Technical curriculum provides experience, knowledge
by Paul Matson, reporter

    (Part Four in a five-part series on TCC specialty programs)

    From automotive, to nursing, to electronics, South Campus offers several specialty programs exclusive to that campus.

    Some of the programs are degree plans w

hile others offer a certificate of completion.
    Applied automotive technology, a two-year course, requires 64 semester hours for an Associate in Applied Science degree.

    This program is partially sponsored by the New Car Dealers Association of Tarrant County and the DaimlerChrysler Corp.

    This program has a restricted entrance, and the student must take an applied physics test to qualify.

    “Anything DaimlerChrysler has, we have here,” Jeff Parks, instructor, explained.

    Parks said the computer and server, as well as all the software, manuals and specialty tools, were donated by DaimlerChrysler.

    “We are the exclusive DaimlerChrysler Apprenticeship Program (CAP) between Okla-homa City and Houston, and we are the only program at Tarrant County College that can recruit outside of the county,” he said.

    A student in the program receives classroom instruction in the evening and hands-on training as an employee in the shop of a participating new car dealer during the day.

    Following completion of this program, the student may become Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certified and be employed as a master automotive technician.

    Automotive collision repair consists of automotive metal repair and automotive refinishing and has a total of 64 semester hours.

    The student can earn an Associate in Applied Science degree in automotive collision repair and may earn a certificate in automotive metal repair and/or automotive refinishing.

Automotive service technology prepares the student to work on any automobile that needs service and repair.

Upon completion, the student has a choice between two certificates, each requiring 24 semester hours, or an Associate in Applied Science with 67 semester hours.

    The three automotive programs require the students to provide their own tools.

    The associate degree nursing program offers two options: the basic nursing option and the nursing transition option. The transition option is available only to Licensed Vocational Nurses who meet special criteria.

    “There is a very big demand for nurses willing to work in hospitals,” Eva Williams, nursing assistant director, said.

     “Most nurses are unwilling to work in hospitals and will go someplace else, such as home-health care, hospice, private practice, or even become a nurse-lawyer,” she said.

    “Traditionally, our people do better on the nursing exam and score higher than the national average,” she said.

    The associate degree plan requires 60 semester hours. After completion, the student is qualified to take the National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses.

    Avionics technology, a certificate of completion, provides airframe and powerplant mechanics the additional knowledge of electronics they need to better understand avionics systems.

    Total semester hours are 29.

    Computer-aided drafting and design technology can be taken as a certificate of completion with 40 semester hours or as an Associate in Applied Science degree with 68 semester hours.

    Consumer electronics service teaches students to service and repair such items as televisions, stereos, video recorders, microwaves and micro-computers.

    A graduate of this class is prepared to take the test required to become a Certified Electronics Technician with a total of 24 semester hours.

    Heating, air conditioning and refrigeration technology may be taken as an Associate in Applied Science degree with 66 semester hours or a certificate of completion in installation technician with 34 total semester hours or in service technician with 29 semester hours.

    To enroll, the technician must have basic knowledge of mathematics, electricity and electronics used in air conditioning and refrigeration.

    Linda Ortberg of quality control said, “We don’t have enough people to feed into the workplace,” speaking also about computer– aided drafting, robotics and welding.

    “We’ve been trying to promote technology and especially women in new roles in technology,” she said.

    “Women are just realizing they are qualified to do these jobs,” she said.

    Ortberg also said there is a high demand for graduates in these very viable careers.

    Robotics and automation can be taken as a certificate of completion with 39 semester hours or as an Associate in Applied Science degree with 69 semester hours.

    The program provides knowledge of automated system components, such as hydraulic circuits, motors, programmable logic controllers and robots.

    The quality technology course qualifies the student for either an Associate in Applied Science degree with 66 semester hours or a certificate of completion in either total quality management service at 33 semester hours or a certificate in total quality management manufacturing at 32 total semester hours.

    Welding technology trains the student in basic shielded and gas metal arc welding, basic layout and fabrication and basic flux cored and gas tungsten arc welding.

    The Associate in Applied Science degree consists of 68 semester hours while the certificate of completion is 20 semester hours.

    Small engine repair gives instruction in tune-ups and overhaul of two and four-cycle outboard, motorcycle and engines used for outdoor power equipment.

    Two certificates of completion are offered: small engine repair and small engine specialist. Both require 23 semester hours.

    “The lawn and garden industry is going through what the auto industry went through in the ’70s, with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and fuel injection, the electoral and diagnostic end,” John Gillis, coordinator and instructor, said.

    “This course is one of the best kept secrets around, and the need for small-engine technicians is very high.”

    “This is one of only three colleges in North or South America to teach Harley-Davidson mechanics,” he said.