Automotive Technician Diploma
Program Overview:
RCTC’s ASE Accredited Automotive Technician major is designed to prepare students for careers in the automotive industry. They will learn to inspect, maintain, diagnose, and repair, automobiles and light trucks. The program’s goal is to prepare students for the Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification test.
Program Outcomes:
Upon completion of the Automotive Technician program at RCTC, students will achieve the following outcomes:
- Diagnose and repair engines.
- Diagnose, maintain and repair automatic transmission and transaxle.
- Diagnose and repair manual drive train and axles.
- Diagnose and repair suspension and steering.
- Diagnose and repair brake systems.
- Diagnose and repair electrical electronic systems.
- Diagnose and repair heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.
- Diagnose and repair engine performance.
Career Opportunities:
Job opportunities exist with repair shops, dealerships, fleet owners, and businesses performing specialized service work. Graduates typically start as entry level Technicians. With further education and/or experience, graduates can go on to specialize in areas such as transmissions, drivability or alignments for example, some may advance to shop foreman or service manager. Several RCTC graduates have opened their own repair businesses.
Additional Information:
Instruction includes courses in servicing vehicles, diagnosis and repair of brakes, steering and suspension, starting and charging systems, electronic systems, engine repair, fuel systems, driveline and differentials, clutches, automatic, manual transmissions, and air conditioning. A basic welding course is included.
On-board computer diagnostics along with CAN (controller area network) bus systems are taught. Instruction will focus on all aspects of auto repair with extensive work on electronic systems.
AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN DIPLOMA
MINNESOTA TRANSFER CURRICULUM (MnTC)/GENERAL REQUIREMENTS (6 CREDITS)
- COMM 1000 – Introduction to Workplace Communication (3 cr) OR COMM 1114 – Fundamentals of Public Speaking (MnTC Goal1) (3 cr) OR COMM 1130 – Interpersonal Communication (MnTC Goal 1, Goal 7) (3 cr)
- MATH 1015 – Applied Technical Math (3 cr) OR MATH 1115 – College Algebra (MnTC Goal 4) (3cr)
PROGRAM CORE REQUIREMENTS (61 CREDITS)
- AMT 1600 – Shop Safety, Brake Theory (2 cr)
- AMT 1605, Brake Application (3 cr)
- AMT 1610, Brakes Lab (3 cr)
- AMT 1615, Electrical Theory (2 cr)
- AMT 1620, Electrical Application (3 cr)
- AMT 1625, Electrical Lab (3 cr)
- AMT 1630, Alignment and Suspension Theory (2 cr)
- AMT 1635, Alignment and Suspension Application (3 cr)
- AMT 1640, Alignment and suspension Lab (2 cr)
- AMT 1645, Engine and Repair Theory (2 cr)
- AMT 1650, Engine and Repair Application (3 cr)
- AMT 1655, Engine Repair Lab (2 cr)
- AMT 2500, Manual Transmission Theory (2 cr)
- AMT 2505, Manual Transmission Application (3 cr)
- AMT 2510, Manual Transmission Lab (2 cr)
- AMT 2515, Automatic Transmission Theory (2 cr)
- AMT 2520, Automatic Transmission Application (3 cr)
- AMT 2525, Automatic Transmission Lab (3cr)
- AMT 2530, Engine Performance Theory (2cr)
- AMT 2535, Engine Performance Application (3cr)
- AMT 2540, Engine Performance Lab (3cr)
- AMT 2545, Heating and A/C Theory (2cr)
- AMT 2550, Heating and A/C Application (3cr)
- AMT 2555, Heating and A/C Lab (3cr)
RECOMMENDED COURSE SEQUENCES
FULL-TIME
- Semester 1 (16 CREDITS): AMT 1600, AMT 1605, AMT 1610, AMT 1615, AMT 1620, AMT 1625
- Semester 2 (17 CREDITS): AMT 1630, AMT 1635, AMT 1640, AMT 1645, AMT 1650, AMT 1655, COMM 1000
- Semester 3 (18 CREDITS): AMT 2500, AMT 2505, AMT 2510, AMT 2515, AMT 2520, AMT 2525, MATH 1015
- Semester 4 (16 CREDITS): AMT 2530, AMT 2535, AMT 2540, AMT 2545, AMT 2550, AMT 2555
Course descriptions can be found at: RCTC course descriptions