Automotive Technology


Automotive Technology, AAS

Program Description

The East Central College Automotive Technology is a program in which students learn auto repair and maintenance skills. It is one of the few programs in the country meeting the strict industry standards required for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF).

Automotive service technicians and mechanics inspect, maintain, and repair automobiles and light trucks that run on gasoline, electricity, or alternative fuels, such as ethanol. The responsibilities of these professionals have evolved from simple mechanical repairs to high-level technology-related work. The increasing sophistication of automobiles requires workers to be versatile with a variety of systems and tools. They need to be able to use computerized shop equipment and work with electronic components while also maintaining their skills with traditional hand tools.

Partnership Program: Four Rivers Career Center

Program Format

The Automotive degree is a two-year 62 credit-hour program that provides a balance of theory lecture and lab exercises. Students enrolled in the program gain a solid understanding and working knowledge of the automotive industry. They study automotive technology, with emphasis on lab demonstrations while working in the well-equipped shop area. Students are given hands-on mechanical training from the very start, progressing from basic systems to the more complex. It is offered at Four Rivers Career Center in Washington and the courses are instructed by industry professionals who have extensive knowledge from working in the industry. In addition to automotive courses, students enrolled in the degree will complete sixteen hours of math, English, and communication courses. These courses are offered at East Central College’s main campus or through online programming.

Special Note:

They first work on bench units before moving on to live engines on stands, live cars belonging to the program, and finally consumer automobiles. New students must enroll in the fall and should plan on attending full-time, choosing either a morning or afternoon time block. Students currently in high school can choose to articulate coursework to the AAS degree program and continue with the general education block of course at ECC.

Professional Traits

  • Have a mechanical aptitude and a working knowledge of automobiles
  • Be able to diagnose the source of a problem quickly and accurately
  • Have strong communication and analytical skills
  • Possess solid reading, mathematics, and computer skills

Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Technical/Equipment: Program graduates will demonstrate the technical knowledge and skills required to use industry equipment appropriately for employment in the field of Automotive.
  2. Safety: Program graduates will demonstrate safety protocols in the field of Automotive Technology by consistently applying and adhering to current industry safety standards.
  3. Problem Solving: Program graduates will demonstrate the ability to use a variety of techniques in solving problems presented in the field of Automotive.
  4. Communication: Automotive Technology program graduates will effectively communicate the technical content of the field, both written and orally.

 

Automotive Technology, Certificate of Achievement

The Automotive Technology Certificate of Achievement is a 35 credit-hour certificate consisting of the automotive programming courses only. The hours earned in the certificate of achievement carry forward to the degree. Students are always encouraged to further their education experience through continued coursework in completing the Associate of Applied Science degree.

Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Technical/Equipment: Program graduates will demonstrate the technical knowledge and skills required to use industry equipment appropriately for employment in the field of Automotive.
  2. Safety: Program graduates will demonstrate safety protocols in the field of Automotive Technology by consistently applying and adhering to current industry safety standards.
  3. Problem Solving: Program graduates will demonstrate the ability to use a variety of techniques in solving problems presented in the field of Automotive.
  4. Communication: Automotive Technology program graduates will effectively communicate the technical content of the field, both written and orally.

Programs of Study – Catalog

Automotive Technology Program & course descriptions

Automotive Technology, Associate of Applied Science

Automotive Technology, Certificate of Achievement

Career Opportunities


Automotive service technicians and mechanics inspect, maintain and repair automobiles and light trucks that run on gasoline, electricity or alternative fuels, such as ethanol. The responsibilities of these professionals have evolved from simple mechanical repairs to high-level technology-related work. The increasing sophistication of automobiles requires workers to be versatile with a variety of systems and tools. They need to be able to use computerized shop equipment and work with electronic components while also maintaining their skills with traditional hand tools.

Professional Traits – Those pursuing a career in this field should have the following traits.

  • Have mechanical aptitude and a working knowledge of automobiles
  • Be able to diagnose the source of a problem quickly and accurately
  • Have strong communication and analytical skills
  • Possess solid reading, mathematics and computer skills

Employment and Salary Information – The automotive service profession is experiencing about average growth, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. By 2022, the number of positions is expected to increase by 9 percent. Median hourly earnings for automotive service technicians and mechanics, including commission, were $17.60 in May 2012.

The median hourly rate in the industries employing the largest numbers of these workers were as follows:

  • Local government, excluding schools $22.71
  • Automobile dealers $19.88
  • Automotive repair and maintenance $15.97
  • Automotive parts, accessories
    and tire stores $15.02
  • Gasoline stations $14.94