AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY
WHAT IS AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY?
Responding to the demands of an increasingly complex auto industry, colleges and universities now offer bachelor's degrees in the automotive area. Sometimes business focused and sometimes design focused, the automotive technology degree prepares students for management-level jobs in the automotive and related industries.
WHAT COURSES DO YOU NEED TO TAKE?
The bachelor of science degree in automotive technology often combines a general business curriculum with hands-on classes in state-of-the-art automobile servicing and repair. Other programs concentrate on automotive engineering, preparing students for careers in car design and technical service. Here are some sample classes in the automotive area:
- Automotive Business Practices
- Automotive Systems
- Calculus
- Chemistry
- Computer Aided Design
- Environmental Issues
- Fleet Management
- Physics
WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A DEGREE IN AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY?
Because of a current shortage in the United States of qualified technicians, field service engineers, and managers, the current job outlook for students graduating with automotive technology degrees is terrific. Some universities, in fact, report 100 percent placement rates for automotive technology graduates.
While many graduates take jobs with major automotive manufacturers in design, operations, customer service, sales, field service testing, and technical instruction, others go into sophisticated maintenance and repair jobs, manage fleets, or enter the insurance industry.