engineering, towards auotmotive...

[saywhat? 5,000+ posts]

im lookin at going into mechanical engineering, not so sure WHICH sub-field, but I want to do the whole automotive thing, or possibly aerospace deal. What exactly would civil engineering cover? It says transportation but im willing to bet thats not the transportation style that i'm looking to learn from, what would that be? Obviously there is aerospace engineering but what sort would be more geared towards cars and anything else automotive. I don't mean just working on cars in a shop lol, i wouldnt be looking at engineering if that was the case, im talking design and all, more of the prototype/design aspect of motors/full cars/planes and shit.

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[ToyTundra 10+ year member]

automotive engineering for suspension/powertrain Mechanical for the other bits like power windows/hinges/etc. My school doesn't offer AE. Civil will do everything from bridges to buildings to houses to water disposal (storm drains/ or pipes). anything that the city would build is probably a CE designed project

 

[2loud4u 10+ year member]

One of my buddies works in that field.

I will ask him later when he gets off work. He might have some tips for you.

He designs planes, everything from commercial to fighter jets.

 

[saywhat? 5,000+ posts]

sounds good 2loud. I don't know a whole lot right now, but I don't expect to as of now, really I know nothing about planes, but they do interest me. Going through the classes and different steps I am sure if I do as I should, I should be well off as far as knowledge is concerned, only to have physical experience to be my next feat lol..

 

[saywhat? 5,000+ posts]

Also, it seems that mechanical engineering contains the classes that talk about using heat and energy to produce movement..........pretty much old school steam engines, and newer engines im guessing. Being called Thermodynamics...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermodynamics

 

[saywhat? 5,000+ posts]

My most probable school doesn offer automotive engineering........is there anywhere "specific"to go for automotive engineering......

 

[GrayMatter4tw 10+ year member]

i attend michigan tech for mechanical engineering.

there isn't an "automotive engineering" option persay but we have classes called technical electives, which are used to specialize your degree. For instance I have taken acoustics and noise control, which was like how sound travels and what barriers do what to reduce sound, how people hear etc. This coming fall semester im taking internal combustion engines, and havent chosen my tech elective for my final semester yet. Basically theres about 30 or 40 different classes in which you can "specialize", a number of which are automotive related.

Most of the core mechanical engineering classes relate to cars, or any machine.

I would highly recommend MTU for mechanical engineering however if you don't like snow, or if the lack of women bothers you, heck id still recommend it.

Michigan Tech University, Out drinking you since 1885.

 

[GrayMatter4tw 10+ year member]

civil engineering is more geared towards designing buildings and roads.

 

[vettelovr1124 10+ year member]

My most probable school doesn offer automotive engineering........is there anywhere "specific"to go for automotive engineering......

Any decent mechanical engineering program will offer more than you need to know about automobiles and engines. Mechanical engineering itself is pretty much the study of engines. Your best bet is to join a design project within the college.

 

[GrayMatter4tw 10+ year member]

Any decent mechanical engineering program will offer more than you need to know about automobiles and engines. Mechanical engineering itself is pretty much the study of engines. Your best bet is to join a design project within the college.

here at MTU weve got a bunch of what we call enterprises. as described on the website...

"Each enterprise is intended to operate like a real company in the private sector and is run by the students. Depending on student demand and industry support, 10-20 engineering entities will be established by the College of Engineering and the University. Each will consist of 20-30 student team members and will have a specific engineering or interdisciplinary mission or set of expertise.

All Enterprise team members will have prescribed responsibilities corresponding to their level of maturity, abilities, and technical education. Within the projects, they will perform testing and analyses, make recommendations, manufacture parts, stay within budgets and schedules, and manage multiple projects while faculty members will act as coaches and mentors. Amid this exposure to other academic disciplines, the regular engineering regimen will remain rigorous. "

theres...

Aerospace

Alternative Fuels

Aqua Terra Tech

Automotive Systems

Blue Marble Security

ChallengeX

Clean Snowmobile Team

Consumer Product Manufacturing

Entrepreneurial

Formula SAE Car

Construction

Game Development

Information Technology

Innovative Castings

Integrated Microsystems

International Business Ventures

Mini-Baja SAE

Noise, Vibration, and Harshness

Pavement Design

PriSM

Robotic Systems

Scientific and Technical Communication

Wireless Communication

these are extracurricular design projects. Huge source of experience, employers love it.

 

[dru 10+ year member]

^I'm a mech engineering student at virginia tech and I know coming my junior/senior year that I choose technical electives. I'm also going down the automotive path so my tech electives will be heatengines, turbines, etc. I can also go down the air conditioning path, aerospace, blah blah blah.

It also helps to be part of one of those teams posted above. I'm trying out for my F1 team next year.

 

[saywhat? 5,000+ posts]

well i will be going to mississippi state university when it comes down to it. im taking the courses that i need no matter what at the community college. I figured it all sorta fell into the whole realm of transportation and machine work. How are yall doing in classes, does it leave ANY time to do shit, or is it really just school and work for yall? Not that it really matters.....

Also, what are you guys hoping for salary wise and for what type of job?

 

[GrayMatter4tw 10+ year member]

well i will be going to mississippi state university when it comes down to it. im taking the courses that i need no matter what at the community college. I figured it all sorta fell into the whole realm of transportation and machine work. How are yall doing in classes, does it leave ANY time to do shit, or is it really just school and work for yall? Not that it really matters.....

Also, what are you guys hoping for salary wise and for what type of job?

I have a ton of free time, but I get my shit done quick. I'm lookin at working at catarpillar, about 50K/year. Should graduate in May, oh joy. Time to hit the bar, tatas.

 

[saywhat? 5,000+ posts]

what are you going to be doing for them? Im guessing its not driving the machines in a dirt field all day? Thats not exactly wha I plan on doing, maybe help design/build shit but not drive a big *** overgrown tractor lol.

 

[blackgeltabs 5,000+ posts]

Go with Mech Engineering if that what you want its a great field. Be for warned that it is a very hard curriculum. You will most likly have to take Calc 1-4, Physics 1-4, Thermo, possibly some chem/bio and a few other real intense calc and physics based courses.

Its a tough program depending on which school you look at.