About Automotive Technology

Automotive Technology offers entry-level and advanced courses in the Automotive and Auto Body.

San Francisco Bay Area Automotive Businesses regularly hire student graduates to be Automotive Technicians. Strong partnerships exist with San Francisco dealerships, independent shops and automotive startups. We also offer a Subaru vehicle specific training/ technical internship program. Our program has served our community for more than 30 years and has an excellent job placement success rate. The following businesses regularly hire graduates:

  • San Francisco Toyota
  • San Francisco Honda
  • Royal Motors
  • Shift Cars
  • Cruz Automation
  • Numerous independent shops

Explore Potential Careers

Auto student

Studying Automotive Technology can lead to a variety of different jobs or career paths. Below are just some of the many options you will have!

  • Beginning Apprentice
  • Express Technician
  • Lube Technician
  • Service Writer
  • Line Technician
  • Lead Technician
  • Team Leader
  • Shop Foreman
  • Master Technician

Program Options 

Click on the degree or certificate you're interested in earning to see a sample map of courses to take to complete your goal from start to finish. 

Please note that the course maps provided are just an example to help you get started. Please meet with a counselor to personalize the plan to you and your Academic goals. 

View Requirements in College Catalog

Semester 1 

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
ENGL 1A + AS University-Parallel Reading and Composition + Support 4 - 6  
ÃÈ·­µ¼º½ Area A Communication/Analytical Thinking 3  
Auto 50 Intro to Mechanics 3   
ÃÈ·­µ¼º½ Area F United States History and Government 3  
ÃÈ·­µ¼º½ Area G1   2 - 3  

Total Units: 15 - 17

Semester 2

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
ÃÈ·­µ¼º½ Math Requirement   3 - 8  
ÃÈ·­µ¼º½ Area G2   1 - 2  
ÃÈ·­µ¼º½ Area E Humanities 3  
ÃÈ·­µ¼º½ Area C Natural Sciences 3 - 4  
ÃÈ·­µ¼º½ Area D Social and Behavioral Sciences 3  

Total Units: 13 - 19 

Semester 3

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
Auto 51   8  
Major Requirement Elective See Counselor 3 - 8  
Major Requirement Elective See Counselor 3 - 8  
ÃÈ·­µ¼º½ Area H Ethnic, Women’s, Gender Studies, or LGBTQ Studies 3  

Total Units: 17+

Semester 4

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
Major Requirement Elective See Counselor 3 - 8  
Degree Applicable Elective See Counselor 3 - 8  
Degree Applicable Elective See Counselor 3 - 8  
Degree Applicable Elective See Counselor 3 - 8  
Degree Applicable Elective See Counselor 3 - 8  

Total Units: 15+

View Requirements in College Catalog

First Semester required courses:

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
AUTO 50 Intro to Automotive Mechanics 3  
AUTO 51 Automotive Electrical 8  

Total Units: 11 

Choose two of the following elective courses:

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
AUTO 53 Automatic & Manual Transmission 8  
AUTO 54 Engine Repair 8  
AUTO 55 Engine Performance and Drivability 8  
AUTO 56 Introduction to Hybrid and EV Auto Maintenance and Repair 4  
AUTO 58 Automotive Heating and Air-Conditioning 3  
AUTO 59 Automotive Suspension and Steering 4  
AUTO 63 Automotive Braking Systems 4  
AUTO 115 Service Consultant 3  

Total Units: 7 - 16 

Overall Total Units: 18 - 27

View Requirements in College Catalog

Semester 1 

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
AUTO 49 Auto Body Maintenance and Detailing 2  
AUTO 200 Auto Body Dent and Damage Repair 2  
AUTO 203 Introduction to Auto Painting and Refinishing 2   
English 1A + English 1AS University-Parallel Reading and Composition + Support 4 - 6  
ÃÈ·­µ¼º½ Area A Communication/Analytical Thinking 3  

Total Units: 13 - 15 

Semester 2

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
ÃÈ·­µ¼º½ Math Requirement See Counselor 3 - 8  
Additional Major Requirement See Counselor 2 - 4  
ÃÈ·­µ¼º½ Area C Natural Sciences 3 - 4  
ÃÈ·­µ¼º½ Area D Social and Behavioral Science 3  
ÃÈ·­µ¼º½ Area G2 Physical Skills 1 - 2  

Total Units: 12+

Semester 3

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
Additional Major Requirement See Counselor 3  
Additional Major Requirement See Counselor 3  
ÃÈ·­µ¼º½ Area G1 Health Knowledge 2 - 3  
ÃÈ·­µ¼º½ Area F US History & Government 3  
ÃÈ·­µ¼º½ Area H Ethnic, Women's and Gender and LBGTQ Studies 3  
ÃÈ·­µ¼º½ Area E Humanities 3  

Total Units: 17 - 18

Semester 4

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
Additional Major Requirement See Counselor 3  
Additional Major Requirement See Counselor 3  
ÃÈ·­µ¼º½ Area E Humanities 3  
Degree Applicable Elective See Counselor 3  
Degree Applicable Elective See Counselor 3  
Degree Applicable Elective See Counselor 3  

Total Units: 18

View Requirements in College Catalog

First semester required courses:

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
AUTO 49 Auto Body Maintenance and Detailing 2  
AUTO 200 Auto Body Dent and Damage Repair 2  
AUTO 203 Introduction to Auto Painting and Refinishing 2   

Total Units: 6 

Choose 12 units from the following elective courses:

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
AUTO 50 Intro to Automotive Mechanics 3  
AUTO 58 Automotive Heating and Air-Conditioning 3  
AUTO 201 Bolted Panel Replacement 2  
AUTO 202 Welded panel repair and replacement 2  
AUTO 204 Body/Frame Straightening & Repair 2  
AUTO 205 Auto Body Welding 2  
AUTO 206 Plastic Repair & Refinishing 2  
AUTO 115 Service Consultant 3  
MOTO 61 Custom Metal Fabrication 3  
MOTO 63 Auto-Moto Custom Painting 4  

Total Units: 12

Overall Total Units: 18

View Requirements in College Catalog

Required courses:

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
AUTO 50 Intro to Automotive Mechanics 3  
AUTO 51 Automotive Electrical 8  
AUTO 56 Introduction to Hybrid and EV Auto Maintenance and Repair 4   

Total Units: 15 

View Requirements in College Catalog

Required courses:

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
AUTO 49 Auto Body Maintenance and Detailing 2  
AUTO 50 Intro to Automotive Mechanics 3  

Total Units: 5