Automotive Technology Overview

Put your career in gear with a certificate or associate in applied science degree from Southwestern Michigan College’s Automotive Technology program. The program is licensed by the National Institute for Automotive Excellence for ASE Master Technician certification.

Students will learn all the necessary skills in SMC’s high-tech auto shop from instructors who have more than 20 years of hands-on experience in the auto maintenance and repair industry. Instructors are also NIASE-certified as well as having endorsements from the major automotive manufacturers, keeping them up-to-date on the latest technology.

The program, located in the A.C. Kairis Building on the Dowagiac campus, has a high-tech auto repair lab which is undergoing a $3.2 million renovation that will expand the technology training facility by increasing the number of automotive bays to better serve students.

The high-tech equipment in the automotive lab rivals what is used in many shops of area dealerships, enabling students to quickly diagnose and trouble-shoot real-life situations. Some of the lab’s equipment includes:

• Hoffman Laser Alignment Machine and Electronic Wheel Balancer
• Protec Brake Lathe
• New refrigerant recovery system
• Hunter Transmission Flush machines
• Cooltec/Antifreeze Flush machines, which uses green recycling

The automotive faculty has built a network among employers so that students are advised of potential job prospects in the region. Employment opportunities for students include automotive technician, service writer, service manager or shop foreman. Some graduates continue on to earn a four-year degree in business through the Ferris State University program at SMC, and become owners of their own auto shop.