automotive engineering

[wobblywalrus]

My middle son, Josef, is in the Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton.  He is taking afternoon and night classes in automotive technology at Saddleback College.  It is a school near the base.  He is doing very well and he loves it.  He will be getting out of the military in a couple of years and he is interested in using his GI Bill money to further his education.  Do any of you have experience with a four year program in automotive engineering or technology, and especially one with emphasis on electronics?  You can post it here or give me a PM.    - Bo

[SteveM]

It is my understanding that not many universities offer a specialized Automotive Engineering degree program.  The people I know who work as engineers in the auto industry generally have Mechanical Engineering degrees.  There may be some elective courses specifically tailored to electronic controls, but the Automotive Engineering degree program would be highly specialized and uncommon.

Why not Mechanical or Electrical Engineering?  Those programs offer a lot of job opportunities in various manufacturing applications?

Steve.

[manta22]

Bo;

If the military is anything like what it was when I was in the Army ('60 to '63), they offer many valuable schools to enlisted men. I assure that there are courses for officers as well.

After Basic Training at Ft Knox, KY I was sent to the Nuclear Weapons Ordnance Electronics school at Ft Monmouth, NJ. After that I was assigned to the Corporal Ground Guidance Electronics course at the Ordnance Guided Missile School, Redstone Arsenal, AL. These two schools were extremely valuable to me when I pursued a career in electronics later in civilian life.

Have your son talk to the personnel officer and make it known that he wants advanced technical training. Keep asking.

Regards, Neil  Tucson, AZ

[Seldom Seen Slim]

I went to Michigan Tech -- one of the top-line engineering schools.  They don't (and haven't) had a four year degree in automotive engineering.  They do have, though, a very large representation of graduates in the automotive field.  Go to any of the major (heck, the minors, too) auto companies and you'll find a big batch of Tech grads.

You might be able to find out if there is such a thing as a specific auto. engineering program by calling Tech and asking what they can tell you.  Some lesser schools with engineering programs might also be able to help you find something that'll fit.  Try Purdue or Cornell, maybe.  Kettering University, in Flint, Michigan, was founded by auto folks.  I don't see them listing an auto engr. program, but they might also be able to steer you in the right direction.

[ONEBADBUG]

Look for a school with a Formula SAE program.

[JimL]

Bo....had the wrong locale on that PM.

Heres an idea.

http://www.pittstate.edu/department/auto/about-the-department/

I have worked with many of these graduates at Toyota as well as some SAE events.  They come with some well rounded skills and they can do a lot more than punch a calculator!

[WOODY@DDLLC]

http://www.engr.iupui.edu/departments/ent/about/programs/mste.php

[WOODY@DDLLC]

Sorry too fast on the post button! Google: Motorsports Engineering

[NathanStewart]

The last two engine management development engineers we hired both came from Ferris State which is up in Michigan.  Mechanical engineering doesn't do much to teach you about modern electronic engine controls and electrical engineering doesn't do much to teach you about mechanical automotive stuff.  Someone who's more of a gear head car-guy kinda dude would do better pursuing an automotive engineering program IMO because core engineering programs like ME or EE are really, really tough.  I went to Cal Poly Pomona for ME which is how I wound up in the Army.    I took the long way around but wound up with the career I planned on having since I was a kid.  As far as the program at Ferris State goes, the two guys we hired showed up totally ready to jump into their positions.  What took me many years to learn on my own through experience these guys learned at Ferris. 

BTW wobbly, I live in south OC so I'm near Pendleton and Saddleback.  My dyno shop is in Costa Mesa and I work at AEM which is up near LA.  Perhaps your son would like to shadow a tuning job or come up to LA for a tour of the AEM facility.   

[wobblywalrus]

A link to this thread was sent to my son.  He read everything.  He is planning on getting an associate of science degree in automotive technology and a bachelor of science in mechanical or electrical engineering.

Thanks for posting all of this.  It is a big help.   

[4-barrel Mike]

Good! 

Now, is he going to Nathan up on his offer?   

Mike

[wobblywalrus]

I do not know, Mike.  It works best if I am not closely involved in my children's lives.  Next time I am down there I will give Nathan a visit.