Southeast Community College
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Diesel Technology
Students have four different Associate of Applied Science Degree programs to choose from at Southeast Community College, each focusing on a specialized area of the diesel and heavy equipment industry. Students can choose to study Diesel Technology-Truck, Diesel-Ag Equipment Technology, Deere Construction & Forestry Equipment Technology, or John Deere Technology.
Each Diesel Technology program at Southeast Community College is not only accredited by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF), all the instructors are Master Certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), ensuring that the industry’s highest standards and exact procedures are followed throughout the program.
Students are given lectures on the theory of engine operation in the classroom, while they develop analytical and mechanical skills in all phases of over-the-road truck repair, including diesel engines, brake systems, power trains, hydraulic systems, air conditioning and heating systems, fuel injection systems, electrical and electronic systems, transmissions and clutches, and electronic ignition systems. In the Diesel Technology-Truck program, students also learn diesel truck welding, arc welding, and proper preventive maintenance techniques for diesel mechanics.
Using service manuals, hand tools, computerized diagnostic machines, gauges, wiring diagrams, electronic multi-meters, and other tools, students learn how to perform diesel engine overhauls and tune-ups as they disassemble, inspect, troubleshoot, repair, and reassemble diesel engines and their integrated components.
Shop safety and work ethics are taught and practiced throughout each program. Students also build effective communication, leadership, thinking, and reasoning skills, as they work independently and in teams, to complete each and every task assigned to them by their instructors with accuracy, thoroughness, and speed.
The Diesel Technology-Truck Curriculum*
The Diesel Technology-Truck program is made up of the following courses:
- Electrical Systems I
- Batteries & Cranking Motors
- Electronic Ignition Systems & Charging
- Power Trains I
- Theory of Engine Operation
- Hand & Precision Measuring Tool
- Theory of Fuel System Operation
- Valve Trains
- Engine Overhaul & Inspection
- Diesel & Gas Fuel Injection
- Air Brakes
- Elect/Electronic System 1
- Steering & Suspension
- Hydraulic Brakes
- Basic Hydraulics
- Heating & Air Conditioning I
- Conventional Transmission & Clutches
- Truck Final Drives
- Preventative Maintenance & Inspection
- Heating & Air Conditioning II
- Automatic Truck Transmissions
- Electrical Systems III
- Electronic Diesel Engine Diagnosis & Tune Up
- Cooperative Experience – Truck
- Diesel Truck Welding
- Shielded Metal Arc Diesel Welding
Students are also required to take Composition I, Composition & Literature, Fundamentals of Human Communications, Public Speaking, Business & Professional Communications, Descriptive Physics (with Lab), and two courses in Math, Social Science, Humanities, and Computer Technology in order to fulfill the minimum 124.5 credit hour requirements of the Diesel Technology-Truck Associate of Applied Science Degree 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 Diesel-Ag Equipment Technology Curriculum*
The Diesel-Ag Equipment Technology program contains the following classes:
- Basic Electrical/Electronics
- Electrical/Electronic Circuit Diagnostics
- Electrical Charging Systems
- Shop Safety/Shop Tools & Precision Meas
- Power Trains I
- Theory of Agriculture Engine Fuel System
- Theory of Engine Operations
- Valve Trains
- Diesel Engine Overhaul & Inspection
- Heating Ventilation & Air Conditioning I
- Ag Equipment Fuel Systems
- Ag Equipment Hydraulics Systems
- Ag Equipment Cooperative Experience
- Ag Equipment Electricity
- Ag Equipment Power Trains
- Heating Ventilation & Air Condition II
- Ag Equipment Cooperative Experience
- Plant Seed Precision Guidance & Control
- Harvest Precision Guidance & Control Systems
- Spray Equip Precision Guide & Control Systems
- Welding for Ag Equipment
Students are also required to take either Fundamentals of Human Communications, Public Speaking, or Business & Professional Communications, as well as Composition I or Composition & Literature, Descriptive Physics (with Lab), and two courses from Math, Social Science, Humanities, and Computer Technology in order to fulfill the minimum 134.5 credit hour requirements of the Diesel-Ag Equipment Technology Associate of Applied Science Degree program. Students in the Diesel-Ag Equipment Technology program may also take Class A CDL Driver Training, if they so choose. 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.
