Driving the Future: Clemson University and the International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR)
In South Carolina, there is a campus where global leaders such as BMW, Michelin, Bosch and Toyota work side by side with a university. What students learn in class could very well appear on a real vehicle prototype the following month. This is the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR).
For international students pursuing a master's degree in electrical or computer engineering, Clemson offers more than a diploma. It offers a complete pathway from the classroom and the lab to the front lines of industry. This article walks you through that pathway at three levels: the college, the department and CU-ICAR.
1. Clemson's College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences (CECAS)
Clemson's computing and engineering programs are housed in the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences (CECAS). The college offers more than 60 degree and certificate programs across its campus locations, with the goal of ranking among the nation's best public institutions.
CECAS develops both technical skill and leadership:
• Research platforms: The college runs multiple research centers and innovation campuses, including CU-ICAR, CURI in Charleston, and the Clemson University Biomedical Engineering Innovation Campus (CUBEInC).
• Industry partnerships: Industry-sponsored capstone projects, research, study abroad and internships let students build work experience while still in school.
• Academic support: Academic advising, tutoring and student organizations, plus programs in global engagement, innovation and entrepreneurship, and leadership.
• Alumni achievements: Vanessa Wyche, Director of NASA's Johnson Space Center, and Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, Launch Director for Artemis II, are both Clemson engineering alumni.
2. Holcombe Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE): Master's Programs
The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering has more than 50 faculty members and over 650 students. It has awarded more than 2,000 graduate degrees and offers over 80 graduate courses. The department offers two master's degrees: M.S. in Computer Engineering (MSCpE) and M.S. in Electrical Engineering (MSEE).
Program | Core Areas |
M.S. in Computer Engineering (MSCpE) | Embedded systems, computer architecture, network design, cybersecurity |
M.S. in Electrical Engineering (MSEE) | Signal processing, power systems, telecommunications, electronic design; tracks include renewable energy systems and advanced communications |
Both programs require 30 credit hours and offer thesis and non-thesis options:
• Non-thesis option: Finish in as little as 12 months; designed for students heading straight into industry. The department notes that companies such as Meta, Google, Apple and BMW commonly require a graduate degree for senior engineering roles.
• Thesis option: Includes 6 credit hours of master's thesis research and an oral defense; suited to students planning a Ph.D. or working as research assistants.
Students choose a focus area from four fields: Computing and Communications; Energy Systems; Intelligent Systems; and Photonics, Electronics and Quantum Systems. Energy Systems covers electric vehicles, energy storage and smart grids, while Intelligent Systems covers sensors, drones and manufacturing robots. Both align closely with the electrification and intelligence of the auto industry. Students can also add a minor in another field to build interdisciplinary skills.
See the ECE M.S. program website.
3. CU-ICAR: Bringing Industry onto Campus
CU-ICAR is located in Greenville, South Carolina, on a 250-acre campus built jointly by the university, industry and government. Ground was broken in 2003 with an initial investment of $250 million, and at full build-out the campus will have more than 3 million square feet of building space. It sits on the I-85 automotive corridor, and the surrounding Upstate region is home to more than 150 automotive-related companies.
Partner Companies: A Who's Who of the Global Auto Industry
CU-ICAR's founding partners include BMW, Michelin, JTEKT and Timken, among others. The campus reports more than 100 global partners, grouped by type of partnership (source: Partners page):
Partnership Type | Representative Companies & Organizations | What It Means for Students |
Campus partners | BMW Information Technology Research Center, JTEKT North America, ABB, Renishaw, Sage Automotive Interiors | Companies are on campus, so internships and project collaboration are within reach |
Research partners | BMW, Bosch, GM, Honda, Toyota, Michelin, GE, L3Harris, John Deere, National Science Foundation (NSF), U.S. Army | Work on real projects funded by industry or government |
Fellowship partners | BMW, Bosch, Bridgestone, Ford, JTEKT, Dräxlmaier | Industry-funded fellowships and research assistantships |
Equipment partners | Autodesk, AVL, Ford, Toyota, National Instruments, OKUMA, KraussMaffei | Hands-on use of industry-leading software and equipment |
Today the campus is home to 20+ global industry partners and more than 1,100 industry employees. For students, that means future employers are right next door.
Academic Resources: The Nation's First Automotive Engineering Department
CU-ICAR is home to Clemson's Department of Automotive Engineering, the nation's first department to offer automotive engineering at both the undergraduate and graduate levels (source). More than 60 Clemson faculty and staff work on the campus, and students come from more than 15 countries. Clemson also offers an M.S. in Computer Science at CU-ICAR.
Its five research areas overlap closely with electrical and computer engineering (source):
1. Advanced Vehicle Propulsion Systems
2. Advanced Manufacturing and Materials
3. Connected and Automated Vehicles
4. Design and Integration of Complex Systems
5. Human Factors
More than 67% of the research is industry-sponsored, so students work on problems that industry actually cares about. Key platforms include:
• OpenCAV: An open-architecture connected and automated vehicle research platform with augmented-reality simulation and a full-scale retrofitted test vehicle.
• Collaborative Robotics and Automation (CRA) Lab.
• Vehicle Assembly Center (VAC): Established with BMW, Siemens and Greenville Technical College.
• Advanced Powertrain Testing Lab, Clemson Composites Center.
Hands-On Skills: The Deep Orange Vehicle Prototype Program
Deep Orange is CU-ICAR's signature program. Graduate students partner with an automaker or supplier to build a concept vehicle from scratch over two years. Past sponsors include BMW, Ford, GM, Honda, Toyota, Mazda, MINI, ExxonMobil and the U.S. Army. Deep Orange 17, unveiled in 2026 in partnership with BMW, is a solar-integrated electric vehicle.
Projects like this span electrical architecture, embedded controls, sensing and software integration — the core work of electrical and computer engineers in the auto industry.
Career Resources: From Internship to Employment
• Built-in internships: The automotive engineering graduate program makes the internship a required component, and the university helps students secure summer and semester placements.
• Employers close at hand: CU-ICAR names BMW, JTEKT and Michelin among its leading employer partners, and one of BMW's largest production plants worldwide is also in South Carolina.
• Employment outcomes: More than 1,000 degrees awarded since 2007, with 96% of graduates employed in industry (source).
• Professional development: The Clemson University Center for Workforce Development is also on campus, offering virtual reality-based training and customized skills programs.
Conclusion: Why Clemson
Cars are becoming "computers on wheels." Electrification, automated driving and connected vehicles all depend on electrical and computer engineers. At Clemson, you can build a strong theoretical foundation in the ECE department while tapping CU-ICAR's industry ecosystem to connect with the world's leading automakers and suppliers.
For students who want a smoother transition into U.S. graduate study, the ECE department also partners with HYP Global to offer the Pre-Master's Boot Camp (PMBC): a 10–12 week online accelerated program with Spring and Fall intakes, 3–4 foundation courses and 3–5 live class sessions per week.
To learn about admission requirements, the PMBC schedule, or to get a profile assessment, contact a HYP Global admissions advisor.
