Automotive Service Technician, A.O.S.

Degree: Associate in Occupational Studies
HEGIS Code: 5306
Curriculum Code: 451.AST
Engineering & Technologies Division

Program Description

In this age of computer-enhanced, fuel-injected automobiles, the modern automotive technician must be knowledgeable in many areas to be successful. These changes in auto technology have expanded the need for automotive technicians.

The Automotive Service Technician A.O.S. is a cooperative program where half of student learning is delivered through coursework at SUNY Erie and the other half from paid work based learning experiences at partnering automotive repair facilities.The purpose of the program is to provide students with the necessary knowledge and experience to be a successful automotive service technician, and to afford them practical opportunities to sharpen their skills and abilities.

Graduates with theAutomotive Service Technician A.O.S degree are eligible for positions as technicians, lead technicians, assistant foremen, shop foremen, parts managers, service managers, service advisors, or salespersons.

Department Notes

The Automotive Service Technician degree can be earned through choosing one of three different program options.  The program options are SEACO (SUNY Erie Automotive Coop), Mopar CAP (Career Automotive Program), or Ford ASSET (Automotive Student Service Education Training).  The following notes are common to all of these programs, and below is information specific to each program option:

• Students of an Automotive Service Technician program must be sponsored by a participating dealership. Paid sponsorships are coordinated with the assistance of the programs’ instructors at the college and local dealership representatives.
• The Automotive Service Technician programs are housed at the Vehicle Technology Training Center which operates as part of the South Campus.
• Students must have a driver’s license with less than 4 points to be eligible for an Automotive Service Technician program.
• Students are required to supply their own basic set of tools for the coop portion of the program.  A list of essential tools will be made available upon request.  It is advised that students discuss tool requirements with an instructor in the program.
• It is strongly recommended that students have their own laptop or tablet for use in the program.
• Students will be required to purchase an online subscription to training material.  The approximate cost of this subscription is $300.
• Semesters alternate between 7.5 week semesters at the Vehicle Technology Training Center and 7.5 week paid coop experiences at the students’ sponsoring dealerships. 

• possess a valid driver’s license with a driving record that is suitable for the employing dealership’s insurance requirements;
• meet sponsoring dealership hiring requirements which may include submitting to a drug test and/or criminal background check;
• provide sponsoring dealer with responsible and productive employment;
• maintain sponsor relationship with a partnering dealership;
• be responsible for program costs: tuition, fees and books;
• possess a set of hand tools as specified by the college; and
• maintain academic standards and adhere to academic policies to attain an associate degree.

• become a sponsoring dealer by employing an Automotive Service Technician student;
• interview and select prospective student(s);
• appoint an in-dealership coordinator/mentor to assist the Automotive Service Techician instructor in planning and monitoring the cooperative work experience;
• establish the Automotive Service Technician student as a dealership employee during the co-op period;
• provide the Automotive Service Technician student with uniforms consistent with other dealership technicians; and
• review and evaluate student’s performance each co-op period.

• maintain and process the candidate applications;
• candidates will be assessed academically based on information provided to the college in the admissions process;
• candidate will interview with program coordinator/instructor to assess mechanical aptitude and ability to meet the program student responsibilities;
• ensure candidate has a valid driver’s license and has a driving record that is suitable for the employing dealership’s insurance requirements.

SUNY Erie Automotive Coop (SEACO)

The SEACO program is sponsored by the West Herr Auto Group and combines classroom instruction with paid hands-on experience in a West Herr dealership.  The SEACO program delivers curriculum that is common to multiple automobile manufactures.   

• Students of the SEACO program must be sponsored by a participating West Herr Auto Group dealership.
• Paid sponsorships are coordinated with the assistance of SEACO instructors at the college and West Herr representatives.
• SEACO coordinator contact information - Vincent LaVerdi (716) 270-2622 or laverdi@ecc.edu

Mopar Career Automotive Program (CAP)

Mopar CAP is sponsored by the Stellantis Automobile Company and combines classroom instruction with paid hands-on experience in a Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, RAM, or Fiat dealership.  Mopar CAP delivers curriculum that is supplied by Stellantis and results in students earning certifications that are necessary to be a techician in a Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, RAM, or Fiat dealership.

• Students in Mopar CAP must be sponsored by a participating Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, RAM, or Fiat dealership.
• Paid sponsorships are coordinated with the assistance of Mopar CAP instructors at the college and local Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, RAM, or Fiat dealerships.
• Mopar CAP instructors’ contact information - Joseph Uhrich (716) 270-2625 or uhrich@ecc.edu or Scott Waterman (716) 270-2640 or waterman@ecc.edu

Ford Automotive Student Service Education Training (ASSET)

Ford ASSET is sponsored by the Ford Motor Company and combines classroom instruction with paid hands-on experience in a Ford or Lincoln dealership.  Ford ASSET delivers curriculum that is supplied by Ford Motor Company and results in students earning certifications that are necessary to be a techician in a Ford or Lincoln dealership.

• Students of the Ford ASSET program must be sponsored by a participating Ford or Lincoln dealership.
• Paid sponsorships are coordinated with the assistance of Ford ASSET instructors at the college and local Ford/Lincoln dealerships.
• Ford ASSET instructors’ contact information - Marcus Karlnoski (716) 270-2624 or karlnoski@ecc.edu or Kevin Barnes (716) 270-2638 or barnes@ecc.edu

Northtown Automotive Service Technician Program

Northtown Automotive Companies and ECC have partnered to provide the Automotive Service Technician program at a satellite location. Instruction will take place in the new, state of the art, Northtown Jaguar/Land Rover dealership located in Amherst, NY.

The Northtown Automotive Service Technician Program is sponsored by Northtown Automotive Companies and combines classroom instruction with paid hands-on experience in a Northtown dealership. In addition to ECC classroom training, qualifying students will be provided with a tool allowance, uniforms and manufacturer training.

• Students of the Northtown program must be sponsored by a participating Northtown dealership.
• Paid sponsorships are coordinated with the assistance of Northtown program instructors at the college and Northtown representatives.
• The program provides students with the necessary knowledge and experience to be a successful automotive service technician, and to afford them practical opportunities to sharpen their skills and abilities.
• Northtown coordinator contact information - Michael Coughlin (716) 270-2633 or email coughlinm@ecc.edu

Program Competencies

Upon graduation with an Automotive Service Technician Associate of Occupational Studies (A.O.S.) degree, the graduate will be able to:

• employ safe working practices while maintaining, diagnosing, and repairing automotive systems;
• compose, in both oral and written form, a coherent, effective and grammatically correct text for the purpose of automotive repair orders, estimates, and invoices;
• select the proper way to diagnose and repair an automotive system when given options, such as repairs that are not approved by certain manufacturers or when calculating between the repair or replacement of a component;
• recognize when automotive service information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use the information effectively;
• demonstrate an awareness and understanding of various perspectives of people within the automotive industry, both locally and globally;
• effectively collect data to determine the cause of unwanted symptoms in automotive systems; and
• properly use tools to maintain, diagnose, and repair automotive chassis, powertrain, and electrical systems.

Curriculum

Total Degree Credits: 64.0