Department of Automotive Engineering set to confer its 1,000th degree

In August 2009, as the inaugural nine graduates of the Department of Automotive Engineering crossed the commencement stage, few could have envisioned the remarkable trajectory that lay ahead. Fast forward less than 15 years, and the department is on the brink of achieving a significant milestone at the December 2023 graduation ceremonies – the conferral of over 1,000 graduate degrees.

What started as a bold experiment has evolved into a thriving academic venture. The upcoming graduation will mark the culmination of a decade and a half of growth, with more than 900 students earning a Master of Science in Automotive Engineering and over 100 obtaining Ph.D.s in the same discipline.

As I look back to the day of stepping onto the CU-ICAR campus in 2006 (which was at the time simply a construction site), I take great pride in the team that has worked so hard to build this program and take it to this meaningful point. We have now put 1,000 of the best automotive engineers out into the world, fulfilling our goal of providing the top talent for making the U.S. economically competitive in this critical industry. As we stand now on the brink of our first bachelor’s program graduates next year, I can only imagine how we will leverage this success more broadly and in new, creative ways. I’m looking forward to the bright future of Automotive Engineering at Clemson!

Laine Mears, Chair, Department of Automotive Engineering

Back in the late 2000s, the department pioneered the granting of graduate degrees in automotive engineering, blazing a trail that has since established Clemson automotive engineering as a household name within and beyond the automotive industry. Known for consistently producing top-tier talent and conducting innovative research, the department has become synonymous with excellence.

Building on this trailblazing spirit, the department recently unveiled another groundbreaking initiative – the nation’s first Bachelor of Science program in automotive engineering, introduced earlier this year. Surpassing the milestone of over 1,000 graduate degrees underscores the visionary leadership of the department, the exceptional caliber of its students, and the unwavering commitment of its staff and faculty.

“Starting in 2007 as part of the inaugural class at CU-ICAR, we embarked on a bold and new journey fueled by a thirst for knowledge and a deep passion for vehicles and the industry behind them.  Witnessing the program reach the incredible milestone of 1,000 graduates fills me with immense pride. It’s a testament to the program’s enduring relevance and the dedication of its faculty and staff. I have no doubt that the next 1,000 graduates will continue to shape the future of the automotive industry.”

Philip Kingsbury M ’09, Production System Manager, BMW
and Member of the First Graduating Cohort