Programs of Study

Automotive Systems Technology

Department: Industrial & Engineering Technologies

For additional information regarding this program,
contact Program Head Wade Vernon
Phone: 704-216-3924 / Email:

Full-Time Faculty Information:
Please refer to the Faculty Directory Listing .

NEWS: RCCC Automotive Students Perform Wel
at State Skills Competition (04-24-08) ... more

Award(s) Offered:
A60160	-	Associate in Applied Science Degree
D60160	-	Diploma Program
C60160	-	Certificate Programs

Description:

The Automotive Systems Technology curriculum prepares individuals for employment as automotive service technicians. It provides an introduction to automotive careers and increases student awareness of the challenges associated with this fast and ever-changing field.

Classroom and lab experiences integrate technical and academic coursework. Emphasis is placed on theory, servicing and operation of brakes, electrical/electronic systems, engine performance, steering/suspension, automatic transmission/transaxles, engine repair, climate control, and manual drive trains.

Upon completion of this curriculum, students should be prepared to take the ASE exam and be ready for full-time employment in dealerships and repair shops in the automotive service industry.

Students must furnish hand tools and protective clothing, as well as textbooks, and may obtain this list from the Automotive Systems Technology program head or Student Services.

Suggested Course Sequence:

The following is a suggested program of study for completing this program in six semesters. Some students' programs of study may be different, depending on their enrollment status (day, evening, full-time, or part-time).

			Title	Class	Lab	Clinical	Work Exp.	Credits
First Year (Fall)
	ACA	115	Success and Study Skills	0	2	0	0	1
	AUT	110	Introduction to Automotive Technology	2	2	0	0	3
	AUT	116	Engine Repair	2	3	0	0	3
	AUT	116A	Engine Repair - Lab	0	3	0	0	1
	AUT	161	Basic Automotive Electricity	4	3	0	0	5
			Total	8	13	0	0	13
First Year (Spring)
	AUT	141	Suspension & Steering Systems	2	3	0	0	3
	AUT	141A	Suspension & Steering - Lab	0	3	0	0	1
	AUT	151	Brake Systems	2	3	0	0	3
	AUT	151A	Brake Systems - Lab	0	3	0	0	1
	AUT	181	Engine Performance I	2	3	0	0	3
	AUT	181A	Engine Performance I -Lab	0	3	0	0	1
	---	---	Social/Behavioral Sciences Elective	3	0	0	0	3
	---	---	COE Coursework*
			Total	9	18	0	0	15
First Year (Summer)
	AUT	171	Automotive Climate Control	2	4	0	0	4
	AUT	183	Engine Performance II	2	6	0	0	4
	AUT	186	PC Skills for Auto Techs	2	2	0	0	3
	---	---	COE Coursework*
			Total	6	12	0	0	11
Second Year (Fall)
	AUT	163	Advanced Automotive Electricity	2	3	0	0	3
	AUT	163A	Advanced Automotive Electricity - Lab	0	3	0	0	1
	AUT	231	Manual Trans/Axles/Drivetrains	2	3	0	0	3
	AUT	231A	Manual Trans/Axles/Drivetrains - Lab	0	3	0	0	1
	ENG	111	Expository Writing	3	0	0	0	3
	MAT	115	Mathematical Models	2	2	0	0	3
	---	---	COE Coursework*
			Total	9	14	0	0	14
Second Year (Spring)
	AUT	221	Automatic Transmission/Transaxles	2	3	0	0	3
	AUT	221A	Automatic Transmission/Transaxles - Lab	0	3	0	0	1
	COM	231	Public Speaking	3	0	0	0	3
	PHY	110	Conceptual Physics	3	0	0	0	3
	PHY	110A	Conceptual Physics - Lab	0	2	0	0	1
	---	---	Humanities/Fine Arts Elective	3	0	0	0	3
	---	---	COE Coursework*
			Total	11	8	0	0	14
Second Year (Summer)
	AUT	113	Automotive Servicing	0	6	0	0	2
			OR
	AUT	285	Introduction to Alternative Fuels	2	2	0	0	3
			OR
	COE	112	Co-Op Work Experience I*	0	0	0	20	2
			Total	0-2	0-6	0	0-20	2-3
Total Semester Hours Credit (SHC) in Program:								69-70

This is a Core Course and cannot be substituted.

