Automotive Technology

Professional General Automotive Technology / Mornings

The Automotive Morning program is generic and global in nature. This program covers domestic, European, and Japanese vehicles. Emphasis is on all areas of the automobile except body and heavy duty diesel.

Students are in class 4 days a week for 5 hours a day and experience extensive hands-on training. It takes three years (six semesters) to complete all facets of this program. However, Automotive course requirements for an AS degree can be earned in just three semesters of Automotive classes. Entrance into this program requires a special application  and successful completion of prerequisites. 

Weekend/Evening

Weekend and evening courses are designed for all levels and abilities. General automotive courses for the do-it-yourselves, entry-level courses for prospective automotive technicians, and in-service courses for the working technician are available. Most weekend courses are designed for the working technicians who want to specialize in Smog Check testing, diagnosis and repair. Other courses are related to diagnosing electrical and driveability problems.

Weekend courses are offered in convenient sessions of two or four meetings. Evening courses are offered in four, eight and sixteen week sessions of two evenings per week. An Associate of Science Degree is available for students enrolled in evening courses.

No special application or tools are required for these courses. Additional materials and lab fees may be applied to certain courses. The class schedule will have more information on each class specifically.

Check out the current class schedule

Consumer Classes / Weekend

Courses are offered on Saturday or Sat/Sun with the consumer in mind. Topics include basic automotive principles and techniques to perform routine maintenance on your own vehicle. In our Car Care Basics for Women course (men are welcome) you will also learn how to select and form a professional relationship with an Automotive repair facility. No special application or tools are required for these courses.

Certificates

Students enrolled in our career track Morning Automotive classes can complete requirements to earn a State of California Certificate of Achievement.

Students enrolled in Evening classes are awarded a Skyline College Automotive Program Certificate upon successful completion of each class.

Degrees

Students in the Automotive Technology program have the option to obtain an Associate in Science Degree by completing their General Education as well as Automotive courses.

We offer two AS Degree Pathways. Each degree pathway consists of required and elective automotive classes. 

• Automotive Technology AS Requirements
• Automotive Technician AS Requirements

Program Success

The Skyline College Morning and Evening programs have a five-year average success rate of 90%. Within that same five years we retain 91% of our students. Statistics from the State of California Chancellors office reported that the Skyline College Automotive Morning program has 100% employment after program completion with 71% earning a living wage in the bay area. Most of our students through our internship program will work part-time in the Automotive industry while attending Automotive classes.

Program	Type	Total Units
Automotive Technician	AS	60 Units
Automotive Technology	AS	60 Units
Asian Engine Performance Technology	CA	19 - 20 Units
Automotive Advanced Engine Performance Technology	CA	19 - 20 Units
Automotive Chassis, Alignment and Brake Technology	CA	19 - 20 Units
Automotive Drive Train Technology	CA	19 - 20 Units
Automotive Electricity/Electronics	CA	19 - 20 Units
Automotive Engine Performance Technology	CA	19 - 20 Units
Automotive Engines Technology	CA	19 - 20 Units
Automotive Technician - Entry Level	CS	7 Units

The Skyline College Morning and Evening programs have a five year average success rate of 90%. Within that same five years we retain 91% of our students. Statistics from the State of California Chancellors office reported that the Skyline College Automotive Morning program has 100% employment after program completion with 71% earning a living wage in the bay area. Most of our students through our internship program will work part-time in the Automotive industry while attending Automotive classes.

Demand for Women in Auto Tech has never been greater as the industry continues to expand.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, “The number of jobs for automotive service is projected to grow faster than average for all occupations over the next decade. Employment growth will create many new jobs, but total job openings will be significantly larger because many skilled technicians are expected to retire and will need to be replaced.”

There is no better program than Skyline to help women to succeed in this industry! If you have questions, contact Instructor Julia Johnson at johnsonj@smccd.edu or 650-738-4485.

Women in Auto Tech

Skyline College Automotive Department would like to connect automotive students with employers. We look for employers who are willing to take a student with limited experience and teach them what it is like to work in a shop and perform quality work in a timely manner. 

Post a Job

Note to Employers: We often get inquiries from employers in June and July. By this time, our students are on summer break and most of our graduates have already been working part-time for 2 - 18 months. Most graduates will go to work full-time with their current employer. The best time to find a graduate is sometime between 2 - 18 months before their May graduation date. If you can manage to work with a student part-time for a year, by the time they graduate they will know how you like things done and become wonderful employees. 

Internship Program: In our internship program, students earn college credit while they work for you --  like a try before you buy deal. You will employ a student for one semester (typically 3 months). At the end, you can decide to keep the student or part ways. No harm, no foul. During their employment with you, the student will have learning objectives to complete. To find out more about the internship program, contact the department office 650-738-4438 or lamn@smccd.edu.

Having trouble passing a Smog Check? State Smog Referees can assist you with inspections of unusual vehicles and locating hard-to-find emission parts.

The Smog Referee on Skyline campus is open on a limited basis. You can make an appointment through the California Bureau of Automotive Repair.

The Advisory Committee is made up of volunteers who agree to serve as advisors to one or more career and technical programs. Members include representatives from business, labor, community agencies, faculty, students and other members.

The committee provides valuable input in areas such as curriculum development, student recruitment and placement, staff development, equipment and software, making recommendations to strengthen, expand, and improve the quality of the program.

Advisory Committee

The Automotive Department at Skyline College accepts donations from private individuals, small businesses and corporations. Vehicles, shop equipment, hand tools, power tools, automotive components, written material, financial support and scholarship funding are typical donations.

Due to our large fleet of training vehicles, we are unable to accept all vehicle donations. By submitting a donation request, you can provide us with the details and photos that we will need to evaluate the educational value of the vehicle you wish to donate. Vehicles with severe mechanical problems or heavy body damage may not prove usable for educating our students. However, you may have a vehicle that has a particular trait or specific system or transmission that would be perfect for our students to learn on.

We encourage everyone who wishes to donate something to our automotive department to fill out the form. We will respond to you promptly.

If you wish to donate funds or scholarship support, every cent will go into the program to enhance the student learning experience or put toward an automotive scholarship that a lucky student can use for books, tools and tuition.

Donation Form

Upon completion of the program students will be able to:

• Successfully pass 3 out of 8 Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) exams.
• Apply theories, principles, and concepts to address skills learned that would apply to the NATEF Certified areas of the Automotive Technology Program.
• Exhibit strong and effective written and oral communication skills.
• Exhibit strong electrical and mechanical analytical diagnostic skills.
• Recognize the importance of and practice ethical behavior in a professional work setting, both within the workforce and within the community.
• Successfully complete 100% of P-1 NATEF specific tasks.
• Successfully complete 95% of the P-2 NATEF specific tasks.
• Successfully complete 65% of the P-3 NATEF specific tasks.