About
History
The College of Engineering
The University of Delaware College of Engineering traces
its beginnings to 1837, when a class in “surveying and leveling” was
first taught at Newark College. Civil engineering became part of the science
curriculum in 1850, but degree programs were not established until 1889 for
Civil Engineering, 1891 for Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, and 1914
for Chemical Engineering. In the early 1920s, the University of Delaware was
known primarily for its engineering school, with more than half of the institution’s
entire student body enrolled in one of the four engineering disciplines. Long
recognized for its emphasis on teaching, the College of Engineering endeavored
to establish strong research and graduate programs as well. World War II brought
the first significant funding for research, setting a new pattern for the
institution. By 1960, Chemical Engineering’s graduate education and
research initiatives had earned the department national prominence. In the
early 1970s, the Mechanical Engineering department became one of the first
in the country to teach composite materials, leading to the creation of the
internationally recognized Center for Composite Materials. The new interdisciplinary
research center created a unique model for industry cooperation and led the
College to establish eight more research centers over the next 30 years. Materials
Science, founded in 1960 as a program, was established as the College’s
fifth department in 1998. Today, the College of Engineering continues a proud
tradition of excellence in research, teaching and service that has brought
prestigious national accolades to both faculty and students.
