order to graduate.
Diesel Mechanic Jobs
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
Somerset Community College offers a two-year Associate in Applied Science Degree in Diesel Technology with an Agriculture Diesel Technician concentration, as well as an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Diesel Technology with a Medium and Heavy Truck Technician concentration. Somerset Community College also offers an 80-week Diesel Technology Diploma with an Agriculture Diesel Technician concentration and an 80-week Diesel Technology Diploma with a Medium and Heavy Truck Technician concentration. Finally, Somerset Community College offers eleven different Undergraduate Certificates with various specializations in Diesel Technology. The Associate in Applied Science Degree programs, the Diesel Technology Diploma programs, and the 48-week and 32-week Undergraduate Certificate programs are all Pell Grant eligible.