Automotive Engineering Degrees

Automotive engineering is a branch of mechanical engineering that concerns the design, development and manufacture of cars, trucks, motorcycles and other motor vehicles. Automotive engineers also design and test the many subsystems or components that comprise a motorized vehicle.

Very few universities offer a bachelor's degree in automotive engineering. Consequently, many prospective automotive engineers earn a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from a university that also offers specialized courses in automotive engineering. However, there are plenty of universities offer master's degrees in automotive engineering.

Bachelor’s Degree

Because not many schools offer a bachelor’s degree program in automotive engineering, most aspiring automotive students enter a mechanical engineering program. This is because automotive engineering is an offshoot of mechanical engineering and therefore, many of the classes are the same. However, some schools offer mechanical engineering programs that include automotive engineering courses such as:

• Automobile dynamics
• Automotive electronics
• Engine parts
• Diesel engine theory
• Alternative energy sources
• Fuel cell systems
• Powertrain dynamics

It usually takes four years to complete a bachelor's degree in engineering. During the last year, the student must finish a design project, either alone or with other students. After graduation, the new engineer must work under the supervision of a licensed professional engineer for a certain number of years, depending on the state, and pass and Engineer-In-Training exam and Professional Engineers exam to become a licensed professional engineer.

Master’s Degree

A master's degree in automotive engineering is not necessary to work in the field, but such a degree will give students specialized automotive engineering knowledge and skills. Moreover, master's degree programs offer research opportunities for students. It takes about two years to complete a master's degree program in automotive engineering.

Studies include:

• Design and manufacturing
• Energy and environment
• Materials
• Noise and vibration
• Powertrain
• Dynamics and control
• Electronics and computer software
• Ergonomics

To earn a master's degree, the student must satisfy the university's thesis requirements and/or complete a final project.

Online Degree

The few universities that offer online automotive engineering degrees do so only at the master’s degree level. The student gains only theoretical knowledge from an online master's degree. The student does not receive any hands-on experience, which can be important to landing a job in automotive engineering. The online programs assume that the student received hands-on experience while obtaining the bachelor's degree. Therefore, online master's degree programs in automotive engineering are meant for the working automotive engineer.

Average Automotive Engineering Salary

In 2020, automotive engineer jobs employees earned an average income of $117,600 in 2011. This was a 10 percent increase from the 2019 median salaries of $107,000, according to SAE International.