Automotive Engineering Technology (AET)

On the ABET site, there are four accredited programs: Indiana State, Ferris State, UMN Mankato and Austin Peay. Does anyone have any experience with any of these programs, good or bad, or any perspective on job opportunities for these majors? My son is a HS junior and is interested in AET. He’s about 3.0, no scores yet but likely 1050 or so. He’s looked at Mechanical Engineering Technology but is leaning towards AET because it’s solely automotive, which is where his interests lie.

UMN Mankato would be too far away (we’re in NJ) and I would be concerned about Austin Peay not being near the automotive industry (as far as I know).

I would appreciate feedback. I am aware of the differences between engineering technology and pure engineering. Engineering technology aligns better with his interests and abilities so please no arguments there. Thank you!!

I don’t have any experience with AET or those schools, but do have a question about preparedness for even a tech program given his GPA and SAT score. As you know, tech programs are less math intensive than engineering programs. That said, there’s still a pretty significant amount of math. Will he be ready for it at the college level? What’s his highest math and what grades has he been getting? Best of luck to him!

You’ve been reading my mind! Right now, he is in Pre-Calc. He had a B first trimester and is wrapping up the second trimester and may end at a C+. I’ll know for sure in a week or two. He was initially interested in Mechanical Engineering Technology (MET) at Lawrence Tech. I was definitely concerned about the math with that program since it did go to Calc 2, albeit a less rigorous version of Calc 2 than engineering (and was counting myself lucky that he wasn’t thinking about engineering). We’ve had some honest conversations about needing to work more at math and that it’s just a skill to be practiced. The AET program at Ferris only goes as high as Calc 1 (“applied calc”) so it’s not as much as MET. I do worry about whether he’s biting off more than he can chew! Trying to be positive and realistic at the same time is not easy. I appreciate your comments!

The good news is that tech jobs, as far as I can tell, aren’t as reliant on a deep appreciation and understanding of math. It will be important that he do the best he can, because he’ll need it for his upper level classes that will use those concepts. After surviving those though, he may not use them in the future. It looks like a very practical curriculum. I wouldn’t worry about biting off more than he can chew. He may want to brush up though over the summer on Kahn Academy, to make sure he starts with a solid foundation. Good luck to him!

Thank you so much for your positive feedback! I’ve already been getting him on Khan Academy to work on the concepts he seems to be struggling with. I’ll definitely have him keep at it…thanks!!

Just a suggestion for any technology program degree candidates. Apply to companies that is headquartered internationally because international based companies have a better idea of the importance, worth and usefulness of tech jobs than American companies. Try showing your resume to someone that is foreign and when they see that your degree is engineering technology know they right off the back what is it vs if you show someone your resume that is American based they won’t know what engineering technology is. Foreigner that is in the United States would show more appreciation to your degree.

I don’t think most American employers have any confusion about what an engineering technology degree is intended to be. I think the bigger misconception is on the part of students, who then are sometimes in for a shock after graduation when their degree doesn’t get them into jobs they may have assumed it could.

Traditional state universities wouldn’t be offering the degree if it was unemployable. The economics and politics wouldn’t support it.

By all appearances, the poster here has clear eyes about what an engineering degree is and entails, so it seems like a situation where ET is warranted.

Was at an engineering college career fair couple of years back. Showed my resume to a construction engineering consultant company the lady asked me “what is engineering technology?” I had to explain it to her. The same thing happened to couple of companies I showed my resume to all. Not until a time at another interview. The president of the company was from South Africa. Show him my resume then finally he know what the degree entails. Because he been overseas and have encounter with those people.

No this is not a story that is imaginary,magical, myth or legend.

Anecdotes don’t indicate a broad trend (necessarily). You also have to consider the business doing the hiring. If it is a business that solely performs tasks intended to be performed by engineers, it would make a lot of sense if they were less familiar with engineering technology. If it’s a business that has need for and hires both, they will know what they need.

Thank you for your comments. Definitely have a very clear view of the differences between engineering and engineering technology, as well as the skills required and outcomes. As does my son. We’ll make sure to pay attention to career services, etc., as we tour schools.

Check out Ben Franklin Institute, Boston at http://www.bfit.edu/our-programs/automotive-technology

Also check for programs at your local CC.

We did look briefly at our CC for Mechanical Engineering Technology, which is unfortunately not accredited. Still have it in the back of my mind as a backup though…

Will check out the link. Thank you so much!

If you are from the New Jersey area why don’t your son try to attend Union County College a community college in Cranford, New Jersey. They have an Associates of Applied Science in Automotive Technology and a transfer agreement with New Jersey Institute of Technology. Graduates in New Jersey Institute of Technology’s engineering program are eligible to get their Masters of Engineering because they have “bridge programs”.

Thank you for your response! Our local CC has a transfer agreement with Rowan and recently announced a 3+1 program, so we do have something similar on our radar. I had looked at NJIT briefly (I know someone who went there years ago and transferred out) but will definitely take a second look.

My goal has been to focus on accredited programs, thus the four I originally mentioned. I am open to other programs if there is enough behind them to feel they would be a compelling choice. One of the goals is also to get out of NJ!!

What I like about the Ferris State program is that you learn the vehicle systems first, and then take classes in your second two years that tend more towards testing, quality assurance and engineering principles. My son doesn’t want to be a mechanic (…not that there’s anything wrong with that; I come from a blue collar family.). He says he wants to be part of testing and development, with the clear understanding that he would not perform the role of an engineer.

See it is stupid to just look at someone’s function as Engineers, Technologist, or Technicians. When I encountered and worked with many people who graduated with an engineering degree who started as technicians and move their way up to engineers and construction managers. Not saying that you can’t do that with an engineering technology degree. A colleague I worked with had his degree in Civil Engineering (not civil engineering technology) and he was working as an environmental technician and moved his way up to construction manager. He just recently received his American PE and his boss who graduated with an Aerospace Engineering degree don’t even have his American PE. Even funnier is that his boss’s boss only have his associate degree in Construction Management and he is the lead Construction Manager.

My comment was meant to confirm that there is an understanding of the differences between an engineer and a technologist.