The Deere Construction & Forestry Equipment Technology Curriculum*
The curriculum of the Deere Construction & Forestry Equipment Technology program is comprised of the following courses:
- Deere Orientation
- Deere Fund & Safety
- Deere Electrical/Electronics I
- Deere HVAC
- Deere Theory of Engine Operation
- Deere Fuel Systems
- Deere Engine Repair
- Deere Electric/Electronics II
- Deere Advanced Fuel System Engine Diagnostics
- Deere Mechanical Power Trains
- Deere Hydraulics
- Deere Hydrostatic Drives
- Dealer Cooperative Experience
- Dealer Cooperative Experience
- Deere Back Hoes/Landscape Load
- Deere Excavators
- Deere Crawler Dozers/Loaders
- Deere Motor Graders
- Deere Four Wheel Drive Loaders
- Deere Forklifts, Skid Steer, Loaders
- Deere 4WD/ARTICULATED Trucks
- Diesel Truck Welding
- Deere Welding II
Students are also required to take either Fundamentals of Human Communications, Public Speaking, or Business & Professional Communications, as well as Composition I or Composition & Literature, Descriptive Physics (with Lab), and two courses from Math, Social Science, Humanities, and Computer Technology in order to fulfill the minimum 147.5 credit hour requirements of the Deere Construction & Forestry Equipment Technology Associate of Applied Science Degree program. Students must finish each course and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0, the equivalent of a “C” grade, in order to graduate.
The John Deere Technology Curriculum*
The John Deere Technology curriculum is made up of the following classes:
- John Deere Fundamentals & Safety
- John Deere Orientation
- John Deere Electrical/Electron
- Dealer Cooperative Experience
- John Deere Engine Repair
- John Deere Fuel Systems
- John Deere Tractor Performance
- John Deere Heating/Air Conditioning
- Dealer Cooperative Experience II
- John Deere Electrical/Electronics
- John Deere Hydraulics I
- John Deere Power Trains I
- John Deere Hydraulics II
- John Deere Power Trains II
- John Deere Hydraulics III
- John Deere Power Trains III
- John Deere Tillage & Seeding Equipment
- John Deere Harvesting Equipment
- Diesel Truck Welding
- John Deere Electrical/Electron
- John Deere Advanced Technologies
Students are also required to take Class A CDL Driver Training, and either Fundamentals of Human Communications, Public Speaking, or Business & Professional Communications, as well as Composition I or Composition & Literature, Descriptive Physics (with Lab), and two courses from Math, Social Science, Humanities, and Computer Technology in order to fulfill the minimum 150.5 credit hour requirements of the John Deere Technology Associate of Applied Science Degree program. 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.
Opportunities for Employment
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 Nebraska was $40,670 yearly and $19.55 hourly, 10% lower than the national average. Entry-level diesel mechanics can expect to be paid an annual salary of $28,130 and advance to $65,350 with more job experience.
Students who successfully complete any of the Diesel Technology programs at Southeast Community College will be equipped with the skills, education, and training needed to gain employment as qualified entry-level service technicians in truck dealerships, farm equipment dealerships, truck fleet service facilities, independent truck repair shops, construction companies, logging companies, and on farms and ranches.
The Two-Year Associate of Applied Science Degree
Southeast Community College offers four different Associate of Applied Science Degrees related to the diesel technology industry. The first Associate of Applied Science Degree is offered in the Diesel Technology program with a concentration in Truck. The second Associate of Applied Science Degree is offered in the Diesel-Ag Equipment Technology program. The third Associate of Applied Science Degree is offered in the Deere Construction & Forestry Equipment Technology program, and the fourth Associate of Applied Science Degree is offered in the John Deere Technology program. All four programs are two-year programs and all four programs are Pell Grant eligible.
*Program is certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) and accredited by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF).