Certificate of Applied Science - Heavy Equipment Operation at University of Montana

The Heavy Equipment Operation Program provides students with a basic understanding of fundamental machine functions and is designed to develop apprentice-level skills in the operation of heavy equipment. Students are trained to safely and properly operate and maintain a variety of heavy equipment, including crawler-tractors, graders, scrapers, front-end loaders, excavators, backhoes, and dump trucks. Students develop an understanding of basic surveying techniques, receive extensive training in safety regulations and procedures, and learn how to handle controls precisely and judge distances accurately.

Faculty: Missoula College  |  Duration: 35 credit hours  |  Location: Missoula, MT, United States

What you will study

35 credit hours. Required courses include Interpersonal Skills in the Workplace; Safety & Basic Controls; Operational Skill Building; Job Simulation; Service & Maintenance; Construction Theory & Specialized Equipment; Contemporary Mathematics; Construction Surveying; Welding Fundamentals of Construction Trades.

Career pathways

The mission of the Heavy Equipment Operation Program is to provide the regional workforce with credentialed, skilled and competent heavy equipment operators and to be responsive to emerging workforce needs. The program also promotes an awareness of potential job site difficulties and allows students to gain knowledge of the work ethic expected by employers in the construction industry.

Official programme page