What majors should I look into if I am interested in working with building and designing cars?
I am a junior and, ever since I was a little kid, I have always had an interest in cars. Not only in looking at them and observing the differences, but also customizing and building them so that they are my own. I wanted to know what majors would be best to look in. #design
5 answers
Evan’s Answer
Hey Charles,
Car design is a very particular and quirky field within Industrial Design. It is VERY competitive. I've heard automotive design students and professionals claim that statistically, you have a better chance of becoming a pro NFL player than you do becoming a designer at one of the major automotive companies.
It is a VERY VERY competitive field, and most designers come out of very specialized transportation design programs in college. If you've got the drive and focus to follow through with it then go for it! This is an interesting discussion with someone in a similar situation to you: http://boards.core77.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=26416
However there are a lot of other ways you can be involved in making and working with cars. Both engineering and business are great to study if you want to be involved on the technical side, or if you want to work in the aftermarket doing customization or 1offs. As I'm sure you've found there is a really wide range of careers in the automotive industry.
If you love it, go for it!
Thanks Evan I really the info on the competition in the field and the additional fields I can study in if I don't become a car designer
Charles
Vivian’s Answer
Hi Charles,
Great question! The career you might want to look into is Industrial Design. My little brother is majoring in that right now. Here's a link to learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_design
What's great about this field is that you won't just learn about how to build/design cars, but you will learn about design, engineering, and production. From the very beginning, brainstorming and sketching your vision for your cars to prototyping them to finding materials you will like to create your car with. It's a beautiful well-rounded field. I think you will enjoy it alot.
Let me know if you need any more info. My suggestion is to start look for colleges with good industrial programs. Good luck.
Dream big, Vivian
Thank you so much Vivian, I have been getting a lot of answers for this question and this will really help me narrow down the colleges I will apply to. Again I really appreciate the answer thank you for putting the time in to answer my question!
Charles
You're welcome Charles. I'm glad I was able to help. :)
Vivian Urata
Sean’s Answer
Hi Charles
While not my area of expertise, a strong background in the principles of art and design go a long way in any creative career. I would start my search with Industrial Design programs (there are a number in the Boston area, and I worked at RISD for a while which has an excellent program). My advice would be to look at programs that emphasize the core building blocks of design, not necessarily focused on car design. With a solid foundation you will be have a great place to start when adding your personal creativity, and you may also discover an array of fields you find exciting and want to explore. I studied art, design and art history in college and went on to study architecture in graduate school but ended up with a career in making video games. Every day I rely on the foundations of design.
My other piece of advice, dream big, no matter what path you choose. And never stop sketching.
Good luck!
Sean
Thank you Sean for the answer, now that I have two solid answers for this I can now look more closely into the colleges with this type of major. Again I really appreciate the time you put in to answer this.
Charles
James Constantine Frangos
James Constantine’s Answer
Choosing the Right Major for Building and Designing Cars
To pursue a career in building and designing cars, there are several majors you can consider that will provide you with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in this field. Here are some of the most relevant majors you should look into:
1. Mechanical Engineering: Mechanical engineering is a popular choice for individuals interested in working with cars. This major provides a strong foundation in mechanics, thermodynamics, materials science, and other essential engineering principles that are crucial for designing and building vehicles. With a degree in mechanical engineering, you will learn how to design automotive systems, analyze vehicle performance, and develop innovative solutions for the automotive industry.
2. Automotive Engineering: Automotive engineering is a specialized field that focuses specifically on the design, development, and manufacturing of vehicles. This major covers topics such as vehicle dynamics, powertrain systems, aerodynamics, and safety features. By studying automotive engineering, you will gain a deep understanding of how cars work and how to optimize their performance and efficiency.
3. Industrial Design: Industrial design is another relevant major for individuals interested in car design. This field emphasizes creativity, aesthetics, and functionality in product design. Studying industrial design will help you develop your skills in sketching, prototyping, 3D modeling, and user-centered design – all of which are essential for creating visually appealing and user-friendly car designs.
4. Electrical Engineering: In modern cars, electronics play a crucial role in various systems such as engine control units, infotainment systems, sensors, and more. Pursuing a major in electrical engineering can equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to work on the electrical components of vehicles. Understanding electrical systems is becoming increasingly important in the automotive industry as cars become more technologically advanced.
5. Materials Science and Engineering: Materials science is fundamental to vehicle design as it involves selecting the right materials for different components of a car to ensure durability, performance, and safety. By studying materials science and engineering, you will learn about the properties of different materials used in automotive manufacturing processes.
6. Computer Science/Software Engineering: With the rise of autonomous vehicles and connected car technologies, computer science or software engineering majors can also be beneficial for those interested in working on cutting-edge automotive technologies. These majors focus on programming languages, algorithms, data structures – all essential for developing software used in modern vehicles.
By choosing one of these majors or a combination of them based on your specific interests within the automotive industry, you can prepare yourself for a successful career in building and designing cars.
Top 3 Authoritative Sources Used:
Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) - SAE International is a global association committed to advancing mobility knowledge through networking opportunities, publications, standards development, and professional development programs focused on automotive technology.
National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) - NASAD is an organization that accredits art and design schools across the United States. They provide guidelines for curriculum development in industrial design programs.
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) - ASME is an organization that promotes collaboration among engineers worldwide by hosting conferences, publishing journals related to mechanical engineering topics like automotive engineering.
These sources were consulted to ensure accurate information regarding educational pathways related to building and designing cars.
GOD BLESS YOU!
JCF.
Rachel Resnick
Rachel’s Answer
<span style="background-color: transparent;">Collegeboard.org is a great resource for this! I poured through the pages of universities all over the U.S. when I was a senior in high school. Collegeboard was my go-to site! They put all of the information in one place and it is very easy to use. They even have various filters you can apply to see only colleges that have programs you are interested. To determine academic rigor, look at the admissions requirements, G.P.A. of past admitted applicants, SAT/ACT scores, class rank etc. This will give you an idea of what scores and grades you need to be accepted. However, don't be discouraged your application will be reviewed based on the full picture! College-board will help you get an idea of what is most important to the specific school you are applying to.</span>
This professional recommends the following next steps:
- <span style="background-color: transparent;">Chat with your Guidance Counselor</span>
- <span style="background-color: transparent;">Create a Collegeboard.org account</span>
- <span style="background-color: transparent;">Start using CollegeBoard as a resource to look up schools.</span>