About Residential Remodeling Technology

Residential remodeling has become an essential part of the construction industry. Remodelers add living space to existing homes and retrofit homes to modern conveniences and updated building codes. Remodeling can be done not only for cosmetic purposes but also for structural reasons, as well as to increase the energy efficiency of older homes.

Jobs available in the residential remodeling field include but are not limited to carpenters; painters; drywall and ceiling tile installers; roofers; woodworkers; kitchen and bath remodelers; siding, roofing, and aluminum installers; and flooring specialists.


Upon graduation, students of the Residential Remodeling program will have a number of different opportunities available. In addition to working in their field, graduates will also have the chance to continue their education in areas such as project management, technical education, residential designer, civil engineering, and structural engineering degrees. Advanced opportunities as crew leaders, supervisors, assistant supervisors, superintendents and small business owners may also be possible for graduates of the program.


What you’ll learn

  • Understand the history of residential buildings in the 20th and 21st centuries.
  • Demonstrate basic carpentry woodworking skills.
  • Demonstrate successful use of basic and advanced tools of the profession.
  • Read blueprints to lay out projects necessary to complete tasks.
  • Calculate material quantities and estimate time allowances for projects using mathematical skills required in the profession.
  • Apply remodeling skills necessary for interior, exterior, kitchen, and bathroom projects.
  • Operate masonry tools and equipment safely and effectively.
  • Complete basic masonry repairs.
  • Identify and rectify basic plumbing problems in an existing dwelling.
  • Troubleshoot basic electrical circuits found in a dwelling.
  • Practice safety in the lab and on-site environments.
  • Demonstrate a strong work ethic and the ability to work both independently and as a contributing member of a team.
  • Stay current with any new technology or codes related to remodeling.

Sample Job Titles 

General remodeling skills may include all phases of carpentry, insulation drywall work, painting and finishing, tile work, roofing, siding, aluminum brake work, trim, electrical work, plumbing work, masonry, bricklaying, reading and interpretation of plans

Carpenters, Construction Laborers, Painters, Construction and Maintenance, Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters, Painters, Construction and Maintenance, Concrete Finishers, Drywall, and Ceiling Tile Installers, Roofers, Helpers—Carpenters, Stonemasons, Woodworkers, All Other Helpers—Electricians,

Tile and Marble Setters, Construction and Related Workers, All Other Plasterers and Stucco Masons,

Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles

Essential Skills Needed

This program requires a variety of foundational skills for students to thrive. Click the button below to view the full list of essential skills you’ll need before enrolling.

Location
Snyder Building, Main Campus

Type of program
Associate Degree

Job/Salary Outlook
See industry data

Length of program
2 years, 73 credits

Cost of program
$4,500/semester tuition
$3,105 – $3,623/semester housing
$1,915 – $2,417/semester meal plan

Tool List: First-year, Second-year (PDF)

Program details

Courses

MODEL SCHEDULE FOR RESIDENTIAL REMODELING TECHNOLOGY

  • RMDL 106 – Remodeling Hand and Power Tools (3 credits)
  • RMDL 111 – Building Materials (3 credits)
  • CARP 157 – Floor, Wall, and Ceiling Framing (3 credits)
  • CARP 182 – Blueprint Reading (3 credits)
  • MATH 126 – Technical Mathematics I
    (OR higher-level math) (3 credits)
  • ENG 106 – English Composition (3 credits)
  • CARP 116 – Building Site and Foundations (3 credits)
  • CARP 161 – Stair Construction and Remodeling (2 credits)
  • CARP 166 – Roofing & Exterior Finishes (3 credits)
  • CARP 178 – Interior & Exterior Finishes (3 credits)
  • MATH 132 – Elementary Geometry
    (OR higher-level math) (3 credits)
  • CIS 111 – Intro. to Computer Applications (3 credits)
  • RMDL 206 – Remodeling Drafting and Design (3 credits)
  • RMDL 210 – Demolition and Stabilization (2 credits)
  • RMDL 216 – Estimating and Scheduling (3 credits)
  • RMDL 221 – Remodeling and Electro-Mechanical Systems (2 credits)
  • RMDL 250 – Insulation and Weatherization (2 credits)
  • SCIENCE – Elective (3 credits)
  • ENG 216 – Technical Writing OR ENG 221 Public Speaking (3 credits)
  • CARP 272 – Site Work and Foundations II (2 credits)
  • RMDL 260 – Kitchen and Bath Remodeling (3 credits)
  • RMDL 270 – Advanced Interior Finishes (4 credits)
  • RMDL 280 – Advanced Exterior Finishes (3 credits)
  • BUSN 106 Small Business Management (3 credits) 
  • HUMANITIES – Elective (3 credits)
  • Health/PE Elective (1 credit)

