Students interpret collected data, decide on a course of action, and correct the malfunction by repair, replacement or adjustment of the faulty component. Students also perform a wide variety of preventive maintenance tasks. Students will also work with computer software programs to diagnose and troubleshoot electronically controlled systems used in the heavy equipment industry. Students assemble diesel engines, repair hydraulic systems, diagnose and troubleshoot mechanical and electronic fuel injection systems, service hydraulic and air brake systems, diagnose and correct transmission and torque converter problems, test and service electrical and electronic systems, and set up preventive maintenance programs for a fleet of vehicles. Students completing the two-year associate degree program will spend over approximately 1,000 hours testing, repairing and adjusting customer and Ferris owned equipment in an ultra modern facility.
All work is performed under the supervision of the heavy equipment technology faculty.
For students interested in electrical power generation, a certificate is provided upon completion of the HET associates degree and the satisfactory completion of two additional courses in electrical power generation. Students may begin the technical sequence in the fall or winter semester. Qualified students are accepted on a first come, first served basis if they have an ACT mathematics score of 19 or higher. If a student has an ACT mathematics score of less than 19, they will be placed in the pre-technical phase of the heavy equipment program. Upon the successful completion of MATH 110, the student will be allowed to enroll into the heavy equipment technical sequence the following semester.