Program Description:
The Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and Environmental Control Technology (AIRE) Program offers a comprehensive study of Heating - Ventilation - Air Conditioning & Refrigeration (HVAC/R) systems. The AIRE Program courses of study include new and emerging technologies relating to climate controlled environments for homes, buildings and conditioned spaces, with topics ranging from residential refrigeration to commercial air conditioning and industrial freezing systems. It provides superior hands-on information needed to successfully maintain and troubleshoot today's complex heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems. Particular focus is directed toward energy efficiency, sustainability, and the integration of conventional systems with alternative energy and Green Technology. This program fosters a solid foundation and understanding of environmental problems and their solutions, and displays a depth and detail of theory, diagnostics, and repair procedures.
Program Goals
The AIRE Program offers a series of complementary certificates that may be used for job placement and advancement in the field. When combined with the appropriate general education and graduation requirements, an AIRE Program certificate leads to an Associate in Science degree that may be used for advanced job placement and as preparation for a four-year engineering or air conditioning and refrigeration technology program.
Career Options
The AIRE Program trains students in traditional career options that include:
- Air conditioning and/or refrigeration contractor
- Service manager
- Dispatcher
- HVAC or refrigeration service technician
- Manufacturer service representative
- Sales engineer
- Service engineer
- Facilities or plant operations engineer
- HVACR consultant
- Control systems designer/commissioner
Program Learning Outcomes
Students who complete the program will be able to:
- Size and design an HVACR system for a structure or commercial application.
- Correctly diagnose and repair HVACR equipment using a minimum of replacement parts.
- Articulate the effects of deficient or excessive sub-cooling, superheat, air flow or water flow through an HVACR system.
- Utilize knowledge of the Refrigeration Cycle to charge a typical AC system.
- Trace power and control voltages in the diagnosis of HVACR equipment.
AIRE (Environmental Control)
Certificates of Performance*:
- Basic Refrigeration and Control Systems (11 units)
- AIRE 100: Basic Refrigeration and AC Theory (4 units)
- AIRE 103: Basic Refrigeration and AC Lab (2 units)
- AIRE 124: Power & Control Systems Theory (3 units)
- AIRE 125: Power & Control Systems Lab (2 units)
Certificates of Achievement:
- Advanced Air Conditioning and Direct Digital Control
- Advanced HVAC/R Mechanical Systems Installation and Repair (24 units)
- AIRE 60: Construction Safety and Health (2 units)
- AIRE 94: HVAC/R Certification Training (3 units)
- AIRE 100: Basic Refrigeration and AC Theory (4 units)
- AIRE 103: Basic Refrigeration and AC Lab (2 units)
- AIRE 124: Power & Control Systems Theory (3 units)
- AIRE 125: Power & Control Systems Lab (2 units)
- AIRE 132: Advanced Refrigeration & AC Theory (3 units)
- AIRE 133: Advanced Refrigeration & AC Theory Lab (2 units)
- EGEE 50: Building Science Principles (3 units)
- Air Conditioning, Heating, and Advanced Refrigeration
- Basic HVAC/R Mechanical Systems Installation
- Heating, Air Conditioning and Solar Energy
- Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Systems Design
- Mechanical Systems and Solid-State Electronics Technician (30 units)
- AIRE 60: Construction Safety and Health (2 units)
- AIRE 94: HVAC/R Certification Training (3 units)
- AIRE 100: Basic Refrigeration and AC Theory (4 units)
- AIRE 103: Basic Refrigeration and AC Lab (2 units)
- AIRE 124: Power & Control Systems Theory (3 units)
- AIRE 125: Power & Control Systems Lab (2 units)
- AIRE 132: Advanced Refrigeration & AC Theory (3 units)
- AIRE 133: Advanced Refrigeration & AC Theory Lab (2 units)
- AIRE 144: Direct Digital Controls Theory (4 units)
- AIRE 145: Direct Digital Controls Lab (2 units)
- EGEE 50: Building Science Principles (3 units)
- Mechanical Systems Project Development (33 units)
- AIRE 60: Construction Safety and Health (2 units)
- AIRE 94: HVAC/R Certification Training (3 units)
- AIRE 100: Basic Refrigeration and AC Theory (4 units)
- AIRE 103: Basic Refrigeration and AC Lab (2 units)
- AIRE 122: Construction Drawing and Estimating (3 units)
- AIRE 123: Construction Drawing ad stimating Lab (1 unit)
- AIRE 124: Power & Control Systems Theory (3 units)
- AIRE 125: Power & Control Systems Lab (2 units)
- AIRE 126: Fluid Flow Dynamics (3 units)
- AIRE 127: Fluid Flow Dynamics Lab (2 units)
- AIRE 138: HVAC System Design (3 units)
- AIRE 139: HVAC System Design Lab (2 units)
- EGEE 50: Building Science Principles (3 units)
Associate's Degrees:
- Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and Environmental Control Technology
- HVAC/R Mechanical Systems Installation and Repair (24 units)
- AIRE 60: Construction Safety and Health (2 units)
- AIRE 94: HVAC/R Certification Training (3 units)
- AIRE 100: Basic Refrigeration and AC Theory (4 units)
- AIRE 103: Basic Refrigeration and AC Lab (2 units)
- AIRE 124: Power & Control Systems Theory (3 units)
- AIRE 125: Power & Control Systems Lab (2 units)
- AIRE 132: Advanced Refrigeration & AC Theory (3 units)
- AIRE 133: Advanced Refrigeration & AC Theory Lab (2 units)
- EGEE 50: Building Science Principles (3 units)
- Mechanical Systems and Solid-State Electronics Technician (30 units)
- AIRE 60: Construction Safety and Health (2 units)
- AIRE 94: HVAC/R Certification Training (3 units)
- AIRE 100: Basic Refrigeration and AC Theory (4 units)
- AIRE 103: Basic Refrigeration and AC Lab (2 units)
- AIRE 124: Power & Control Systems Theory (3 units)
- AIRE 125: Power & Control Systems Lab (2 units)
- AIRE 132: Advanced Refrigeration & AC Theory (3 units)
- AIRE 133: Advanced Refrigeration & AC Theory Lab (2 units)
- AIRE 144: Direct Digital Controls Theory (4 units)
- AIRE 145: Direct Digital Controls Lab (2 units)
- EGEE 50: Building Science Principles (3 units)
- Mechanical Systems Project Development (33 units)
- AIRE 60: Construction Safety and Health (2 units)
- AIRE 94: HVAC/R Certification Training (3 units)
- AIRE 100: Basic Refrigeration and AC Theory (4 units)
- AIRE 103: Basic Refrigeration and AC Lab (2 units)
- AIRE 122: Construction Drawing and Estimating (3 units)
- AIRE 123: Construction Drawing ad stimating Lab (1 unit)
- AIRE 124: Power & Control Systems Theory (3 units)
- AIRE 125: Power & Control Systems Lab (2 units)
- AIRE 126: Fluid Flow Dynamics (3 units)
- AIRE 127: Fluid Flow Dynamics Lab (2 units)
- AIRE 138: HVAC System Design (3 units)
- AIRE 139: HVAC System Design Lab (2 units)
- EGEE 50: Building Science Principles (3 units)
*A Certificate of Performance is a departmental award that does not appear on the student's transcript. All courses must be completed within the San Diego Community College District.