Automotive Engineering Design

Fun Meets Function: Automotive Engineering Concentration

From designing vehicles and upping the ante in their performance to simply tinkering with cars, you can do it all through a mechanical engineering degree from Kettering University.

Here at Kettering, we know passionate, well-trained innovators with expertise in vehicle design and function are actively sought-after in the automotive industry. If this sounds like the career path for you, a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with an Automotive Engineering Concentration from Kettering can help you get there.

Automotive Engineering Concentration Features and Objectives

At Kettering, while you work to earn your mechanical engineering degree, you won’t just learn about automotive engineering — you’ll actually get to design, build and test systems, too.

Here are just a handful of the other perks you can expect when you study automotive engineering at Kettering:

Learn mechanical automotive engineering at a respected, top-ranked institution

At Kettering, our mechanical engineering programs help us consistently rank among the top undergraduate engineering programs in the country by U.S News and World Report. The organization has also named Kettering one of the Best Colleges with Engineering Programs for 2022.

Well-rounded coursework for mechanical automotive engineering

As you pursue your mechanical engineering degree at Kettering, you’ll gain keen insights into automotive engineering design with courses in everything from engine design to vehicle performance.

You’ll also be well-poised for success—you’ll take automotive engineering design courses after you’ve completed the basic coursework for the mechanical engineering program. All told, you’ll take at least 20 hours of courses focused on problem-solving techniques in designing cars, so you’ll be more than prepared to navigate whatever challenges you face in the field.

An engineering concentration with hands-on learning opportunities

From the beginning of your collegiate experience, you’ll find several hands-on learning opportunities to actually practice the skills you learn about in the classroom. You may also work closely with the Society of Automotive Engineers on competition teams such as Formula SAE and BajaSAE.

Through these experiences and others, you’ll acquire the hands-on skills, problem-solving techniques and program management skills that are essential in the automotive industry.

Why Choose the Automotive Engineering Design Concentration at Kettering?

At Kettering, you’ll find unparalleled experiential learning opportunities and rigorous coursework. Our mechanical engineering programs and automotive engineering design concentration have a reputation for cultivating brilliant minds.

Here are just a few things that set Kettering apart from other universities:

  • Cutting-edge labs: Apply what you learn in the classroom in one of our 12 advanced labs, including the Crash Safety Center, Mobility Research Center and others.
  • Co-op model: Kettering has had close ties to the manufacturing industry since its founding. When you study here, you’ll gain real, paid job experience you can add to your resume before you complete your degree in mechanical automotive engineering. At Kettering, you’ll alternate between classroom courses and work in the field through one of our partners, including General Motors and Kawasaki Motors — to name just a couple.
  • Student competition teams: While you earn your degree in mechanical engineering, in addition to your work in the field and lab, you’ll also have opportunities to join a team of like-minded students and compete with other colleges in a variety of nationwide challenges and events, from combat robotics to the Shell Eco-marathon.
  • ABET-accredited programs: At Kettering, our degrees are accredited by ABET, so you can be confident that our programs will prepare you to succeed in the industry.

Automotive Engineering Design Curriculum and Course Highlights

As a mechanical engineering major working towards a concentration in automotive engineering, the courses you take will make all the difference in preparing you for the workforce.

Through the mechanical automotive engineering concentration, you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding and the skills you need, with courses including engine design, vehicle performance, hybrid vehicles, vehicle crash safety, and vehicle dynamics.

You also may take courses in:

  • Fuel Cell Science and Engineering
  • Advanced Automotive Power Systems
  • Chassis Systems

Explore the rest of the courses you may take for your automotive engineering design concentration.

What Can You Do With an Automotive Engineering Design Concentration?

From designing the latest and greatest engines to taking vehicle performance to the next level, career options abound for graduates with practice in automotive engineering design.

In the program, you’ll enjoy the solid foundation and versatility a mechanical engineering degree can provide. By adding the automotive engineering design concentration, you’ll also have the expertise large companies look for to help give you an edge in the job market.

Many of our graduates work for the “Big Three” car companies — General Motors, Ford and Chrysler — or one of their supply partners.

Financial Aid for Mechanical Engineering Programs

At Kettering, we’re dedicated to helping you finance your education through scholarships, grants, loans and more so you can meet your personal and professional goals.

In addition to merit scholarships and others, as a mechanical engineering student pursuing mechanical automotive engineering, you also may be eligible for the Patricia and Armen Oumedian Engineering Scholarship, sponsored by the Grand Rapids Community Foundation. You’ll also receive paid work experience as part of our co-op model, resulting in an excellent return on investment for your degree.

Programs Related to Mechanical Automotive Engineering

Are you interested in pursuing a bachelor’s degree in engineering, but aren’t entirely sure on which area you’d like to focus? At Kettering, you’ll find a variety of engineering programs beyond our degree in Mechanical engineering with a concentration in Automotive design, including:

Design Your Future in Kettering’s Automotive Engineering Design Concentration

Begin your journey toward your career in engineering or find out whether an engineering design degree is for you. Request information or apply today.