The Cat® Dealer Prep Program is a cooperative two-year college level Student Technician education program that leads to an Associate in Applied Science degree with a major in Caterpillar Service Technology. The two-year, six semester program incorporates approximately one-half of the time designated for technical /academic education at OSU Institute of Technology. The remaining time is allocated for on-the-job experience at Louisiana Cat facilities. Each block of technical education and general education course work is followed by an immediate dealership work experience time period that reinforces the technical education. These time periods are approximately 7 ½ weeks in length each.
Technical training on Caterpillar equipment and components includes the latest developments in: Engine Repair; Hydraulic Systems; Electrical and Electronic Systems; Test Procedures and Diagnostic Tools. In addition to the technical curriculum, courses will be offered in areas such as Math; Composition/Technical Writing; Psychology, U.S. History; U.S. Government; Business and Ethics to provide students with the background necessary for effective communication of ideas and the development on interpersonal skills.
The internship allows students to apply, in a real-world setting, what they have learned during the previous classroom/lab sessions. In addition, students become familiar with the dealership environment, its organizational structure, and the competencies that are expected of a professional service technician.
