Odessa College

Automotive and Diesel Technology  

Designed to fit industry-specific needs, the curriculum of the Automotive and Diesel Technology program at Odessa College provides students with a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on training in order to prepare them for entry-level employment, servicing and maintaining automobiles and heavy equipment, in several different service specialist fields. The program is in strict compliance with the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF), and prepares students to take and pass the certification exams for each course of study administered by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).

Students receive in-depth lectures in the classroom on topics such as diesel theory and the basics of the diesel engine system, including the design, function, and principles of operation of the modern diesel engine. Students also develop career-relevant computer skills, while they advance their mathematical computation, English comprehension, and diesel trade terminology through written assignments and academic research. Detailed learning materials, textbooks, and class discussions cover topics such as the U.S. Standard and Metric measuring systems, gear ratios, effective shop management, customer service protocols, alternative fuels, and more.

Inside the Haley Diesel Mechanics Training Center is where students acquire the practical hands-on training they need to succeed. Watching live demonstrations and receiving instructor guidance, students learn how to inspect, diagnose, and repair diesel engines, brake systems, fuel systems, electrical systems, electronic controls, power trains, hydraulic systems, steering and suspension systems, and mobile heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. Students will also gain hands-on experience in welding, as well as proper procedures for performing preventive maintenance and vehicle inspections.

Students will learn on the most up-to-date computerized diagnostic equipment, as they diagnose and repair the computerized component systems found on today’s diesel engines. Service manuals, wiring schematics, electronic multi-meters, precision measuring instruments, lab scopes, gauges, lathes, torch cutters, machine tools, power tools, and hand tools will all be used throughout the program as students learn how to repair, recondition, and rebuild diesel engines and their integrated system components by disassembling, inspecting, testing, repairing, and reassembling various diesel engines from the industry’s leading manufacturers.

Students will learn the value of teamwork and time management as they work both independently, and in groups, to successfully complete every task assigned to them by their instructors in a proficient, thorough, and timely manner. Shop safety, professionalism, and integrity will also be stressed throughout the Automotive and Diesel Technology program at Odessa College.

From Education to Occupation

Students who successfully complete the Automotive and Diesel Technology program at Odessa College can be confident that they possess the education and training necessary to pass the ASE certification exams and secure an entry-level position as a qualified diesel mechanic in the automotive and diesel-powered equipment service and repair industry.

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 Texas was $43,720 yearly and $21.02 hourly, just 3% lower than the national average.

The Associate in Applied Science Degree and Undergraduate Certificate

Odessa College offers a two-year Associate in Applied Science Degree in Automotive and Diesel Technology with a concentration in Industrial Engine & Transportation Maintenance. Odessa College also offers a one-year Level I Undergraduate Certificate in Automotive and Diesel Technology with a Transportation Diesel Technician concentration, as well as a one-year Level II Undergraduate Certificate in Automotive and Diesel Technology with an Industrial Diesel Specialist concentration. Odessa College also offers a 9-month Level I Undergraduate Certificate in Automotive and Diesel Technology. All four programs are Pell Grant eligible.