Educational Requirements for Automotive Engineer Universities

Getting Revved Up

While there are numerous categories of engineering within the general engineering field and thousands of engineering degree programs, the Accrediting Board of Engineering Technology accredits only two schools in automotive engineering as of February 2011: Ferris State University in Michigan and Minnesota State University Mankato. Both are undergraduate degrees.

Ferris State University admits high-school graduates into its program with a minimum 2.75 grade-point average and 18 ACT score. Current college students transferring into the automotive engineering program are subject to a minimum 2.5 GPA and completion of courses in English, math and chemistry. Admission to the Minnesota State University Mankato automotive engineering program is restricted to current college students, transferring in after 32 hours of completed courses, with a minimum GPA of 2.0.

Both schools' educational requirements in the automotive engineering major rely heavily on covering the auto terrain. At Mankato, students' required courses include introduction to automotive engineering technology, auto technology and systems, auto drivability and diagnosis, auto thermodynamics, auto research methods and chassis design and performance. Ferris State students also cover the auto field with classes in manual transmission, automotive brake systems, auto electricity, automotive engines, electronic fuel management systems, engine air flow analysis, dynamometer testing, automotive fuels and lubes, emissions systems and alternative fuels.

Rounding out the automotive education programs are courses covering slightly related topics such as computer-aided design, calculus, DC circuits, principles of physics, introduction to C++ programming, introduction to chemistry, technical communication, elementary statistics, advanced CAD and fluid power at Mankato. Ferris State teaches students courses such as introduction to general chemistry, introduction to material science, metrology, applied calculus, algebra-analytic trigonometry, advanced technical writing, quality science statistics, prototype development, solid modeling and material selection metals.