The field is one of the top 30 growth occupations in the United States. Students may earn an associate in science degree after taking 33 hours of general education classes, such as math, English and history, along with 59 hours of required air conditioning and refrigeration classes. Full-time students can complete a degree in approximately two years. On completion of the degree program, with certain prior planning, students may continue their education at a baccalaureate-granting institution, entering at the junior level. Baccalaureate degrees include mechanical or electrical engineering and vocational technology education.
Students can complete the certificate program in one year.
However, additional courses are highly recommended, and it may take longer than a year to complete these. Due to greater energy awareness, the air conditioning, refrigeration and heating field is advancing at such a rate that there is no foreseeable placement problem for graduates of this program. Degree - 3902. Refer to the current College of DuPage Catalog for course prerequisites. Students who complete a certificate program may wish to take General Education courses to earn an associate in applied science degree.