Career Opportunities

A wide variety of automotive restoration businesses, including automotive restoration shops, custom fabrication shops, automotive museums, automotive auction houses, private vehicle collections, specialty parts fabrication, and classic vehicle maintenance and repair.

Recommended High School Subjects

Three years of English, two years of algebra, and one year of science.

Special Admissions Requirements

Seats in this major are conditionally reserved for those interested students who have met the entrance requirements for admission to Penn College. Students who receive these reserved seats must achieve a cumulative grade-point-average of 3.0 in ABC 100, ABC 104, RST 100, SAF 110, and WEL 105, and remediate any deficiencies prior to enrolling in RST 101 and second semester courses.  Students must have a valid driver's license to enroll in RST 160, which is a required course in the curriculum.

Special Equipment Needs

See the Tool List on the Automotive Restoration Technology major web page.

Remediation Strategies

See Special Admission Requirements (above).

Transfer Procedures

Students officially admitted in this major and graduating in Automotive Restoration Technology may re-enroll, within two years, into Collision Repair Technology. Upon successful completion of the required 33-credits, the student can petition to graduate with an AAS in Collision Repair Technology.

Program Goals

• identify parts, research sources of information, evaluate authenticity of parts/components, and select repair procedures for specific model and make vehicles.
• develop a comprehensive repair plan to include structural, non-structural, interior, refinish, mechanical, electrical, and cost estimates, dependent on the client's desired outcome of the restoration project.
• demonstrate the high quality of craftsmanship necessary for museum and contest-ready vehicles.
• demonstrate a depth of knowledge and skill in structural, mechanical, electrical, non-structural, and refinish techniques authentic to the original manufacture of the vehicle.
  distinguish and evaluate the various restoration techniques necessary to accomplish repairs and to evaluate quality of workmanship in vehicles dating from 1900 to 1972.
• emulate, through daily practice, the professional standards of the industry for punctuality, teamwork, attention to detail, steadfastness, and oral and written communication.
• be successfully employed in the field of automotive restoration and its related areas or successfully graduate from a four-year degree program.

Performance Standards

Students must maintain a "C" or greater in all RST courses. If a "D" or lower is earned, the course must be repeated. Students should work closely with their advisers and with the program faculty to ensure that they are meeting all criteria for satisfactory progress in the program. Failure to maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in the specified courses, or finish remediation in the first semester at Penn College, will result in the student being removed from the Automotive Restoration Technology major and placed into the Collision Repair Technology major or another major of their choice, provided the student meets the requirements for acceptance in the major.