Consider the Cobra. In 1962, legendary car designer Carroll Shelby was the man behind the introduction of this beauty of the road鈥攖he fastest mass-produced car ever made. That鈥檚 right: zero to sixty in 3.9 seconds. And though automotive technology has since surpassed that feat, at the time it left Ferraris everywhere idling in the dust.
Shelby began his career as a chicken farmer in Leesburg, Texas, and then pursued his hot-rod drag racing hobby to become a world-class race driver, and later, an automotive engineer. Shelby鈥檚 career path is, well, unusual. Better to stick with an automotive engineering major if you plan to follow in his smoking footsteps.
During your automotive engineering studies, you鈥檒l examine the operating principles of the mechanical, hydraulic, electrical, and electronic systems of automobiles. You鈥檒l pick up the specialized vocabulary that accompanies these systems so you can throw around terms like 鈥渢ransaxle鈥 with true authority. You鈥檒l gain an insider鈥檚 understanding of the automotive industry and learn the technological issues involved in designing and marketing cars as you take an in-depth look at the materials, manufacturing, ergonomics, and design testing that are the basis of automotive engineering.
The automotive industry is challenging and exciting, and your automotive engineering major will give you the skills you need to make a worthwhile contribution to it. You鈥檒l become familiar with the nuts and bolts of automobiles, so to speak, so you鈥檒l be able to identify and solve problems with current systems, as well as to design new ones that are reliable, functional, and innovative.
Some programs combine automotive engineering with courses in mechanical engineering, so be sure to research your prospective programs carefully if you think this is something you might like.
Automotive Design and Manufacture
Basic Fuel and Emission Control Systems
Circuits and Electronics
Electromechanics
Engine Electrical Systems
Engine Principles
Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer
Manual Transmission and Transaxle Principles
Mechanical Vibrations
Motorsport Technology
Powertrain Systems
Steering and Suspension
Stress Analysis
Technical Drawing and Print Reading
Courses in upper-level math, like calculus or trigonometry, will build a great foundation for your college studies. Science courses in physics and chemistry will be useful as well.
Communication skills are vital to any engineer, so be sure to schedule courses in English, languages, and history, and work on your writing and reading skills.
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