Automotive Engineering

General information

Our university’s Automotive Engineering program is unique in Canada. The automotive engineering curriculum provides an understanding of the principles and application of automotive engineering, while strengthening each student’s ability to think independently and take a systematic approach to problem solving. Courses such as automotive structural design, vehicle dynamics and control, and advanced solid mechanics and stress analysis, prepare graduates for employment directly within the automotive industry, or within the many related automotive fields.

Admission requirements

Admission is competitive. The specific average or standing required for admission varies from year to year. Students are selected by taking into consideration a wide range of criteria including school marks, distribution of subjects taken, and performance in subjects relevant to the academic program. Possession of the minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance. Preference will be given to applicants with the best qualifications.

Current Ontario secondary school students must complete the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) with six 4U or 4M credits including English (ENG4U) with a minimum average of 60 per cent, Advanced Functions (MHF4U), Calculus and Vectors (MCV4U), Chemistry (SCH4U), and Physics (SPH4U). In addition, a combined minimum 70 per cent average in math and science courses is required, with no grade below 60 per cent. All other applicants should refer to admissions  for the requirements for their specific category of admission.

Professional designation

Our undergraduate engineering programs in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science have been fully accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board. Each graduate is eligible to apply for licensing as a professional engineer (PEng) in any province or territory in Canada. Note that our newest programs, Energy Engineering  and Industrial Engineering , will go for accreditation in 2026-2027 when the first classes of students reach fourth year.

Program details and degree requirements

To be eligible for an honours Bachelor of Engineering degree in Automotive Engineering, students must successfully complete 129 credit hours, including all courses outlined here. For elective options, see the following list.

All courses in Year 1, except SSCI 1470U , are prerequisites to all non-elective courses in Year 3. This requirement will be strictly enforced.

All courses in Years 1 and 2, except SSCI 1470U , are prerequisites to all non-elective courses in Year 4. This requirement will be strictly enforced.

Although reasonable efforts will be made to adhere to the order and timing of courses as indicated, course requirements and term offerings may change. For the most up-to-date list of course offerings, please visit the faculty website at engineering.ontariotechu.ca.

Year 1 (33 credit hours)

• COMM 1050U – Technical Communications
• ENGR 1015U – Introduction to Engineering
• MATH 1010U – Calculus I
• MATH 1850U – Linear Algebra for Engineers
• PHY 1010U – Physics I
• CHEM 1800U – Chemistry for Engineers
• ENGR 1025U – Engineering Design
• ENGR 1200U – Introduction to Programming for Engineers
• MATH 1020U – Calculus II
• PHY 1020U – Physics II
• SSCI 1470U – Impact of Science and Technology on Society

Year 2 (36 credit hours)

• ELEE 2790U – Electric Circuits
• MANE 2220U – Structure and Properties of Materials
• MATH 2860U – Differential Equations for Engineers
• MECE 2230U – Statics
• MECE 2310U – Concurrent Engineering and Design
• MECE 2640U – Thermodynamic and Heat Transfer
• AUTE 2010U – Fundamentals of Automotive Engineering
• ENGR 2100U – Computational Engineering Applications
• MECE 2420U – Solid Mechanics I
• MECE 2430U – Dynamics
• MECE 2860U – Fluid Mechanics
• STAT 2800U – Statistics and Probability for Engineers

Year 3 (30 credit hours)

• Liberal Studies Elective*
• AUTE 3170U – Automotive Component Design
• MANE 3190U – Manufacturing and Production Processes
• MECE 3030U – Computer-Aided Design
• MECE 3350U – Control Systems
• AUTE 3210U – Automotive Vibrations
• AUTE 3290U – Powertrain Design
• AUTE 3450U – Combustion and Engines
• AUTE 3500U – Automotive Instrumentation and Controls
• ENGR 3360U – Engineering Economics

Year 4 (30 credit hours)

• Two Engineering electives*
• AUTE 4070U – Chassis Systems Design
• AUTE 4080U – Electric and Hybrid Vehicles
• ENGR 4950U – Capstone Systems Design for Mechanical, Automotive, Mechatronics and Manufacturing Engineering I
• Liberal Studies elective*
• Engineering elective*
• AUTE 4060U – Automotive Structural Design
• ENGR 4760U – Ethics, Law and Professionalism for Engineers
• ENGR 4951U – Capstone Systems Design for Mechanical, Automotive, Mechatronics and Manufacturing Engineering II

*Electives

Engineering electives

Courses selected for the Engineering elective must be approved by the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science. Engineering courses from other engineering programs may be allowed as engineering electives provided students have the prerequisites and the courses extend the students’ knowledge through greater depth in an advanced area, or greater breadth in a complementary field. Not all of the listed Engineering electives will necessarily be offered every year. At minimum, two engineering electives must be with the AUTE prefix.

The following are approved courses as Engineering electives:

• AUTE 4000U – Special Topics in Automotive Engineering
• AUTE 4010U – Vehicle Dynamics and Control
• AUTE 4090U – Autonomous Vehicles
• AUTE 4100U – Road Vehicle Aerodynamics
• ENGR 3160U – Engineering Operations and Project Management
• ENGR 4570U – Indigenous Design and Technology
• MANE 3120U – Thermo-mechanical Processing of Materials
• MANE 3300U – Integrated Manufacturing Systems
• MANE 3460U – Industrial Ergonomics
• MANE 4045U – Quality Control
• MANE 4160U – Artificial Intelligence in Engineering
• MANE 4190U – Principles of Material Removal Processes
• MANE 4380U – Life Cycle Engineering
• MECE 3260U – Introduction to Energy Systems
• MECE 3410U – Electro-Mechanical Energy Conversion
• MECE 3420U – Solid Mechanics II
• MECE 4210U – Advanced Solid Mechanics and Stress Analysis
• MECE 4250U – Advanced Materials Engineering
• MECE 4290U – Finite Element Methods

Liberal Studies electives

Complementary studies, including courses in humanities, social sciences, arts, management, engineering economics, ethics and communication, are included in engineering programs to complement the technical content of the curriculum and thereby provide graduates with a broader perspective of their role in society. Inclusion of complementary studies also satisfies several accreditation criteria of the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board. Courses or parts of courses covering engineering economics, ethics, and the impact of technology on society, as well as courses that develop the student’s capability to communicate orally, visually and in writing, are essential to the education of an engineer and therefore are included in all of our engineering programs.

Liberal studies electives are included in each engineering program to ensure adequate coverage of subject matter that deals with central issues, methodologies and thought processes of the humanities and social sciences. Such material is required in the education of an engineer. Liberal studies electives can include, but are not limited to, courses dealing with cultural analysis; historical analysis; literature and the arts; knowledge, cognition, and moral reasoning; and social and behavioural analysis.

Foreign language and business courses may not be used as liberal studies. Courses can be approved as liberal studies electives for students in engineering programs at the university by the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science (or designate), in accordance with these principles.

Courses selected for the liberal studies electives must be approved by the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science. Liberal studies electives are subject to change. An updated list of liberal studies electives will be maintained online at engineering.ontariotechu.ca.

Program learning outcomes

The following outcomes outline the knowledge and skills students will have achieved upon completion of the program.