Degree Overview: Bachelor’s Degrees in Automotive Technology
Majors Overview August 18, 2014Receive information about bachelor’s degree programs in automotive technology and their education requirements, coursework, career choices, and job and wage outlook.
Bachelor’s Degree Programs in Automotive Technology
Students enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs in automotive technology are provided education in coursework whose focus is on subject areas such as engineering principles, mechanics and mathematics. Opportunities for automotive engineering internships, as well as hands-on workshop training and experience are provided to students who usually take four years to complete the program. They can expect to gain knowledge in numerous areas including automotive technology maintenance, development testing, calibration, vehicular systems, and automotive design.
Education Requirements
Admission criteria typically require incoming students to hold a GED certificate or high school diploma, in addition to meeting the minimum grade point average required. Some schools insist on the submission of scores from the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or American College Testing (ACT) exam. Incoming students to the program are expected to demonstrate a strong mathematical aptitude. Students seeking admission to some programs are required to hold an associate’s degree in a related area of study.
Coursework
Coursework in a bachelor’s degree program in automotive technology examines engineering technologies employed in the contemporary automotive industry. Core coursework may include topic areas such as:
•Collision repair
•Automotive electronics
•Suspension and alignment
•Diesel and heavy equipment
•Automotive marketing
•Manufacturing management
•Emission testing
•Fuel systems
•Automotive insurance
Career Choices
Those who complete a bachelor’s degree program may seek entry-level careers in automotive insurance service companies, collision repair service institutions, advanced vehicle systems research facilities, automobile sales and marketing organizations, and service and parts management companies. They can choose from popular career options such as:
•Insurance claims adjuster
•Automotive technical writer
•Warranty and service engineer
•Field product development engineer
•Automotive management trainee
Job and Wage Outlook
Over the 2010 – 2020 decade, an at-par-with-average-for-all-occupations job growth rate of 17% has been predicted for auto technicians (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Professionals who have completed postsecondary training programs are expected to enjoy the best job opportunities. In 2012, these professionals brought home an average annual wage of $36,610 (BLS).