* Students may take either AUT 113 or COE 112 in the second year summer term. If students choose to co-op throughout the course sequence instead of taking AUT 113 or COE 112, they may choose 2 SHC from the following COE coursework:

		Title	Class	Lab	Clinical	Work Exp.	Credits
COE	111	Co-Op Experience I	0	0	0	10	1
COE	121	Co-Op Experience II	0	0	0	10	1

Automotive Systems Technology Diploma Program (D60160)

			Title	Class	Lab	Clinical	Work Exp.	Credits
Fall Semester
	AUT	110	Introduction to Automotive Technology	2	2	0	0	3
	AUT	116	Engine Repair	2	3	0	0	3
	AUT	116A	Engine Repair - Lab	0	3	0	0	1
	AUT	161	Basic Automotive Electricity	4	3	0	0	5
	---	---	Social/Behavioral Sciences Elective	3	0	0	0	3
			Total	11	11	0	0	15
Spring Semester
	AUT	141	Suspension & Steering Systems	2	3	0	0	3
	AUT	141A	Suspension & Steering - Lab	0	3	0	0	1
	AUT	151	Brake Systems	2	3	0	0	3
	AUT	151A	Brake Systems - Lab	0	3	0	0	1
	AUT	181	Engine Performance I	2	3	0	0	3
	AUT	181A	Engine Performance I -Lab	0	3	0	0	1
	ENG	111	Expository Writing	3	0	0	0	3
			Total	9	18	0	0	15
Summer Term
	AUT	171	Automotive Climate Control	2	4	0	0	4
	AUT	183	Engine Performance II	2	6	0	0	4
			Total	4	10	0	0	8
Total Semester Hours Credit (SHC) in Program:								38

This is a Core Course and cannot be substituted.

Automotive Systems Technology Certificate Programs (C60160)

Courses			Credit Hours
Brakes Certificate (C60160BR)
AUT	151	Brake Systems	3
AUT	151A	Brake Systems - Lab	1
AUT	161	Basic Automotive Electricity	5
AUT	163	Advanced Automotive Electricity	3
AUT	163A	Advanced Automotive Electricity - Lab	1
Total Semester Hours Credit:			13

Electrical & Electronics Certificate (C60160EE)
AUT	161	Basic Automotive Electricity	5
AUT	163	Advanced Automotive Electricity	3
AUT	163A	Advanced Automotive Electricity - Lab	1
AUT	186	PC Skills for Auto Techs	3
Total Semester Hours Credit:			12

Engine Performance & Engine Repair Certificate (C60160EP)
AUT	116	Engine Repair	3
AUT	116A	Engine Repair - Lab	1
AUT	181	Engine Performance I	3
AUT	181A	Engine Performance I -Lab	1
AUT	183	Engine Performance II	4
Total Semester Hours Credit:			12

Suspension & Steering Certificate (C60160SS)
AUT	141	Suspension & Steering Systems	3
AUT	141A	Suspension & Steering - Lab	1
AUT	151	Brake Systems	3
AUT	151A	Brake Systems - Lab	1
AUT	161	Basic Automotive Electricity	5
Total Semester Hours Credit:			13

Heating & Air Conditioning Certificate (C60160HA)
AUT	110	Introduction to Automotive Technology	3
AUT	113	Automotive Servicing	2
		OR
COE	112	Co-Op Work Experience I	2
AUT	161	Basic Automotive Electricity	5
AUT	171	Automotive Climate Control	4
Total Semester Hours Credit:			14

Automatic Transmission Certificate (C60160AT)
AUT	110	Introduction to Automotive Technology	3
AUT	113	Automotive Servicing	2
		OR
COE	112	Co-Op Work Experience I	2
AUT	221	Automatic Transmission/Transaxles	3
AUT	221A	Automatic Transmission/Transaxles - Lab	1
AUT	161	Basic Automotive Electricity	5
Total Semester Hours Credit:			14

Manual Drive Train & Axles Certificate (C60160MD)
AUT	110	Introduction to Automotive Technology	3
AUT	113	Automotive Servicing	2
		OR
COE	112	Co-Op Work Experience I	2
AUT	161	Basic Automotive Electricity	5
AUT	231	Manual Trans/Axles/Drivetrains	3
AUT	231A	Manual Trans/Axles/Drivetrains - Lab	1
Total Semester Hours Credit:			14

This program offers various courses via distance education. See our Catalog for a listing of these courses.