The Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology curriculum has been designed to prepare students for the wide variety of employment opportunities in the HVAC/R field. These opportunities may include serving people with residential, commercial or industrial needs. An HVAC/R technician’s work is very interesting and challenging because it actually involves many different trades. Technicians may find themselves working on many types of heating and air conditioning systems, refrigeration equipment used in supermarket and convenience stores, and air quality systems used to maintain proper indoor conditions in places such as, hospitals and manufacturing facilities. Technicians will also discover that they work with electricity most of all. This electrical work includes control circuits, schematic diagrams and most of all, problem solving with electrical test equipment.
The HVAC/R program provides training in piping and basic sheet metal fabrication, oil, gas, and electrical heating systems, air conditioning and refrigeration design, installation and service procedures, heat pump systems, building system controls (DDC’s, PLC’s, VFD’s) and a special emphasis on electrical controls, diagrams, meters and troubleshooting. The program also provides training in critical people-skills necessary for success in this field.
Because this program teaches students a broad spectrum of skills, job opportunities are excellent. Graduates may choose to work for shops that specialize in residential installation and service or shops that focus on commercial and industrial accounts. HVAC/R technicians are in high demand and salaries advance rapidly as the graduate gains experience and skill. Job opportunities are available throughout the country, and because of the great demand for people with HVAC/R training, the opportunity for self-employment is also excellent.
Students will have an opportunity to obtain the OSHA 10 hour safety training certification and the EPA Refrigerant Handling Certification.
| Course Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | ||
| REFG 101 | Refrigeration Technology | 3 |
| REFG 102 | Refrigeration Technology | 3 |
| REFG 104 | Refrigerants: Chemistry and Ecology | 1 |
| REFG 110 | Blueprint Reading and Estimating | 2 |
| REFG 111 | Fabrication Lab | 2 |
| REFG 112 | Domestic and Residential Systems Lab | 2 |
| REFG 113 | Refrigeration Systems Lab | 2 |
| REFG 121 | Electrical Theory I | 3 |
| REFG 122 | Electrical Theory II | 3 |
| REFG 123 | Electrical Lab I | 2 |
| REFG 124 | Electrical Lab II | 2 |
| REFG 253 | Heating Equipment Theory | 2 |
| REFG 255 | Heating Equipment Lab | 3 |
| Associate Degree | ||
| REFG 201 | Refrigeration Technology | 3 |
| REFG 202 | Refrigeration Technology | 3 |
| REFG 211 | Commercial Components Lab | 2 |
| REFG 212 | Advanced Systems Lab | 2 |
| REFG 226 | Building System Controls | 3 |
| REFG 231 | Air Conditioning Design | 3 |
| REFG 232 | Air Conditioning Design | 3 |
| REFG 254 | Heat Pump Lab | 2 |
| REFG 256 | Hydronic Heating Systems | 3 |
| Related/General Education Courses | ||
| Certificate | ||
| ENGL 105 | Technical Communications | 3 |
| CIS 101 | Computer Literacy | 2 |
| Wellness elective | 1 | |
| Associate Degree | ||
| ENGL 110 | College Composition I | 3 |
| English/Communication elective (choose one) | 3 | |
| Technical Communications | ||
| College Composition II | ||
| Intro. To Professional Writing | ||
| Fundamentals of Public Speaking | ||
| MATH Elective(s) | 6 | |
| Wellness elective (HPER 210 recommended) | 2 | |
| **Social and Behavioral Science electives ECON, HIST, POLS, PSYC, SOC/SOCI, GEOG or CIS/CSCI electives | ||
| Recommended Social Science electives: | ||
| PSYC 100 | Human Relations in Organizations | 2 |
| CIS 101 | Computer Literacy | 2 |
| (NOTE: Maximum of two CIS/CSCI credits may be used for this category). | ||
| TOTAL REQUIRED CREDITS FOR CERTIFICATE: | 36 | |
| TOTAL REQUIRED CREDITS FOR ASSOCIATE: | 72 | |
The applicants must be high school graduates or equivalent. Applicants may be required to complete a basic skills evaluation during the admissions process.
Upon successful completion of the required courses, students will be awarded a certificate or an Associate in Applied Science degree in HVAC/R Technology.
Green technology is addressed by using heat recovery systems to extract the heat from the 70 degree exhaust air to warm the cool outdoor air brought in. Concern for the environment has led to newer, stricter EPA regulations. That, in turn, has led to the development of new energy saving HVAC systems. The emphasis on better energy management should lead to replacement of older units.
