Transportation Design Schools and Colleges with Program Summaries

Transportation design schools and colleges offer training in designing automobiles, motorcycles and other vehicles to be attractive, distinctive and ergonomically comfortable. To choose a college or school for your Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Fine Arts in Transportation Design, read on!

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How To Choose Transportation Design Schools and Colleges

A transportation design bachelor's degree program that includes collaboration with engineering and business students gives a rounded design education for a career creating vehicles with a pleasing look and feel to the design, while being both functional and marketable. Prospective transportation design students may consider shop facilities for modeling, including computer-controlled machinery. Programs often teach students to use 3-D CAD programs, as well as computer-numerically controlled (CNC) and rapid prototyping machines. Metal, wood and plastic are also used to build models.

When choosing a school for transportation design, look for both regional, which assesses a school's general educational quality and industry accreditation, which examines the specific design curriculum. Federal student financial aid is only available to qualifying students in programs accredited by agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, and advanced design degree programs may also require students to hold an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited school. Industry approval for transportation design programs is offered through the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). A school's transportation design program may also incorporate The Industrial Design Society of America's (IDSA) educational standards and design competitions.

Transportation design degree programs that include extensive internships can help students make industry connections and get professional recommendations to secure a job in the competitive field of transportation design. A transportation design school should be able to tell prospective students what percentage of its graduates get work in transportation design after completing the program.

Transportation Design Program Summaries

Transportation design is an uncommon specialty of industrial design, sometimes offered as a specialization or minor in the Industrial Design department. Most undergraduate transportation design degree programs take five years to complete and involve significant internship experience.

Designers take drawing and other studio courses, foundation classes in color and design fundamentals and the history of transportation design. Industrial and transportation designers study the materials and manufacturing processes used in making cars, trucks and other vehicles. Courses in communications are usually included, to assist collaboration between diverse experts involved in bringing a vehicle from concept to market. A basic assortment of general education requirements lays a foundation in the liberal arts.

Largest Colleges and Schools With Transportation Design Programs, By Student Enrollment

College/University Student population Institution Type
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus 29,617 4-year, Public
Pratt Institute-Main 4,946 4-year, Private not-for-profit
Lawrence Technological University 4,252 4-year, Private not-for-profit
Art Center College of Design 1,632 4-year, Private not-for-profit
College for Creative Studies 1,369 4-year, Private not-for-profit
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4 Popular Schools

  • Minimum eligibility requirements:
    • Masters degree applicants must have a Bachelors degree
    • Doctorate degree applicants must have a Masters degree
    School locations:
    • Online Learning

    When are you looking to start?

  • School locations:
    • Online Learning
    • Ohio (2 campuses)

    Online and Classroom-Based Programs

    • Bachelor
        • Bachelor in Construction
        • Bachelor in Construction Management

    What year did you graduate from high school?

  • Minimum eligibility requirements:
    • Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
    • Currently not accepting applicants from Minnesota or Tennessee
    School locations:
    • Online Learning

    Online Programs

    What is your highest level of education?

  • School locations:
    • Nevada (1 campus)

    Classroom-Based Programs

    • Associate
        • Associate in Drafting Technology & Design

    What is your highest level of education?

Other Schools:

  • School locations:
    • Michigan (1 campus)
    Areas of study you may find at University of Michigan include:
      • Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
      • Post Degree Certificate: Post Master's Certificate, Postbaccalaureate Certificate
      • Undergraduate: Bachelor
    • Engineering
      • Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
      • Biomedical and Medical Engineering
      • Chemical Engineering
      • Civil Engineering
        • Structural Engineering
        • Transportation Engineering
      • Computer Engineering
      • Electrical Engineering and Electronics
      • Engineering - Architectural
      • Engineering Mechanics
      • Engineering Physics
      • Environmental Engineering
      • Geological Engineering
      • Industrial Engineering
      • Manufacturing Engineering
      • Materials Engineering
      • Math
      • Mechanical Engineering
      • Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering
      • Nuclear Engineering
      • Plastics Engineering
      • Systems Engineering
  • School locations:
    • Nevada (1 campus)
    Areas of study you may find at University of Nevada include:
      • Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
      • Non-Degree: Coursework
      • Post Degree Certificate: Postbaccalaureate Certificate
      • Undergraduate: Bachelor
    • Engineering
      • Civil Engineering
        • Transportation Engineering
      • Computer Engineering
      • Electrical Engineering and Electronics
      • Math
      • Mechanical Engineering
  • School locations:
    • Massachusetts (1 campus)
    Areas of study you may find at Northeastern University include:
      • Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
      • Non-Degree: Coursework, Diploma
      • Post Degree Certificate: Post Master's Certificate, Postbaccalaureate Certificate
      • Undergraduate: Associate, Bachelor
    • Engineering
      • Chemical Engineering
      • Civil Engineering
        • Geotechnical Engineering
        • Structural Engineering
        • Transportation Engineering
      • Computer Engineering
      • Electrical Engineering and Electronics
      • Environmental Engineering
      • Industrial Engineering
      • Manufacturing Engineering
      • Math
      • Mechanical Engineering
      • Surveying
  • School locations:
    • Minnesota (1 campus)
    Areas of study you may find at University of Minnesota include:
      • Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
      • Non-Degree: Certificate, Coursework, Diploma
      • Post Degree Certificate: Postbaccalaureate Certificate
      • Undergraduate: Bachelor
    • Engineering
      • Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
      • Biological and Agricultural Engineering
      • Biomedical and Medical Engineering
      • Chemical Engineering
      • Civil Engineering
        • Transportation Engineering
        • Water Resources Engineering
      • Computer Engineering
      • Electrical Engineering and Electronics
      • Environmental Engineering
      • Geological Engineering
      • Industrial Engineering
      • Materials Engineering
      • Math
      • Mechanical Engineering
      • Systems Engineering

Other Related Schools:

  • School locations:
    • Iowa (1 campus)
    Areas of study you may find at Iowa State University include:
      • Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
      • Undergraduate: Bachelor
    • Engineering
      • Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
      • Biological and Agricultural Engineering
      • Biomedical and Medical Engineering
      • Chemical Engineering
      • Civil Engineering
        • General Construction Engineering
      • Computer Engineering
      • Electrical Engineering and Electronics
      • Engineering Mechanics
      • Industrial Engineering
      • Materials Engineering
      • Math
      • Mechanical Engineering
      • Systems Engineering
  • School locations:
    • Rhode Island (1 campus)
    Areas of study you may find at New England Institute of Technology include:
      • Non-Degree: Coursework
      • Undergraduate: Associate, Bachelor
    • Engineering
      • Civil Engineering
        • Construction Engineering Technologies, General
      • Computer Engineering
      • Electrical Engineering and Electronics
      • Engineering - Architectural
      • Environmental Engineering
      • Mechanical Engineering

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