Automotive Technology
The Automotive Technology program at ACIT is composed of eight areas of vehicle repair as designated by the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). These eight areas are; Brake, Steering and Suspension, Electrical and Electronics, Heating and Air Conditioning, Engine Performance, Engine Repair, Automatic Transmission/Transaxle, Manual Transmission and Axles. Students also have the opportunity to to complete the industry standard OSHA 10 certification. The program maintains current ASE accreditation.
Successful completion of this four year program will provide the skills necessary to maintain gainful employment as an entry-level automotive technician, or other career avenue in the automotive service industry as well as an ASE Entry Level Certification. Instruction is a blend of both classroom and hands-on activities. The program offers cooperative education and job placement opportunities to qualifying students in partnership with the ASE Student Career Development program. Articulation agreements offer advanced standing to students who pursue post secondary education. Throughout the program, students will become proficient using reference materials including the following; Factory Service Manuals, Electrical Schematics, and online databases in addition to the use of computerized test equipment.
For every task in the following course descriptions, the student must comply with personal and environmental safety practices associated with clothing; eye protection; hand tools; power equipment; proper ventilation; and the handling, storage, and disposal of chemicals/materials in accordance with local, state, and federal safety and environmental regulations.
The ASE Education Foundation has separated the curriculum into three distinct levels of instruction. These levels are: Maintenance & Light Repair (MLR), Automobile Service Technician (AST), and Master Automobile Service Technician (MAST). Each successive level includes all the tasks of the previous level in addition to newly designated tasks. The MAST task list includes all of AST tasks plus additional tasks specifically for MAST.
Automotive Technology I
Grade: 9
Credit: 10
Prerequisite: None
This Maintenance and Light Repair (MLR) program focuses upon orientation to the automotive shop, hand and power tools, and lifting equipment used to safely work in the automotive lab. A typical unit of study would include defining key terms, system theory of operation, and demonstrations on training vehicles and mock-ups. Students will begin with the fundamentals of maintenance and light repair of brake systems, steering & suspensions systems, electrical and electronic systems, heating and air conditioning, engine repair, engine performance, and automatic and manual transmissions.
Automotive Technology II
Grade: 10
Credit: 10
Prerequisite: Automotive Technology I
Automotive Service Technician (AST) provides a more in depth, service oriented approach to each of the eight ASE vehicle systems and introduces system fault analysis and diagnostic procedures.
Automotive Technology III
Grade: 11
Credit: 10
Prerequisite: Automotive Technology II
The Master Automotive Service Technician (MAST) curriculum completes the training covering in full detail the tools and procedures used to diagnose and repair the brake, steering and suspension, electrical and electronic systems, and heating and air conditioning systems. Upon successful completion of this program the student should earn their ASE Entry Level Certification in each of the aforementioned areas. Qualifying students are encouraged to pursue summer internships in the Automotive service industry in accordance with the ASE Student Career Development program.
Automotive Technology IV
Grade: 12
Credit: 20
Prerequisite: Automotive Technology III
During this concluding section of the Master Automotive Service Technician (MAST) curriculum students will diagnose and repair engine performance concerns, repair and rebuild engines, transmissions, and axle assemblies. Upon successful completion of this program the student should earn their ASE Entry Level Certification in Engine Performance, Engine Repair, Automatic Transmission and Transaxle, and Manual Transmission and Axle. Qualifying students are encouraged to pursue cooperative education school-to-work training during the second semester of the senior year.