hands-on

This program provides instruction in the skills required by heavy equipment operators for the light construction and heavy highway industries. Instruction is provided in the theory connected with heavy equipment operations as well as grades, soils, blueprint reading, safety, and supervision.

The building construction program provides basic instruction in masonry. Each year there are students desiring additional instruction in masonry and employers seeking graduates with additional masonry skills. This program provides the student instruction in an extensive masonry program in the second, or senior, year. All masonry students must previously complete the common building construction freshman year program in good standing. Each student may specify in his/her initial application the desire for masonry, or may have the option of choosing masonry after completing the freshman year.

This specialization includes 1,800 hours of practical experience and classroom training applicable to the motorsport field. Program includes brake systems, alignment procedures, electronic controls, engine overhaul, and transmission overhaul. A major emphasis in the program is to teach the students fabrication and set-up on various types of race vehicles.

The building construction program provides instruction in the basic skills required of the carpenter and the mason in the construction of residential or other light-frame and masonry buildings. Extensive experience is gained in building layout, foundations, framing, sheathing, exterior and interior trim, block work, brick and concrete construction.

This specialization includes 1,800 hours of practical experience and classroom training. Students receive their basics in the first year on all types of vehicles. The senior year concentrates on trucks, bulldozers, earthmovers, farm tractors and other diesel-powered equipment.

This specialization includes 1,800 hours of practical and classroom training in general automotive repair geared to automotive dealership and independent garage practice. Students receive experience on all types of automobiles, including domestic, imported, gasoline, diesel, and alternative fuels. All systems of the automobile are covered in the instruction including the latest gasoline fuel injection, electronic controls, emission controls and automatic transmission overhaul.

This specialization includes 1,800 hours of practical experience and classroom training applicable to the autobody repair field. Laboratory experience ranges from spot repair, total wreck repair, specialized paint jobs, estimating, and rust repair to frame straightening.

The air conditioning and heating 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 welding technology program is taught according to the standards set by the American Welders Society (AWS) and is AWS-certified.

The program focuses on welding processes performed in all positions on both plate and pipe. Topics include proper safety methods, required math, related skills, layout and fit up, welding codes and standards, welding inspection, testing and drawing/welding symbol interpretation.