• Design of Machine Elements – Stress and strain, load analysis, failure prediction, impact, fatigue, lubrication, sliding bearings, rolling bearings, shafts and associated parts, gears, fasteners, brakes and clutches, disassembly and reassembly of the vehicle system.
• Computer-Aided Design (CAD) – Two-dimensional drafting: drawing environment and commands, drafting settings, drawing editing, plotting output, dimensioning, orthographic projections (a means of representing three-dimensional objects in two dimensions) and views, sectional and auxiliary views; three-dimensional solid modeling: parts, assemblies, 2D drawings generation.
• Structure and Properties of Materials – Physical properties including tension forces and impact of materials, fracture, testing, and applications and selection of ceramics, metals and alloys, polymers, and advanced materials used in automobiles and vehicles; metal casting for automotive applications.
• Engineering Statistics – An introductory statistics course covering the following topics with engineering applications: organization and description of data, probability and distributions, hypothesis testing, and data analysis.
• Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer – Thermodynamic principles; heat engines; gas turbine cycles; air conditioning; conductive, convective, and radiative heat transfer; heat transfer coefficients; heat exchangers; vehicle thermal management components and systems.
• Engineering Economics – Costing methods of engineering designs and processes, minimum attractive rate of return, return sensitivities, time value of money, internal rates of return, payback period, amortization of equipment, and capital cost allowance structures.
• Automotive Engineering Technology – Spark ignition engines, diesel engines, ignition systems, emission control devices, computers and on-board diagnostics, clutches, manual and automatic transmissions and transaxles, driveline, steering systems, suspension systems, brakes, tires, and wheels.
• Control Theory – Analysis and design of a closed loop control system (a set of mechanical or electronic devices that automatically regulates a process variable to a desired state or set point without human intervention); topics include control system characteristics and performance, stability analysis, system types and performance improvement, digital control systems, compensation, filtering, and motion control system analysis and tuning.
• Fluid Mechanics – Understanding the behavior of fluid under various forces and at different atmospheric conditions; fluids perform three crucial operations in automobiles: generation of power, lubrication, and cooling of the engine; the purpose of fluid mechanics in automobiles is to make the vehicle more environmentally friendly.
• Conceptual Design of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles – Groups of students research, discuss, and implement conceptual design aspects of electric or hybrid electric vehicles; the major aspects of vehicle design are analyzed from the vehicle specification to the environmental assessment and sustainability.
• Internal Combustion Engines – Internal combustion engine operating characteristics, engine maps, engine cycles, engine configuration and design, air and fuel induction, fluid motion within a combustion chamber, heat transfer in engines, friction, and lubrication.
• Vehicle Dynamics – Acceleration performance, braking performance, aerodynamics and rolling resistance, ride, tires, steady-state cornering, suspensions, steering systems, rollover.

Other subjects addressed in the curriculum include: 

1. Manufacturing Processes and Systems.
2. Mechanical Vibrations.
3. Quality Control and Assurance Methods.
4. Electrical and Electronics Control Systems.
5. Dynamic Modeling and Simulation.
6. Robotics and Computer Integrated Manufacturing.
7. Engine Performance, Diagnostics, and Emissions.
8. Machine Health and Remote Monitoring.
9. Technology Ethics and SustainabilityRead less.
10. Degrees Similar to Automotive Engineering Technology.

Skills You’ll Learn-

1. Ability to work independently or as part of a team.
2. Ability to work well under time and budget pressures.
3. Active learning as technologies evolve.
4. Adaptability.
5. Attention to detail.
6. Communication / Relationship-building.
7. Complex problem-solving / Design thinking.
8. Computers and electronics / Technical savvy.
9. Creativity / Imagination / Vision.
10. Dependability.
11. Drawing / Computer-aided design and drafting (CADD).
12. Initiative.
13. Judgment and decision making.
14. Mathematical skills.
15. Mechanical skills.
16. Operation monitoring.
17. Planning and organization.
18. Presentation.
19. Project management.
20. Quality control analysis.
21. Spatial reasoning / Visualization.
22. Systems analysis and evaluation.
23. Troubleshooting.

What Can You Do with an Automotive Engineering Technology Degree?

Students who graduate with an automotive engineering technology degree most often work in labs and on test courses, helping take new automobiles, trucks, agricultural equipment, construction equipment, and other vehicles from conception and design to the manufacturing and production stage.

1. Automotive Engineering Technician.
2. Service Engineer.
3. Performance Testing Engineer.
4. Engineering Technician.
5. Factory Technical Representative.
6. Validation Engineer / Technician.
7. Dynamometer Engineer / Technician.
8. Research and Development Technician.
9. Product Engineer.
10. Quality Control.