Automotive Engineering

[S13CoupeLover]

I've been into cars know for what?? shoot 7+ years. and well i recently just said i love cars and i want to do something with cars for the rest of my life. so with that i mind i thought about mechanical engineering but i thought u know what u wanna design them rather then build on platforms other people made. so is there like a certain category that would be in?? or would it be easier just to go for mechanical engineering?

and also is automotive engineering it's own category or does it have multiple sub categories?

[scottotrauma]

Aerospace Engineering FTW. We got a pretty good program here in Auburn, check it out

[S13CoupeLover]

Aerospace Engineering FTW. We got a pretty good program here in Auburn, check it out

what kind of engineering would that be?? like aerodynamics? if u would have a link to a site or something i'll check it out.

[skylndrftr]

the way my school does it is that you are a mechanical engineer and then you can have a oncentration in either mechanical, aerospace, biomedical, enviromental, or general. Theres another thread about mechanical engineering if you want to check that out.

[scottotrauma]

http://eng.auburn.edu/programs/aero/index.html

[adren77]

What aspects of Automotive Engineering interest you the most? It's a really broad topic that nobody can fully understand.

"Automotive Engineering" doesn't really exist in USA. This industry is too specific for most engineering schools to give it its own department. If you want to understand your car better, Mechanical Engineering is probably the best way to go. It will give you basic understanding of most physical systems (related to a car) and how they work. Then you can study on your own to understand how these systems apply to your car.

There are some graduate programs that focus more on automotive related applications.

Since everybody is posting a link to their school, here's mine

http://mechse.uiuc.edu/

[S13CoupeLover]

What aspects of Automotive Engineering interest you the most? It's a really broad topic that nobody can fully understand.

"Automotive Engineering" doesn't really exist in USA. This industry is too specific for most engineering schools to give it its own department. If you want to understand your car better, Mechanical Engineering is probably the best way to go. It will give you basic understanding of most physical systems (related to a car) and how they work. Then you can study on your own to understand how these systems apply to your car.

There are some graduate programs that focus more on automotive related applications.

Since everybody is posting a link to their school, here's mine

http://mechse.uiuc.edu/

I was thinking about going into Mechanical Engineering. would u know what u would need to know or what classes u'll need to take for Mechanic engineering?

haha thanx for the link i'll look at it right now.

[adren77]

For M.E. you will need calculus based physics (mechanics, thermo, electricity & magnetism, waves/light, quantum) and math - Calculus 1,2,3, Differential Equations, and probably Linear Algebra.

The rest will depend on the school, but I think most schools in the US have a similar program.

When I went to school, I had to take Statics, Dynamics, Solid Mechanics, and all classes on http://mechse.uiuc.edu/content...vel=3We also had to take about 18 credits of other technical electives that you select from a wide range of classes. All the specific information should be on the website.

[RBbugBITme]

For anyone thinking of going this route, you'll have about 2 years in just about any school in the US to think about what to concentrate in while you go through your basic requirements... if you get through them. My college of engineering had a record 65% attrition rate in Freshman I believe last year.

I can't believe a post like this hasn't mentioned Formula SAE. Anyone interested in automotive/race car engineering is kidding themselves if they go through all of college without getting involved in Formula SAE, Formula Hybrid, or Formula BAJA. There are quite a few companies out there that won't even look at you unless you have a Formula SAE background. Take a look at Racecar Engineering or Race Tech magazine as well. Sure as hell beats Sport Compact Crap and Modified Crap etc..

One more piece of advice... having a 4.0gpa isn't all its cracked up to be so don't waste your college life striving for it. However, life will be sooo much easier if you at least have a 3.0 from a good school. Once you drop below that you really start to close doors.

[duffman1278]

Cal Poly Pomona!! Their engineering program is great, and alot of the engineering teachers are real helpful. I'm an ME major myself, second year student but things are getting quite interesting.

Thanks for the advice though RBbugBITme

[adren77]

For anyone thinking of going this route, you'll have about 2 years in just about any school in the US to think about what to concentrate in while you go through your basic requirements... if you get through them. My college of engineering had a record 65% attrition rate in Freshman I believe last year.

