Heating, Ventilation, & Air Conditioning, Refrigeration Course Descriptions

HVAC 123 (1 credit)
OSHA Electrical and Construction Safety
This course is designed to meet the requirements that all service technicians must have for training in the rules and regulations of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Construction Safety and Building Maintenance Electrical Safety. Emphasis is on the requirements for compliance, identifying a proper lock-out/tag-out policy, and procedures a technician should follow for safe electrical work.

HVAC 135 (3 credits)
Electricity for HVAC
This course is designed to provide the basic knowledge of electrical theory and application as it pertains to the HVACR industry. The course will emphasize the basic electrical laws and definitions, generation and distribution of electrical power, and the functions of electrical controls and loads, including electrical measurements and testing. Further emphasis is placed on the application of electrical theory as it pertains to the VACR industry. Wiring diagrams and schematics will be developed and used to wire basic electrical components including testing and troubleshooting electrical circuits.

HVAC 138 (2 credits)
Lab Practice I: Electrical Applications
Practical experience is provided to apply the theory learned concerning electrical components and controls of the HVAC/R industry. Students demonstrate the proper electrical installations for basic A/C and heating equipment. Emphasis is placed on the installation, testing and start-up operation of motors, relays, thermostats, pressure switches, and other basic controls.

HVAC 142 (1 credits)
HVAC Installation Procedures
This course introduces the basic methods, tools, and materials needed for the installation of the HVAC/R equipment to students. A foundational study of the purpose of various tools and skills necessary for their safe use is emphasized. Materials and joining methods of various piping, tubing, wiring, and ductwork systems as used in this industry is studied.

HVAC 146 (2 credits)
Lab Practice II: Installation Procedures
This course provides the practical hands-on skill training. Piping practice utilizes various refrigeration trainers and a selection of commonly used A/C and heating equipment. Residential duct systems are installed on working systems. Practice is provided for the development of skills needed for various methods of joining copper tubing, stainless steel natural-gas tubing, plastic, and iron pipe.

HVAC 150 (3 credits)
Principles of Refrigeration
This course provides a study of the basic principles of thermodynamics as applied to the refrigeration cycle. The Mollier diagram is used to display the purpose and operation of the various components used in the system at expected standard operating conditions. The lab portion provides practice in measuring various system performances.

HVAC 157 (3 credits)
Residential Heating Systems
This course provides a basic understanding of different types of oil and natural gas residential heating systems. Emphasis is on proper installation, sequence of operation, and proper maintenance requirements.

HVAC 160 (2 credits)
Lab Practice III: Heating Applications
This lab time provides the hands-on training pertaining to residential heating systems. Typical residential heating systems is utilized in the lab experience to master the skills necessary for proper installation and service. Students practice typical annual servicing, combustion analysis, and efficiency testing of fossil fuel heating systems.

HVAC 167 (2 credits)
Refrigerant System Components
Introduction to residential and light commercial A/C system components. This course details the following components of air conditioner and refrigeration systems: Evaporators, condensers, metering devices, compressors, and other safety and servicing system components. Emphasis is placed on applying the knowledge gained in HVAC 150, along with manufacturer specifications, to determine proper installation and operating conditions of these cooling system components.

HVAC 170 (2 credits)
Lab Practice IV: Cooling Applications
This lab provides the hands-on training for skills necessary to properly install and start-up comfort cooling systems. Students are required to assemble a refrigeration system and test it for proper operation under various conditions.

HVAC 175 (2 credits)
Refrigerant Management
This course is designed to give students the knowledge to understand the laws on venting and handling of the various refrigerants covered in the Clean Air Act–Section 608. A requirement for this course is to take the EPA Technician Certification Exam provided by ARI. Lab practice is provided in refrigerant recovery, recycling, evacuation, and charging various small appliances and high pressure appliances.

HVAC 180 (1 credit)
Mechanical Codes for HVAC/R
This course introduces HVAC/R students to the current International Code Council (ICC) codes. The emphasis highlights the sections of these codes that are relevant to the technician for proper HVAC/R equipment installation. A brief overview of other national and local building codes is also provided.

HVAC 206 (4 credits)
Air Conditioning Systems
Air conditioning benefits, unitary cooling, unitary combination cooling and heating equipment, central station systems, service and problem analysis, and absorption refrigeration system topics are studied.
Prerequisites: HVAC 150

HVAC 211 (3 credits)
Heat Pump Systems
Covers basic principles, components, and application of heat pump systems.

HVAC 216 (3 credits)
System Installation and Start Up
Codes and standards, heating start-up, heating checkouts, heating operation, AC start-up, AC checkouts, AC operation, heat pump start-up, heat pump checkouts, and heat pump operation are covered.

HVAC 221 (3 credits)
Commercial Refrigeration
Discusses system applications, refrigerated storage, and ice machines.

HVAC 256 (3 credits)
Load Calculations
Covers refrigeration, psychometrics, heating load, and cooling load calculations.

HVAC 261 (3 credits)
Controls of HVAC
Topics include controls, valves, regulators, sensing devices/ fuel controls, residential control systems—heating/cooling, commercial and engineered control systems, and heat pump controls.

HVAC 266 (3 credits)
Ventilation
Students learn about air flow principles/duct design, mechanical and electronic filtration, and fans.

HVAC 271 (3 credits)
System Servicing and Troubleshooting
Refrigeration system problems, electrical troubleshooting, heating service/problem analysis, heat pump service/ problem analysis, and AC service/problem analysis are covered.