Automotive Engineering Career

Automotive Engineering Career

Engineering students should choose a college or university that is recognized by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). In evaluating an automotive engineer job applicant, some employers consider the reputation of the engineering school that the undergraduate attended more than any other factor. However, most employers focus more on the undergraduate's grades and amount of his or her hands-on experience. Consequently, any college or university that promotes national design and racing competitions in which the student gains hands-on experience would be a good choice. Students should also look for internships or other opportunities that will force them to apply coursework to real-life situations. Over time, the school will not be as important as the experience and skills the engineering the undergraduate offers.

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.

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