Last Tuesday, we did our first program spotlight of the AMDT program at Central Community College.

But as we’ve shown in previous posts, the community colleges here in Nebraska have a lot to offer.

The AMDT program like the one we talked about is hardly the only option for anyone interested in manufacturing or the skilled trades.

To help you get to know the programs offered for students in Nebraska, today, we want to tell you a little more about the at in Norfolk.

The Diesel Technology Program

The Diesel Technology Program at Northeast teaches students the basic knowledge and skills needed to service and repair diesel and gas-powered equipment. Students in the program receive over 1,000 hours of lab training, and have access to a summer internship program that can provide on-the-job training (and which is a great way to network for a job after graduation!).

The program is actually divided into two paths: Diesel Technology with an ag focus, and Diesel Technology with a truck focus.

Just as an example, students who choose the ag focus will do some of the following:

• Learn to repair and test diesel fuel systems, engines, hydraulic systems, electronic control systems, power trains, brakes, electrical systems, and air conditioning systems, as well as gain experience with various hand tools and test equipment.

And students who choose the truck focus will do some of the following:

• Learn to repair and test diesel fuel systems, engines, refrigeration, electronic control systems, power trains, brakes, electrical systems, suspension, and air conditioning systems, as well as gain experience with various hand tools and test equipment.

Both paths do have a lot in common–as you’ll see in our course descriptions below–but each finishes with different courses depending on what sort of equipment students want to work with.

No matter which path you take, you’ll graduate with an Associate of Applied Science Degree, a two-year degree which requires 80.5 credit hours to graduate (which, at Northeast’s rate of $97/credit hour, adds up to about $7,800 dollars–significantly less than the cost for a similar number of credits at a four-year college).

Diesel Technology Courses at Northeast Community College

Both paths–ag and truck–have some courses in common. Here are a few:

• Related welding lab: Basic welding fundamentals for students in programs other than welding. Both paths focus on shielded metallic arc welding and oxyacetylene welding.
• Job search and employment: Finding internships, preparing resumes, and even preparing for job interviews. A key element of a well-rounded education in the trades.
• Cooperative internship I: A work study program. Students will get in-depth, on-the-job instruction, and will leave the course with a good amount of hands-on experience.

But as you might expect, the different paths diverge into their own specialties, too:

• Diesel truck electronics theory: The study of the electronics systems used on today’s trucks including sensors, microprocessors, components, and harnesses. Operation testing and diagnosing of these systems are covered including some programming.
• Hydraulic theory: Practical application of basic laws of hydraulics and schematics of farm tractors and industrial hydraulics. Includes the theory and operations of hydraulic components, testing and troubleshooting used in today’s equipment.

In either case, you can expect to graduate with a good deal of experience both in the lab and in the classroom.

Companies in the skilled trades are having many of the same problems that manufacturers are–there aren’t enough skilled workers to fill open positions, and companies need more workers if they want to continue to succeed.

If you like working with your hands and are interested in a great profession, we definitely think that you should give Northeast’s Diesel Technology program a look. And even if that’s not what you want, Northeast (along with the other community colleges in Nebraska) offers  and programs of study for students who like hands-on work.

We like . There’s absolutely nothing wrong with a career in the skilled trades or in manufacturing, and here in Nebraska, we’re lucky to have a large handful of schools that are all committed to teaching those skills.

If you’d like to learn more, reach out to us in the comments or .

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