Portland Community College

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Diesel Service Technology  

The coursework of the Diesel Service Technology program at Portland Community College is designed to provide students with the fundamental skills needed to excel in the field of diesel engines and diesel subsystems. Students receive a broad background in different disciplines of the diesel service industry. Students who wish to further their education and pursue a four-year Bachelor’s degree will find it easy to transfer the credits they earned by completing the Associate in Applied Science Degree program to Montana State University Northern.

Through demonstration observation and hands-on training, each student will learn how to troubleshoot, maintain, and repair diesel engines, truck power trains, heavy duty power trains, fuel injection systems, diesel electrical and electronic systems, hydrostatic hydraulic systems, mobile hydraulic systems, Detroit Diesel electronic engine controls, CAT electronic engine controls, starting systems, charging systems, and electrical control systems, medium and heavy duty truck brakes, medium and heavy duty truck suspension and steering systems, and mobile air conditioning and heating systems. Each student will also obtain hands-on training in preventative maintenance inspection, small marine diesel engine preventive maintenance and tune-up, fuel injection systems diagnostics, and diesel welding.

Students will develop their mechanical, analytical, and technical skills performing diesel engine rebuilds, by disassembling, inspecting, diagnosing, repairing, and reassembling various diesel engines and their integrated auxiliary systems, using electronic diagnostic equipment, gauges, engine schematics, wiring diagrams, power tools, and hand tools. 

Effective communication and time management skills will also be discussed and practiced throughout the course as students work by themselves, and in teams, to finish each task assigned to them by their instructors in a proficient and thorough manner. Students will also learn the value of workplace integrity, professionalism, and good customer service.

The Diesel Service Technology Associate Degree Program

The Diesel Service Technology Associate Degree program contains the following career-based classes:

  • Job Finding Skills
  • Diesel Engine Rebuild & Lab Procedures
  • Truck Power Train
  • Fuel Injection Systems
  • Fundamentals of Electricity & Electronics
  • Fundamentals of Hydraulics & Air Conditioning Systems
  • Preventative Maintenance Inspection
  • Detroit Diesel Electronic Control
  • Live Equipment & Lab
  • Heavy Duty Power Train
  • Fuel Injection System Diagnostics & CAT Electronic Engine Controls
  • Diesel Starting, Charging & Electrical Control Systems
  • Mobile & Hydrostatic Hydraulics
  • Medium/Heavy Duty Truck Brake, Suspension & Steering
  • Diesel Welding
  • Cooperative Education: Diesel Service Technology
  • Cooperative Education: Diesel Service Technology – Seminar
  • Small Marine Diesel Engine Preventive Maintenance & Tune-Up

In addition to the core classes listed above, students are also required to take general education classes in Math, Writing, English, Computers, and Science, totaling 16 credit hours, in order to fulfill the 92 credit hour requirements of the Associate in Applied Science Degree program. To be eligible to graduate, students must complete each class and maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA, the equivalent of a “C” grade.

Associate Degree Prerequisites and Requirements

In addition to the requirements stated above, the following criteria must be met:

  1. Completion of RD 80 or higher or equivalent placement test score.
  2. Completion of MTH 20 or higher or equivalent placement test score or successful completion of the Diesel Service Technology Math Entrance Exam.
  3. Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Student Certification testing is required upon completion of core classes.
The Diesel Service Technology Two-Year Certificate Program

The Diesel Service Technology Two-Year Certificate program contains the following career-specific courses:

  • Job Finding Skills
  • Diesel Engine Rebuild & Lab Procedures
  • Truck Power Train
  • Fuel Injection Systems
  • Fundamentals of Electricity & Electronics
  • Fundamentals of Hydraulics & Air Conditioning Systems
  • Preventative Maintenance Inspection
  • Detroit Diesel Electronic Control
  • Live Equipment & Lab
  • Heavy Duty Power Train
  • Fuel Injection System Diagnostics & CAT Electronic Engine Controls
  • Diesel Starting, Charging & Electrical Control Systems
  • Mobile & Hydrostatic Hydraulics
  • Medium/Heavy Duty Truck Brake, Suspension & Steering
  • Diesel Welding
  • Cooperative Education: Diesel Service Technology
  • Cooperative Education: Diesel Service Technology – Seminar
  • Small Marine Diesel Engine Preventive Maintenance & Tune-up

Students enrolled in the Diesel Service Technology Two-Year Certificate program are not required to take any General Education classes. To be eligible to graduate, students must complete each course and maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA, the equivalent of a “C” grade.

Certificate Prerequisites and Requirements

The following requirements must be met:

  1. Completion of RD 80 or higher or equivalent placement test score.
  2. Completion of MTH 20 or higher or equivalent placement test score or successful completion of the Diesel Service Technology Math Entrance Exam.
  3. Exit requirement: Completion of WR 80 or higher or equivalent placement test score. Exit requirement can be taken before or while taking the diesel courses.
  4. Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Student Certification testing is required upon completion of core classes.
What to Expect After Graduating

Graduates of the Diesel Service Technology program at Portland Community College will be well-prepared to seek entry-level employment as diesel mechanics in the diesel truck and heavy equipment service and repair industry. Occupational opportunities include working for commercial truck lines, bus lines, heavy construction companies, logging companies, mining companies, agricultural equipment dealerships, rail yards, shipyards, 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 Oregon was $46,160 yearly and $22.19 hourly, 2% higher than the national average.

The Associate in Applied Science Degree and Undergraduate Certificate

Portland Community College offers a two-year Associate in Applied Science Degree in Diesel Service Technology as well as a two-year Undergraduate Certificate in Diesel Service Technology. Portland Community College offers a 9-month Undergraduate Certificate in Diesel Service Technology as well. All three programs are Pell Grant eligible. 

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