Agriculture Service Technology (A.S. Degree)

• Students applying to the Ag Service Technology program are subject to all Dordt application and acceptance standards outlined in the university's Academic Course Catalog.
• A student meeting the academic standards listed in the catalog will be admitted to Dordt.
• A student admitted to Dordt will not be automatically accepted into the Ag Service Technology program.
• Instead, all accepted students will be placed on a "program waitlist."
• If a student does not meet Dordt's regular admissions standards, a Provisional Admissions Committee will determine the next steps resulting in provisional admittance or denial of admission.

A three-member committee will review applicants and determine who will be admitted into the program. Beginning in October, the committee will meet regularly to review waitlisted students and make program admission selections. Because seats are limited, it is strongly recommended a student applies with enough time for admittance prior to October 1.

To earn a degree in Agriculture Service Technology you will complete all listed tech courses that blend hands-on training with classroom instruction as well as Dordt’s required core program for an Associates Degree. Internships during the summer and final semester are a requirement to gain hands-on skills in the workplace.

Dordt’s Agriculture Service Technology courses blend hands-on learning with a strong biblical foundation and workplace skills that will equip you to serve as a technician in a John Deere dealership.

• AST 101 - Introduction to Agriculture Service Tech and Preventative Maintenance: A foundations course that begins to build knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to serve the Lord through the agricultural service tech profession. From a posture of serving others and fostering trust, students will learn and apply best practices for preventative maintenance, job prioritization, work sequencing, safety, time management, and other workplace operations. To prepare for future courses, students will become proficient at identifying and selecting tools and fasteners required for common entry-level service jobs.
  
• AST 115 - Electrical/Electronics Fundamentals: An introduction to the basic fundamentals of electrical and electronics and their applications in Agriculture equipment. Students will apply these fundamentals to competently diagnose and repair basic electrical and electronic circuit faults in agriculture equipment.
  
• AST 117 - Diesel Engines: An introduction to diesel engines featured in agricultural equipment. The overall operating principles will be described along with the role each part plays in an engine's performance. Through visual inspection and disassembly, students will become proficient at identifying and differentiating between components such as crankshafts, cylinder blocks, cam shafts, valve trains, intake systems, and exhaust systems.
  
• AGRT 113 - Introductory Welding: An introduction to the principles of metal joining and cutting techniques. Students will evaluate methods and techniques for metal joining and cutting. The course will cover principles and practice of shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), gas metal arc welding (GMAW), oxyacetylene welding, and cutting. The curriculum aligns to federally endorsed national standards for production workers.
• AST 111 - Hydraulic/Hydrostat Fundamentals: An introduction to agricultural equipment hydraulic systems. The purpose, operating principles, maintenance, and common repairs for each system will be described. Students will become proficient at identifying system components on agricultural implements through visual inspection (e.g., PTOs, valve bodies, and cylinders) and disassembling common components (e.g. hydraulic cylinders).
  
• AST 118 - Diesel Engine Systems Diagnostics: Study of the operating principles of fuel systems, emission systems, and performance of the diesel engine. Students will compare common rail and injection pump fuel systems and identify their components. Scheduled maintenance and common repairs for each system will be described and critiqued in light of goals to maximize the useful life of the equipment. Special emphasis on the procedures and abilities to competently diagnose these advanced engine systems. Upon successful completion of the course, Service Advisor Diagnostic Level 3 certification will be obtained from John Deere. Prerequisite: AST 117.
  
• AST 271 - Agriculture Service Technology Internship: A summer internship program with a John Deere dealer. Interns will gain hands-on experience in a shop setting integrating what they have learned in the classroom with on-the-job training.
  
• AST 202 - HVAC Diagnostics: Study of the principles and operation of the Heating, Ventilation, and A/C system in Agricultural Equipment. Special emphasis on the procedures and abilities to competently diagnose and perform repairs on the HVAC system. Upon successful completion of the course, EPA Certification will be obtained for mobile air conditioning.
  
• AST 212 - Drivetrains: An introduction to the main components of agricultural equipment drivetrains, including the transmission, clutch, drive shaft, and axle. The purpose, operating principles, maintenance, service points, and common repairs for each component will be described. Students will become proficient through the tear-down and assembly of major power train components.
• AST 215 - Precision Agriculture: Understand the basic operating principles of the Precision Ag world. Study GPS systems, guidance systems, mapping, and artificial intelligence on all types of agriculture systems and their different uses. How these systems have paved the way to autonomy, and what the future holds for the agricultural world. Prerequisite: AST 111.
  
• AST 123 - Intermediate Welding: Students will learn and utilize intermediate techniques for metal joining and cutting. The course will cover intermediate-level concepts, skills, and practices of shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), gas metal arc welding (GMAW), oxyacetylene welding, and cutting. The course will focus on project-based learning activities. Prerequisite: Agriculture Technology 113; or permission of instructor.
  
• AST 272 - Agriculture Service Technology Internship: A final 5-week placement internship program with a John Deere Dealer. Interns will gain hands-on experience in a shop setting integrating what they have learned in the classroom with the on-the-job training. This period will be one of transition into a full-time employee. This time will be utilized to complete the onboarding process at the dealer and equip the student for day one of service in the workplace.
• AST 213 - Electrical/Electronics Diagnostics: Develops and applies trouble-shooting practices for electrical systems that demonstrate stewardship of an owner's equipment and resources by balancing time, expenses, and thoroughness to track down root causes for errors. Special emphasis on the procedures and abilities to competently diagnose advanced electrical and electronic systems will be addressed. In addition to using hand tools and multimeters, students will gain experience using diagnostic software. Upon successful completion of the course, Level 3 certification will be obtained from John Deere. Prerequisite: AST 115.
  
• AST 215 - Hydraulic/Hydrostat Diagnostics: Through shop activities, students will become proficient at inspecting, servicing, and repairing hydraulic components, including PTOs, valve bodies, and cylinders. Special emphasis on the procedures and abilities to competently diagnose hydraulic and hydrostatic systems will be addressed. Upon successful completion of the course, Level 3 certification will be obtained from John Deere.