I can't believe a post like this hasn't mentioned Formula SAE. Anyone interested in automotive/race car engineering is kidding themselves if they go through all of college without getting involved in Formula SAE, Formula Hybrid, or Formula BAJA. There are quite a few companies out there that won't even look at you unless you have a Formula SAE background. Take a look at Racecar Engineering or Race Tech magazine as well. Sure as hell beats Sport Compact Crap and Modified Crap etc..

One more piece of advice... having a 4.0gpa isn't all its cracked up to be so don't waste your college life striving for it. However, life will be sooo much easier if you at least have a 3.0 from a good school. Once you drop below that you really start to close doors.

+1

[Red coupe]

Cal Poly Pomona!!

woot woot.

[gordonliu]

UCSB! plus there is a ****load of engineering work right near campus (raytheon and about 50 small companies).

the only downside is that ithe area is very expensive, and Isla Vista is easily the third or 4th most densely populated area in the world (20,000 people in 1 square mile)

[Red coupe]

lol, yeah there is a **** ton of people in IV

[USsil80]

you all are kidding yourselves with these schools .. if you want to get your name out when you graduate go to EMBRY-RIDDLE in Flordia... the best hands down.. a degree from there will open doors just on there name..

[S13CoupeLover]

IF ANYONE READ THIS!! hAHAH

anyone know anything about, AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEER TECHNOLOGY???

[pagemaster]

Yeah formula SAE team most fun ive ever had, im going into secound year mech, focasing on areospace i think, canadian school so slightly different system but basically the same

[scottotrauma]

i just got into fsae pretty damn badass, and we have a decent team top 10 or so. most are mechies but i'm an aero but i can still get the automotive minor

[neonbomb]

i came up to michigan state to be an ME so i could focus on cars, thinking that coming to the automotive hub of the world would be a good idea. lets just say it made me realize that working with cars at the OEM level will never be something i want to do.

as was stated, Aerospace FTW

[RBbugBITme]

ugh, poor judgement on your part I'd say. From what I gather working for Honda/Toyota/etc. is mobetta than working for ****ty Ford/GM. Plus Detroit is the worst area to live in, the place just sucks.

[skylndrftr]

yea there was a professor recently talking about how one of his graduate students was going to do vehicle dynamics work on the new corvette. A bunch of people were looking at him like 'that's totally badass' until it was pointed out that the people assembling the vettes will make more money, work less hours, AND he'll get laid off before them...

[St_NaZryN]

i was sorta looking into the auto engineering too. the way it looks now ill probly be heading to u mass darthmouth for mechanical engineering. would this be somewhat okay for that direction?

[neonbomb]

Hmm i forgot about this thread. There really is no such thing as "automotive engineering" as a study. You would go declare yourself as a Mechanical Engineer.

Im telling you that once you get into the field you will realize that cars aren't cool at the OEM level. The car industry IS dead in America. I know it sucks, but it's reality. I don't want to get into a flamewar over this, so if you don't agree, then do some more research.

[Red coupe]

Are you a PE working in the automotive field?

Your 21? Either very good job....or maybe you should do some more research?

[St_NaZryN]

yea id be double majoring in mechanical engineering and physics. my friend is going to uti and another kid is in it right now, thinking about going there instead? idk
Modified by St_NaZryN at 1:10 PM 2/26/2008

[RBbugBITme]

You're debating over UTI and a dual major at UMass?

[Red coupe]

You're debating over UTI and a dual major at UMass?

[St_NaZryN]

yea cuz i dont want to be stuck with some job that ill hate, id rather do something i enjoy

[crzycav86]

the best advice i ever got is to do what you love.

however, being a mechanic and being a mechanical engineer are very very different. so if it's a toss up between those two careers, you need to think a little bit more about what you really want to do.

and whoever said the auto industry in america is dead needs a sanity check, or needs to explain his self.

in the next couple of years, there is going to be a great demand for powertrain engineers and calibrators working to meet the latest emissions and fuel economy regulation(this includes hybrid cars, direct injection, diesel, turbo, etc..). if you really want a job in the industry, this will likely be your ticket... so pay attention in thermo and controls.

[St_NaZryN]

okay thankz. been thinking alot and still got some time. one thing that ive seen alot over a few different forums, that if i chose uti, id be making more and it is an easier field to get into. any thoughts?