College Announces New Electric and Autonomous Vehicles, Welding and Fabrication Degree Programs for Fall 2021

July 12, 2021

Hudson Valley Community College will offer two new degree programs starting in the fall of 2021: Electric and Autonomous Vehicles and Welding and Fabrication. Both degrees will be offered through the college’s Applied Technologies Department.

Automobile Engineer Working on Electric Car Chassis Platform
Electric and Autonomous Vehicles

The new Electric and Autonomous Vehicles A.O.S. is a two-year, 63-credit program leading to an Associate of Occupational Studies degree. The program will focus on teaching the skills needed to diagnose and repair the emerging technologies found in electric, hybrid and autonomous vehicles, including advanced driver assistance systems and vehicle cybersecurity, as well as teaching students the foundational skills needed to perform general automotive repair. Graduates of the program will be prepared to enter the workforce immediately as automotive technicians with an emphasis on electric and autonomous vehicles, as well as pursue additional professional certifications in the field of their choosing. At this time, there is no other degree program like it in the region.

two handymen performing welding and grinding in the workshop
Welding and Fabrication

The new Welding and Fabrication A.O.S. is a two-year, 64-credit program that also leads to an Associate of Occupational Studies degree. This program will prepare graduates for a career in welding with an emphasis on metal fabrication. The unique curriculum will include a broad base of knowledge in fabrication and welding, along with instruction in areas like CAD, metrology and metallurgy, providing students with an advanced education not available in other welding programs and preparing them to enter the workforce immediately upon graduation.

The new degree programs were created in response to the increasing need for qualified technicians in these emerging areas. As a leader in workforce training, Hudson Valley has long made a priority of creating and expanding programs that meet the needs of local employers, who often find themselves short on the qualified staff they need to continue their growth. Several local businesses have expressed the need for both qualified welding technicians and qualified electric and autonomous vehicle technicians, and both sectors are projected to grow over the next five years.

"With New York State looking to transform its entire vehicle fleet to electric by 2030, we need to prepare technicians now to address the maintenance needs of well over a million vehicles,” said Applied Technologies Department Chairperson George Raneri. “Also developing is New York's push to develop offshore wind power, and with the newly announced wind tower building facility right here at the Port of Albany, there has never been a greater demand for welders. Hudson Valley has positioned itself to meet that demand with a Welding and Fabrication program that will be second to none in the area."

“Hudson Valley is proud to continue expanding our education and training programs to create a stronger, more prepared workforce in the Capital Region,” said Hudson Valley Community College President Roger Ramsammy. “Part of the college’s vision statement is: leading today by anticipating tomorrow. With the introduction of our new Electric and Autonomous Vehicles and Welding and Fabrication degree programs, we continue our tradition of addressing the needs of the future by providing high-quality training and education that prepares our students for the skilled jobs our local employers need to fill.”

More Information

Enrollment is open for the fall semester and applications are being accepted for both of these new programs. For more information on these programs, or to apply, contact the college’s Admissions office at (518) 629-7309 or Applied Technologies Department at (518) 629-7275.

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