Students are taught to diagnose, correct and repair electrical, fuel, emissions, and mechanical problems found in today's modern automobile through classroom, laboratory, and field experience. Graduates are prepared for entry level positions as technicians in fleet service, manufacturer's dealerships, national oil company and transmission repair facilities, or independent garages. Course work prepares student for the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) automotive technician certifications. The AUTO Program is certified by the ASE Education Foundation in all eight ASE categories.

The General Motors Automotive Service Educational Program (GM ASEP) requires alternating school and General Motors dealership work experience sessions. In addition, GM ASEP students need to complete AUTO-1940 Automotive Field Experience IAUTO-1950 Automotive Field Experience IIAUTO-1960 Automotive Field Experience III, and AUTO-2505 Automotive Electrical Diagnosis for General Motors ASEP. Please call the Automotive Technology department for more information.

The Ford Automotive Student Service Educational Training (ASSET) program requires alternating school and Ford dealership work experience sessions.  In addition, Ford ASSET students need to complete AUTO-1940, AUTO-1950 and AUTO-1960 coursework. Please call the Automotive Technology department for more information.

Program contact: Learn more

This degree program contains one or more embedded certificates which will be automatically awarded when the certificate requirements are completed. If you do not want to receive the embedded certificate(s), please notify the Office of the Registrar at RegistrarOffice@tri-c.edu.

Learn more about how certificate credits apply to the related degree.

Program Admission Requirements

  • High School Diploma/GED not required, but highly recommended
  • Dealership sponsor required for GM ASEP program and FORD ASSET program.
  • GM ASEP and FORD ASSET student handbooks contain educational and worksite requirements for continuation in program

Other Information

  • ASEP and ASSET students need to complete five field experience credits:
    AUTO-1940Automotive Field Experience I1
    AUTO-1950Automotive Field Experience II1
    AUTO-1960Automotive Field Experience III1
    AUTO-2940Automotive Field Experience IV1
    AUTO-2950Automotive Field Experience V1
  • ASEP students need to complete AUTO-2505 Automotive Electrical Diagnosis for General Motors ASEP 
  • Enrollment in individual automotive courses for students who are not degree majors is permitted 

Program Learning Outcomes

This program is designed to prepare students to demonstrate the following learning outcomes:

  1. Read repair orders, write service recommendations, obtain pertinent vehicle information, and document all problems.
  2. Work independently, professionally, and as a member of an automotive team.
  3. Use basic math and appropriate tools and equipment to perform maintenance and basic repair services according to industry standards in a safe manner.
  4. Assist in diagnosis and perform mechanical repairs using appropriate tools and equipment according to industry standards in a safe manner.
  5. Diagnose and perform complex mechanical and electrical repairs using appropriate tools and equipment according to industry standards in a safe manner.
  6. Apply basic business and management practices (marketing, inventory control, accounting, customer relations, employee relations) to the automotive environment.
  7. Identify, interpret and document customer concerns and determine necessary actions. Listen and respectfully communicate with customers, co-workers and managers.

Suggested Semester Sequence

Plan of Study Grid
First SemesterCredit Hours
AUTO-1101 Introduction to Automotive Service Procedures 1 3
AUTO-1400 Automotive Alignment, Steering and Suspension 3
AUTO-1450 Automotive Braking Systems 3
AUTO-1502 Automotive Electrical Fundamentals 3
Select one of the following: 3
Fundamentals of Speech Communication
Honors Speech Communication
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
AUTO-1050 Numerical Applications in Automotive Service 3
AUTO-1300 Automotive Engines 3
AUTO-1510 Automotive Electrical Systems 3
Select one of the following: 3
College Composition I
Honors College Composition I
Social and Behavioral Sciences Requirements 3
 Credit Hours15
Third Semester
AUTO-2310 Manual Transmission and Drivetrain 3
AUTO-2350 Automotive HVAC 2
AUTO-2400 Engine Performance 3
AUTO-2940 Automotive Field Experience IV 1
AUTO-XXXXAutomotive Elective 3
MATH-1xxx1000-level MATH course or higher 3
Arts and Humanities/Natural Sciences Requirements 3
 Credit Hours18
Fourth Semester
AUTO-2300 Automatic Transmissions 3
AUTO-2450 Automotive Electronic Engine Controls 3
AUTO-2701 Automotive Service Operations 3
AUTO-2950 Automotive Field Experience V 1 1
DEGR-xxxxGeneral Elective (see Elective list) 3
DEGR-xxxxGeneral Elective (see Elective list) 3
 Credit Hours16
 Total Credit Hours64
1

AUTO-1101 is not required for Ford ASSET and GM ASEP students.  Students in these programs may apply AUTO-1101 credits toward the general elective requirement.

2

GM ASEP Students must also complete AUTO-1940 Automotive Field Experience IAUTO-1950 Automotive Field Experience IIAUTO-1960 Automotive Field Experience III, and AUTO-2505 Automotive Electrical Diagnosis for General Motors ASEP.  Ford ASSET students must also complete AUTO-1940, AUTO-1950 and AUTO 1960 Automotive Field Experience.

Ford ASSET Program Additional Required Courses

AUTO-1940Automotive Field Experience I1
AUTO-1950Automotive Field Experience II1
AUTO-1960Automotive Field Experience III1

GM ASEP Program Additional Required Courses

AUTO-1940Automotive Field Experience I1
AUTO-1950Automotive Field Experience II1
AUTO-1960Automotive Field Experience III1
AUTO-2505Automotive Electrical Diagnosis for General Motors ASEP3

ELECTIVES

Recommend selecting from the below courses to fulfill elective requirement.  Elective requirement may be fulfilled by other courses not listed here.

BADM-1020Introduction to Business3
ENG-2151Technical Writing3
FIN-1061Personal Finance3
GEN-1022Strategies for Success3
COMM-1000Fundamentals of Interpersonal Communication3

MATH-1140, MATH-1141, MATH-1200, MATH-1270, and MATH-1280 can no longer count towards fulfilling the college-level mathematics requirement.  These courses were re-classified as developmental mathematics by the state of Ohio in 2016.  Tri-C established a 5-year transitioning window for students who had completed these courses prior to 2016 to apply them towards meeting graduation requirements, which expired in Summer 2021. It is highly recommended to see a counselor to determine the appropriate math required for your current major.