Program/Academics
The advent of hybrids and electric power trains as well as electronic systems in advanced driver assistance and safety systems along with smart phone integration will lead to an increasing demand for electrical & computer engineers and computer scientists in the automotive industry. In the automotive track, students in these disciplines will be taught fundamental courses in automotive mechanical and electrical/electronic systems. The target for the AEMX Program is an equal number of students from both mechanical engineering as well as electrical and computer engineering and computer science.
UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM OUTLINE
Once admitted to the exchange program, students will take a rigorous course of study that couples engineering and computer science instruction with German-language courses.
Course Sequence AEMX Program
- Year1
- Fall 20XX – Students take German 103 (accelerated version of 101 & 102).
- Spring 20XX – Students take German 201. German Language Coordinator assists with student applications to Portland immersion program (Deutsche Sommerschule am Pazifik).
- Summer 20XX – Students participate in 5-week Portland, Oregon immersion program (8 credit hours at 300 level) and take B1 exam. The program is organized by Portland State University and currently costs $6,831 to be paid by the student, and includes tuition, boarding, and lodging.
- Year 2:
- Fall 20XX+1 – Students take German 371 in consultation with the German Language Coordinator. Participate in formal leadership training organized by the committee.
- Spring 20XX+1 – Students take German 372 in consultation with the German Language Coordinator. Identify students that have interest for undergraduate research opportunities. Work with Education Abroad and apply for HE Exchange (Feb 15th), participate in Exchange Pre-Departure Orientation (PDO), Risk Management PDO, obtain visa.
- Summer 20XX+1 – Students do summer internship at Mercedes-Benz U.S. International Inc. (MBUSI) (semester long)
- Year 3:
- Fall 20XX+2 – Cohort travel to Germany and participate in classes at HSE. Students are enrolled at UA (CIP 401), pay UA tuition utilizing their scholarship. At Esslingen, students are enrolled in class and pay lodging and board. HSE trains students for industry internship applications in September.
- Spring 20XX+2 – Students are enrolled at UA (Co-Op Program $300). Students participate from February to end-of-July in an internship at a Germany company (preferably Mercedes-Benz). Should an industry appointment not be possible in Germany, the students should continue their Co-Op at MBUSI in Vance, Alabama.
- Year 4:
- Fall 20XX+3 – Students return to UA and continue their junior year second-semester classes.
- Spring 20XX+3 – Besides coursework, students will start Senior Design project over two consecutive semesters. The committee hosts meetings about career and graduate school exploration.
- Year 5:
- Fall 20XX+4 – Students complete senior design and coursework. Students graduate from UA.
Students who studied German in high school or who already possess proficient German language skills may bypass courses by proving their abilities on the UA German language proficiency placement test. Please contact the AEMX German Language Cordinator, Dr. Matthew Feminella, mfeminella@ua.edu, for additional information.
FRESHMAN-SOPHOMORE YEAR
In their freshman and sophomore years, including one summer semester, students will complete approximately 30 credit hours of German-language instruction in addition to their standard engineering course load.
SUMMER I PORTLAND IMMERSION PROGRAM
During the summer between their freshman and sophomore years, students will attend the Deutsche Sommerschule am Pazifik, a five-week German language immersion program located in Portland, Oregon. This program is designed to improve students’ language proficiency and allow them to bond as a cohort. Students will be required to speak only in German for the duration of the program and will receive approximately 8 UA credits which will count towards their German language studies. Students will need to take their B1 German exams there and finish with 70% points in all four exams.
https://www.pdx.edu/world-languages/deutsche-sommerschule
DR. B’S COURSE
During their fourth semester, the spring of their sophomore year, students will take their final German class as well as Dr. B’s Fundamentals of Automotive Systems engineering course, taught entirely in German, to prepare them for their engineering coursework at the Hochschule Esslingen, University of Applied Sciences in Germany. This course is only offered to students in the program. The prerequisite is successful completion of the Goethe B1 exams, by Fall of the previous year.
SUMMER II CO-OP/INTERNSHIP
During their second summer at UA, students may be offered a Co-Op or an internship with Mercedes-Benz US International, located in Vance, Alabama. This depends on current company recruiting policies.
GRADUATE STUDIES
Students in this program are encouraged to continue their studies in UA’s accelerated Masters or PhD Programs. From the two students who completed this program in the 1st Cohort (2014), one finished his PhD studies in 2023 at UA and the other has joined MBUSI at Vance/AL. From the 2nd Cohort (2015), nine out of ten students pursued their accelerated Masters at UA, two of them moving on to a PhD at UA to be completed in 2024. Three of them have joined MBUSI.