Automotive Technology

Graduates are highly recruited by leading edge dealerships and corporations
The 2-Year Program is an NATEF-accredited program
The 4-Year Program is considered by the industry as 1 of the top 4 programs of its kind in the country.

Depending upon the area of the country, a corporate starting salary can vary between $35,000 to $60,000 a year. Graduates that accept jobs in small rural communities might start at a lower hourly wage, such as $10 to $15 per hour.

Field Representative - This job often begins in a management trainee position, where a company develops the graduate to become a product support representative that travels a territory and assists dealerships in sales, service, parts, and or warranty.
Technical Hotline - In this job a graduate is trained to answer dealer technical inquiries on automobiles or equipment.
Aftermarket Sales - This job trains a graduate to manage a parts store or other stores related to aftermarket accessories.
Writer/Literature Developer - Graduates begin their career by writing service and or repair manuals.
Dealership Service Writer - Dealerships often start graduates writing repair orders. This job requires knowledge of the automobile/equipment and good communication skills.
Fleet Equipment Manager - In this job, graduates manage equipment by performing preventative maintenance inspections on equipment and scheduling repairs, to ensure that the equipment is available for everyday production.
Test Engineering Technician - Graduates test prototype automobiles, tractors, and equipment for reliability, serviceability and functionality.
Technician - Other students begin their career as a technician and work towards becoming a service manager or fleet manager.
Service Training Instructor - In this job, graduates train technicians for manufacturers.
Insurance Claims Representative - Graduates work in a variety of areas including claims, total loss/salvage department, catastrophe teams, and field appraisers.
Automotive Paint Store Managers and Sales representatives - Management Training Program (MTP) candidates are often able to choose from several areas to live while training as store managers. Potential jobs such as area sales reps are also common.

• Advanced Auto Parts
• Advantage Technical Recruiting/Ford
• Allstate
• American Honda
• Bridgestone-Firestone
• Caliber
• Conklin Cars
• Chrysler
• Davis Moore
• Ford Motor Company
• General Motors
• Mavis Discount Tire
• Mazda
• Midas
• Mitsubishi
• MPP
• NAPA
• Nationwide
• Nissan
• PepBoys
• Progressive Insurance
• Reliable Automotive
• Sherwin Williams Automotive Finishes
• State Farm
• Travelers Insurance
• Toyota
• TTI
• Wolfe Automotive Group
• Zurich Insurance

• AGCO
• Berry Companies
• Caterpillar
• CNH
• Cummins
• Fabick Caterpillar
• Foley Equipment
• Ford Motor Company
• GE Transportation Systems
• Granite Construction
• International Truck & Engine
• John Deere
• John Deere Dealerships
• Larson Group
• MHC
• Paccar
• Peter Kiewit Incorporated
• Prime
• Stewart & Stevenson
• Transam Trucking
• United Rentals
• UPS
• Walsh Construction
• Zachry Construction 

Automotive Internship with Prof. Norman (PDF)

Diesel Internship with Dr. Dell (PDF)

Four Year Automotive Student Handbook (PDF)

Capstone Summarization Table (PDF)

Detailed Senior Capstone Portfolio Sample (PDF)

Teamwork/Leadership Documentation Form (PDF)

Automotive Course Substitution Form

 

Automotive/Diesel majors are eligible to apply for scholarships. Candidates need to be seeking

• Bachelors of Science degree in Automotive Technology" (BST) or
• Bachelors of Applied Science in Technology" with an emphasis in Automotive or Diesel (BAS)

The university has an on-line program, where students can apply for scholarships.
The three items below are required in order to apply on-line:

• Granted admission into the University
• Obtain a student identification number
• Obtain a GUS PIN number

After completing these three tasks prospective students can apply on-line for scholarships.  Current students use this link to scholarship application process.   Be sure to apply for the correct academic year. Students can also submit a letter of interest to the Automotive Technology Scholarship Coordinator. The letter should contain:

• The date of your letter
• Major
• Class standing (freshman, sophomore, junior, senior)
• Freshmen should submit a copy of their high school transcript
• Transfer students should submit a copy of your college transcript and possibly high school transcript
• New students should mention the date you plan to start attending Pitt State
• GPA
• Relevant experience in the automotive or diesel field
• Special needs or concerns
• Expected graduation date
• Current PSU students should include their I.D. #
• Statement that you have applied on-line for scholarships

Address Letter To:

To receive first consideration for a scholarship students must apply by the university deadline, February 1st. The Automotive Technology faculty begin meeting shortly after that deadline to award scholarships for the upcoming academic school year (August through May). These scholarships are presented to the recipients during the April awards banquet.

I missed the deadline, and the scholarships have already been awarded for the academic year. Can I somehow still be considered for a scholarship?

The majority of scholarships are awarded during the February/March time frame. However, at the discretion of the faculty and if funds are still available, candidates might be reviewed again in late July or up until the start of the fall semester. Candidates may send a letter of interest to the scholarship coordinator as listed above and apply on line.

At times the department will have the opportunity to award scholarships throughout the year. Sometimes the department receives funds for scholarships during the academic year that are to be awarded during the same year. Students are urged to apply on-line and submit a letter of interest to the scholarship coordinator.

The Automotive/Diesel Technology Department offers thousands of dollars of scholarships each year. However, on average, the program typically awards the larger scholarships to students who have already demonstrated their commitment towards earning a degree from the automotive technology program. The department does want to award scholarships to incoming freshmen and therefore encourages incoming freshmen to apply for scholarships as described above.

Although students can take some automotive and diesel classes for their Masters degree, we do not offer a Masters degree that is specifically "Automotive Technology". However, it is possible for a graduate student to be awarded a scholarship from the automotive & diesel technology department for extenuating circumstances. For example, if the graduate student did not have the opportunity to participate in a graduate assistantship, but the student has a substantial financial need and has agreed to complete some individual work for the automotive program.

Apply on-line as described above. Note: A student must first apply for admission into the university before they can apply for a scholarship. Therefore, complete the on-line application for admission into the institution, then complete the on-line scholarship scholarship application.

Automotive Aftermarket Scholarship Central
Automobile Dealers of Greater Kansas City Scholarship
Midwest Auto Care Alliance
Specialty Equipment Market Association - SEMA