Automotive Technology Management vs. Automotive Engineering Technology

The automotive industry is not just about building vehicles; it involves every step of the process, from design to market to maintenance.

If you’re interested in cars, diagnostics, and hands-on problem solving, automotive technology and automotive engineering technology are two strong academic paths. Both teach how vehicle systems work, but they prepare students for slightly different roles in the automotive industry. Here’s how the two fields compare.

What These Degrees Have in Common

It's no surprise that automotive management and automotive engineering have a lot in common. They're both essential parts of the automotive industry and drive it forward with innovations and smart business decisions.

These two degrees share more in common beyond the automotive industry, though. Check out this list to see more of their similarities:

Leadership: These degrees can lead you into leadership, especially the automotive management degree.
Certifications: Both degrees offer you the chance to earn your ASE certifications, which give you a leg up in the industry.
Problem-Solving: For these degrees, you need excellent critical thinking and problem-solving skills to succeed
Teamwork: In these fields, you'll work with teams, other professionals, and employees to produce your best work

What You'll Study in Each Program

Automotive Management

This degree combines automotive technology with business management. You'll be well-equipped to start or run an automotive business, whether that's making, selling, or fixing vehicles. In this degree, the courses you take will teach you the fundamentals of business. Here are a few essential courses:

Spreadsheet Analysis (BA215): You'll learn how to read and analyze spreadsheets for your business. You'll get practical experience doing this with projects that reflect the finances, marketing, and supply chains that businesses deal with.
Business Statistics (MATH221A): This course teaches you to apply statistics to business. This includes analyzing market data, using spreadsheets, understanding probability, and communicating your findings.
Integrated Business Core (IBC): This group of classes includes Business Basics (BUS300), Marketing (MKT301), and Business Leadership (BUS302). These courses will teach you the essential parts of leading and marketing a business right on campus.
Advanced Business Management (BUS410): In this course, you'll look at, analyze, and solve business case studies. From this, you'll learn skills like analysis, entrepreneurship, and critical thinking.

Automotive Engineering

This degree focuses on math, physics, and mechanical design. After finishing foundational classes, like algebra and calculus, you'll move on to interesting and advanced classes and labs. Here are a few that automotive engineering majors get to take:

Engineering Mechanics: Statics (ME201): You'll learn several complicated topics about how natural forces work and how to use them to your advantage. Think gravity, inertia, and equilibrium.
Strength of Materials (ME202): This course focuses on calculating how much weight or stress materials can withstand. With that information, you can build safe structures and vehicles.
Engineering Statistics (MATH330): You'll learn how to use statistics for science and engineering. You'll review the basics, such as probability and data dispersion, and apply them to experiments and analyses.
Manufacturing Quality (MET340): This course will teach you two methods for improving manufacturing: Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma. You'll get to apply what you learn to real projects.

Where Can Each Degree Take You?

Automotive Management

Automotive management prepares you for the business side of the automotive industry. With this degree, you might work at a dealership, at corporate headquarters, in a supply chain company, or even in your own business. Here are a few career paths you might pursue with your automotive management degree:

Small Business Owner: Starting a business isn't easy; you'll have to make your own business plan, track finances, and manage your team. It's hard work, but this career offers autonomy, control of your schedule, and financial freedom in the long run.
Operations Manager: These managers are needed in every industry, but especially the automotive industry. They direct and coordinate every aspect of a business, whether that's in finance, sales, marketing, HR, or anywhere else in the company.
Sales Manager: Dealerships and other automotive businesses depend on sales revenue to keep running. Sales managers ensure that every employee does their part, meets quotas, and stays up to date on their training.

Automotive Engineering

In automotive engineering, you'll design and test parts, systems, and whole cars. You might design a more efficient fuel system, or put it through rigorous tests and experiments, or recall the system if it doesn't work properly. Here are a few career choices that work with automotive engineering:

Test Engineer: These expert engineers test parts, systems, and vehicles before the company brings them to market. They ensure that every vehicle is safe to drive and is produced at a low cost, so customers get the best quality for their purchase.
Service Engineer: This type of engineer ensures that every part of a vehicle, whether it's a car or a bus, works properly. If there is a problem, they make sure it's fixed for every vehicle on the market and in customers' hands. They're responsible for the recall notice you might have received for a part in your car.
Design Engineer: Professionals in this role are responsible for designing new products, systems, and structures. In automotive engineering, that can range from a whole new car to a more efficient fuel system.

Conclusion

The automotive management and automotive engineering degrees are great options for students who want to get into the industry. If you're interested in leadership, sales, marketing, and business strategy, then automotive management is a great path. But if you like math, science, and technical design, automotive engineering can offer a blend of engineering and automotive fields.

Although they represent different aspects of the industry, both degrees will help you jump into a career and field that you love.