Total Credits 73

Faculty
Matthew Krupa Instructor, Residential Remodeling Technology First-Year Students, '06

Matthew Krupa

Instructor, Residential Remodeling Technology, First-Year Students
Andrew Snavley Instructor, Residential Remodeling Technology Second-Year Students Headshot

Andrew Snavely

Instructor, Residential Remodeling Technology, Second-Year Students
Loren Bishop, Assistant Professor, Residential Remodeling Technology First-Year Students Headshot

Loren Bishop

Assistant Professor, Residential Remodeling Technology, First-Year Students
Instructor, Residential Remodeling Technology Second-Year Students Headshot

Joseph Kiely

Instructor, Residential Remodeling Technology, Second-Year Students, ’05
Residential Remodeling Technology student in his classroom lab.

The outcomes speak for themselves

Graduates of the Residential Remodeling program can work in a variety of roles, continue their education, or roles as crew leaders and assistant superintendents. 


Success stories

Performance Measures

Internal Key Performance Indicators (Sources: Internal data collections, and Post-Graduate Surveys)

A bar graph showing retention rates for this program cohort from 2018-2021. 
2018: 58.6% 2019: 76.9% 2020: 68.2% 2021: 81.8%

Retention Rate

This rate reflects the continuous term-to-term persistence rate for certificate programs and the fall-to-fall retention rate for associate degree programs.

A bar chart showing graduation rates for this program for the following years. 
2018: 57.7% 2019: 76.9% 2020: 68.2% 2021: 72.7%

Graduation Rate

This rate reflects the number of freshmen who were officially enrolled in the fall semester and earned a certificate or degree within the expected timeframe.


Post Graduate Survey Response Rate

The post graduate survey is an annual on-line post graduate survey utilized by the college to gather vital information regarding career placement, starting salary, and level of satisfaction.

A graph showing post graduate survey response rate for this program cohort from 2018 to 2022. 
2018: 66.7% 2019: 92.3% 2020: 75% 2021: 90% 2022: 78.6%
A bar graph showing the percent of graduate survey respondents who reported being employed or continued their education from the following years. 
2018: 90% employed in major 10% employed non-major 
2019: 83.3% employed in major 8.3% employed non-major 8.3% unemployed
2020: 91.7% employed in major 8.3% employed non-major 
2021: 66.7% employed in major 11.1% employed non-major 16.7% continued education 5.6& unemployed
2022: 90.9% employed in major 9.1% unemployed

Employed Full Time Outside of Major

Percentage of graduates who reported being employed full-time outside their field of study.

A chart showing graduate satisfaction for this program for the following years.
2018: 75% 2019: 100% 2020: 80% 2021: 64% 2022: 71%

Graduate Satisfaction

This is the median graduate survey response evaluating the level of preparation for workforce entry (based on a 5-Item Likert Scale).

A bar chart showing graduates who are employed full time outside of for this program for the following years.
2018: 100% 2019: 91.7% 2020: 100% 2021: 94.4% 2022: 90.9%

Placement Rate

This is the percent of graduate survey respondents who reported being employed or continued their education on a full-time basis.

A bar graph showing the percent of graduate survey respondents who reported being employed full time within field of study from the following years. 
2018: 90% 2019: 83.3% 2020: 91.7% 2021: 83.3% 2022: 90.9%

Employed Full Time Within Major

Percentage of graduates who reported being employed full-time within their field of study.

A bar graph showing the percent of graduate survey respondents median annual salary from the following years. 
2018: $38,999.5 2019: $42,499.5 2020: $37,499.5 2021: $42,499.5 2022: $52,499.5

Annual Median Starting Salary

This number is based on the graduate survey response to the request to identify a starting salary from a range of options. This graph shows the median first-year annual salary. All calculations are based on the respondent’s self-reported first-year annual income.

A bar graph showing the percent of graduate survey respondents median hourly rate from the following years. 
2018: $19.23 2019: $20.43 2020: $18.03 2021: $21.43 2022: $25.24

Reported Hourly Rate

This number is determined by dividing the reported median salary by the number of hours in a traditional full-time work week (40), then the number of weeks in a year (52).

Two students in the residential remodeling technology lab

Our graduates work with the industry’s best

CK Builds Logo
Eby Exteriors Logo
Narvon Run Builders Logo
First State Building & Design Logo

Soar Agreements

This program enables students to apply certain credits earned in high school to the credits needed for a degree or certificate through Thaddeus Stevens College. The Residential Remodeling Technology degree qualifies for this program – see our SOAR program page for details!