Light Duty Automotive Technician Foundations II, Transportation Services (Technical Certificate)

Award: Technical Certificate
Program of Study:  Transportation Services
Specialization: Light Duty Automotive Technician Foundations II
Program Code: 1120

About This Program . . .

Students learn the fundamentals of electronics, starters, ignition, and charging systems, air conditioning, brakes, suspension and steering, cooling and heating systems, safety, technical math, use of technical manuals, basic management, communication and leadership skills.  Career options include light duty automotive/diesel technician, parts and service distributor.

For more information on what you can do with this major, visit CMU Tech's Programs of Study page.

All CMU/CMU Tech technical certificate graduates are expected to demonstrate proficiency in specialized knowledge/applied learning, communication fluency, and critical thinking. In addition to these campus‐wide student learning outcomes, graduates of this major will be able to:

  1. Apply principles of grammar and vocabulary in the documentation required to perform the duties of a repair technician to properly repair vehicles. (Communication Fluency)
  2. Apply Mathematical concepts and practices that are required to properly perform vehicle repair competencies to an (ASE) Automotive Service Excellence standard. (Quantitative Fluency
  3. Evaluate evidence discovered during the diagnosis and troubleshooting of vehicles and apply those finding to strategies to properly repair the vehicle. (Critical Thinking
  4. Describe the scope and application of principle features of the field of study, including core practices in the vehicle repair industry. (Specialized Knowledge)
  5. Demonstrate mastery of the current terminology in the Transportation Service industry and generate substantially error-free products or processes that define the duties of a repair technician. (Specialized Knowledge)
  6. Perform vehicle repair practices that meet or exceed industry standards as defined by (ASE) Automotive Service Excellence. (Applied Learning)
  7. Demonstrate personal and professional ethical behavior as applied to the industry. (Applied Learning)
  8. Define the legal and ethical standards required of the vehicle repair industry. (Specialized Knowledge)

Each section below contains details about the requirements for this program. Select a header to expand the information/requirements for that particular section of the program's requirements. 

To print or save an overview of this program's information, including the program description, learning outcomes, requirements, suggested course sequencing (if applicable), and advising and graduation information, scroll to the bottom of the left-hand navigation menu and select "Print Options." This will give you the options to either "Send Page to Printer" or "Download PDF of This Page." The "Download PDF of This Page" option prepares a much more concise presentation of all program information. The PDF is also printable and may be preferable due to its brevity. 

Institutional Certificate Requirements

The following institutional requirements apply to all CMU or CMU Tech Technical Certificates. Specific programs may have different requirements that must be met in addition to institutional requirements.

  • Consists of 5-59 semester hours.
  • Consists of 100-200 level courses.
  • At least fifty percent of the credit hours must be taken at CMU/CMU Tech.
  • 2.00 cumulative GPA or higher in all CMU/CMU Tech coursework.
  • A grade lower than “C” will not be counted toward meeting the requirements.
  • A course may only be used to fulfill one requirement for each degree/certificate.
  • Non-traditional credit, such as advanced placement, credit by examination, credit for prior learning, cooperative education and internships, cannot exceed twenty-five percent of the semester credit hours required for a technical certificate.
  • Pre-collegiate courses (usually numbered below 100) cannot be used for graduation.
  • Capstone exit assessment/projects (e.g., Major Field Achievement Test) requirements are identified under Program-Specific Certificate Requirements.
  • The Catalog Year determines which program sheet and certificate requirements a student must fulfill in order to graduate. Visit with your advisor or academic department to determine which catalog year and program requirements you should follow.
  • See “Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees and Certificates” in the catalog for a complete list of graduation requirements.

Program Specific Certificate Requirements

(8 semester hours, must earn grade of “C” or better in each course.)

  • Additional Expenses – Students entering the program may be required to purchase or have hand tools and appropriate clothing and safety gear with a total cost of approximately $2,500.00.  This does not include cost of required textbooks.  These costs may vary with student need and brand or quality of tools or equipment purchased.  All safety glasses must meet the minimum industry safety standard of Z-87 with side shields.
  • The 9 semester hour Technical Certificate in Transportation Services Light Duty Automotive Technician Foundations I must be completed prior to Foundations II.
TSTC 170Chassis Fundamentals2
TSTG 135Starting and Charging Systems2
TSTC 171Brakes I2
TSTG 175Brakes II2
Total Semester Credit Hours8

 m

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterSemester Credit Hours
TSTC 171 Brakes I 2
TSTG 175 Brakes II 2
TSTG 135 Starting and Charging Systems 2
TSTC 170 Chassis Fundamentals 2
 Semester Credit Hours8
 Total Semester Credit Hours8

Advising Process and DegreeWorks

Documentation on the pages related to this program is intended for informational purposes to help determine what courses and associated requirements are needed to earn a certificate. Some courses are critical to complete in specific semesters while others may be moved around. Meeting with an academic advisor is essential in planning courses and discussing the suggested course sequencing. It is ultimately the student’s responsibility to understand and fulfill the requirements for their intended certificate.

DegreeWorks is an online degree audit tool available in MAVzone. It is the official record used by the Registrar’s Office to evaluate progress towards a certificate and determine eligibility for graduation. Students are responsible for reviewing their DegreeWorks audit on a regular basis and should discuss questions or concerns with their advisor or academic department head. Discrepancies in requirements should be reported to the Registrar’s Office.

Graduation Process

Students must complete the following in the first two months of the semester prior to completing their certificate requirements (for one-semester certificates, complete in the first week of class):

  • Review their DegreeWorks audit and create a plan that outlines how unmet requirements will be met in the final semester.
  • Meet with their advisor and modify their plan as needed. The advisor must approve the final plan.
  • Submit the “Intent to Graduate” form to the Registrar’s Office to officially declare the intended graduation date and commencement ceremony plans.
  • Register for all needed courses and complete all requirements for each degree sought.

Submission deadlines and commencement details can be found on the Graduation web page.

If a student's petition for graduation is denied, it will be their responsibility to apply for graduation in a subsequent semester. A student's “Intent to Graduate” does not automatically move to a later graduation date.