Is mechanical engineering suitable for someone who is interested in cars but not much else?
An interest in cars can be a good motivation for studying mechanical engineering, but it does not by itself determine whether the field is suitable. A mechanical-engineering curriculum can include areas beyond automobiles, such as mechanics, materials, thermal and fluid sciences, control, design and manufacturing, mathematics, and physics. If you are willing to study these areas and use cars as an entry point to related subjects, it may be a good fit. If you strongly want to study only cars and little else, you may find the coursework a mismatch.
Key points
- Automobiles are one application of mechanical engineering, and courses may not be limited to cars.
- A curriculum can include mechanics, materials, thermal and fluid sciences, control, design and manufacturing, mathematics, and physics.
- Consider whether you are willing to use your interest in cars as a starting point for learning a broader range of mechanical subjects.
Things to check
- Course structure, the amount of automotive-focused study, and the emphasis on each area vary by university, department, and academic year, so check the prospective program’s official curriculum information.