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Air Conditioning and Heating Technology

Application Code: 
0464
Degree Received: 
Associate in Occupational Studies (AOS)
Academic Department: 
Building Trades
Description: 

The heating and air conditioning courses deal with all phases of residential and commercial installation, maintenance, troubleshooting and repair. It includes forced air, hot water and steam heating, gas and oil burner systems, along with hands-on air conditioning and heat pump technology.

The plumbing aspect of the program provides instruction in the basic skills required by the plumber in the construction of residential housing and commercial buildings. The program ranges from the installation of waste and sewage lines to the installation of potable water lines and plumbing fixtures.

The program provides the necessary theory connected with plumbing and HVAC, as well as on-the-job training experience overseen by tradesmen.

Students will take the National Refrigerant Handling Certification Course and Test and the National ARI HVAC (Air conditioning & Refrigeration Institute Heating Ventilation & Air Conditioning) Competency Test.

Entrance Requirements & Recommendations: 
  • Recommended: Math A (algebra)

Technical Standards:

Applicants in the air conditioning and heating technology program must be able to meet the following physical requirements.

  1. Must be able to lift 50 pounds to shoulder height.
  2. Must be able to perform safely in the laboratory.
  3. Must be able to communicate orally with a person 20 feet away.
  4. Must be able to climb a ladder.
  5. Must be able to  stand for long periods of time.
  6. Must be able to visually read from a blueprint or drawing.
  7. Must be able to hear a backup warning alarm.
Graduation Requirements: 

A student must successfully complete all courses in the prescribed four-semester program and earn a minimum cumulative index of 2.0, which is equivalent to a "C" average.

Career Opportunities: 
  • Maintenance Personnel or Supervisor
  • Sheet Metal Fabricator
  • Sales Representative
  • Pipe Fitter
  • Sprinkler Installer
  • HVAC Mechanic or Troubleshooter
  • Water or Sewer Plant Operator
  • Private Contractor
Typical Semester Layout: 

Each class day has a lecture scheduled at 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. Lab schedules continue until 3 p.m. each day after lectures. Each student is assigned a faculty adviser who maintains the student's grade records and is available for consultation daily. Schedules are blocked with a rotation system creating varied educational opportunities on off-campus projects in progress.

First Semester credits
BLCT 3413 Blueprint Reading - Building Construction
 3
BLCT 3423 Pipe Fitting - Math Estimating 3
BLCT 3433 Copper Pipe & Tubing, Water System Design & Installation 3
BLCT 3453 Plumbing Trade History and Safety 3
BLCT 3463 Water Heaters & Public & Private Portable Water Systems 3
BLCT 3443 Drainage Systems and Piping
 3
      18
Second Semester credits
BLCT 4143 Basic House Wiring - Forced Air Heating Comfort Conditions 3
BLCT 4153 Sheet Metal Fabrication
 3
BLCT 4163 Mid & High Efficiency Furnaces - Alternate Warm ir Heat Sources 3
BLCT 4173 Sheet Metal Air Distribution Systems and Venting
 3
BLCT 4183 Sheet Metal Trade Safety - Drawing for Sheet Metal Layout
 3
BLCT 3473 Heating Fuels - Combustion Theory & Troubleshooting 3
      18
Third Semester credits
BLCT 3483 Electrical Fundamentals 3
BLCT 3493 Forced Air Furnace Controls 3
BLCT 3503 Hydronic Components, Circulating Pumps & Heat Emitters 3
BLCT 3513 Hydronic Controls & Motors 3
BLCT 3523 Hydronic Fundamentals & Hydronic Heat Sources 3
BLCT 3533 Hydronic Piping Systems, Radiant Floor Heating & Steam Heating 3
      18
Fourth Semester credits
BLCT 4203 Air Conditioning Components & Installation 3
BLCT 4213 Air Conditioning Fundamentals 3
BLCT 4223 Air Conditioning Performance and Troubleshooting and Heat Pumps 3
BLCT 4233 Heat Loss and Heat Gain 3
BLCT 4243 Refrigeration Handling Certification 3
BLCT 4253 Residential Duct Syst Design 3
      18
Employment and Transfer Report
Employment and Transfer Rate: 
100%
Employment and Transfer Survey Details: 
Survey Details200620072008
Receiving Degrees 7
 9
 11
Responding to Survey 4 (57%) 5 (56%) 5 (45%)
Employed 4 (100%) 5 (100%) 5 (100%)
Employed in Field -- 4 (80%) 5 (100%)
Transfered --
 -- --
Unemployed & Seeking Employment -- -- --
Unemployed & Not Seeking Employment -- -- --
Alfred State College,  10 Upper College Drive,  Alfred, NY 14802   |   1-800-4-ALFRED (425-3733)