Salem High School – Empowering Women in Automotive Technology

Mar 2026 · 2nd Semester

Grades 9-12 Empowering women in automotive technology is designed to encourage students who may not traditionally pursue a career/own in automotive technology to learn about this field and eventually help grow into this career bringing their unique and valuable mindset and perspectives into the evolving world that is the automotive industry. The topics covered in this course are basic vehicle maintenance, minor vehicle repairs, introduction to how the eight systems work in a vehicle, how to purchase, insure, and afford your vehicle, and more. You will acquire the skills necessary to perform basic vehicle maintenance, which can be done by any vehicle owner. Areas of study during this course include; safe work habits, automotive history, basic tools and measurement knowledge, and basic automotive system fundamentals. If you are going to own a vehicle, this course is for you. Course approved for Applied Mathematics credit. Electric Vehicle Design, Build, and Drive 1.0 credit; Year-Long , 1 hour block Grades 9-12 The automobile represents a major socio-economic element in our lives and in the economy of our country. There are significant changes on the near horizon with the impact of the electric vehicle and other ecological friendly alternative vehicles making inroads to the consumer marketplace. With the specific growth of the electric vehicle it is imperative that automotive professionals and consumers alike invest intellectual capacity in this new and growing segment of the industry. The SWITCH Lab introduces students to the electric vehicle through the construction of a full size student built vehicle. The Switch incorporates primarily off the shelf automotive products along with a custom chassis to engage the student in a significant project, specifically the assembly of an electric vehicle they can eventually drive!!! In addition to overcoming the technical challenges of building and understanding the vehicle, students will learn the soft skills required to function in environments requiring team work, project management, communication, organizational skills and cooperation..