Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning Technology
Program Overview
The two-year Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning Associates Degree program is to provide students with the skills needed for entry-level positions in installing, repairing, and troubleshooting various heating and cooling equipment. Students will work with industrial standard tools associated with equipment such as oil and gas furnaces, refrigeration units, and air conditioning equipment.
Watch the video below to learn why Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning might be right for you.
Johnson College’s President & CEO, Dr. Katie Pittelli, visits industry partner, Simplex Homes.
Career Opportunities
Employment opportunities consist of HVAC installers, controls technicians, service technicians, maintenance mechanics, plumbers, engineers, programmers, research development, management, sales, and dispatch. But let’s be clear – this is an exciting, evolving field that requires hard work, dedication, innovation, and creative problem-solving.
Our Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning program graduates enter the region’s workforce at locations such as GLR Mechanical in Duryea, PA, Paupack Plumbing-Heating-AC in Hawley, PA. PICA HVAC in Scranton, PA, and T.E. Spall & Son in Carbondale, PA.
Program Learning Goals
Goal 1: Graduates will possess the skills necessary to obtain an entry-level HVAC Technician position.
Student Learning Outcomes – Students will:
- Identify HVAC/R equipment and system components, their functions, and their correlation within a system.
- Install various heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration equipment.
- Pipe a hydronic heating system per manufacturer specifications.
- Develop and apply competent wiring skills.
- Demonstrate industry-specified soldering and brazing techniques.
Goal 2: Graduates will demonstrate safe HVAC practices and obtain an understanding of the significance of safety procedures in the HVAC environment.
Student Learning Outcomes – Students will:
- Perform tasks in accordance with OSHA guidelines.
- Exhibit proper usage of personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Demonstrate the safe usage of all tools and equipment.
Goal 3: Graduates will be able to perform entry-level troubleshooting and preventative maintenance on various heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems.
Student Learning Outcomes – Students will:
• Demonstrate entry-level diagnostic and service procedures for residential and light commercial air conditioning systems, such as split systems, ductless systems, and package units.
• Demonstrate entry-level diagnostic and service procedures for residential and light commercial heating systems, including furnaces, boilers, heat pumps, and rooftop units.
• Demonstrate entry-level diagnostic and service procedures for residential and light commercial refrigeration systems, in particular, walk-in coolers, icemakers, and freezers.
Course Outline
2025-2026 Program Sequence
| Term 1 (Fall) | Credits: 16 | |
| BTT-103 | Introduction to Pipefitting | 2 |
| BTT-151 | Fundamentals of Electricity | 2 |
| BTT-152 | Fundamentals of Electricity Lab | 2 |
| BTT-OSHA | OSHA 10 Construction Safety Certification | 0 |
| CPT-101 | Microcomputers I | 3 |
| COM-112 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| MAT-101 | College Algebra and Trigonometry | 3 |
| SSS-101 | First Year Experience | 1 |
| Term 2 (Spring) | Credits: 15 | |
| ART-110 | Contract Drawings | 3 |
| BTT-105 | Introduction to Electricity for the Trades | 1 |
| BTT-106 | Introduction to Electricity for the Trades Lab | 2 |
| HAC-189 | Refrigeration | 2 |
| HAC-190 | Refrigeration Lab | 4 |
| SCI Elective | Science Elective | 3 |
| Term 3 (Fall) | Credits: 16 | |
| BTT Elective | Construction Elective | 3 |
| ENG-105 | Industry Communication | 3 |
| HAC-283 | Heating System Design and Installation | 2 |
| HAC-284 | Heating System Design and Installation Lab | 4 |
| HAC-285 | Air Conditioning Systems | 3 |
| HAC-287 | EPA Section 608 Certification | 1 |
| Term 4 (Spring) | Credits: 16 | |
| BTT-251 | Motors and Controls | 2 |
| BTT-252 | Motors and Controls Lab | 4 |
| BUS-101 (SOC) | Intro to Business | 3 |
| HAC-290 | Applied Practice and Special Topics | 4 |
| OR INT-299D | OR Internship | |
| HAC-291 | Commercial HVAC/R | 3 |
| OR HAC-293 | OR Introduction to Building Automation Systems |
| HAC Program Total | 63 |
This term layout is based off of a fall start. Students who start in the spring will be required to attend an additional term to complete their degree.
There may be special admission requirements for this program. Please speak with a Recruitment Advisor by calling 570-702-8856 or email enroll@johnson.edu to review our requirements.
For course descriptions, please visit the Course Catalog.