UIUC College of Engineering
Encyclopedia
The College of Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign was first established in 1868, and is considered one of the original units of the school. The presence of a steam engine
on the University's seal is a good clue as to the importance of the engineering program to the University. Engineering at Illinois consistently ranks amongst the top five such engineering colleges in the United States
by the U.S. News & World Report
and ranks amongst the top three in the world in the Academic Ranking of World Universities
.
occupying the Bardeen Quadrangle, the Beckman Quadrangle and many nearby areas. Green Street almost perfectly divides the Engineering campus
from the rest of the University, so engineers and the College of Engineering are often referred to as "North of Green."
Engineering Hall
serves as the primary anchor point for the College of Engineering and houses administrative offices as well as academic facilities. Built in 1894, it is the oldest surviving building on the Engineering portion of campus. It was designed by George Bullard, a University alumnus as part of a University held architecture competition and is an example of the Renaissance Revival style of architecture.
The Bardeen Quad is home to the Grainger Engineering Library
, the largest Engineering
Library
in the world with over 260,000 physical volumes and a substantial electronic repository. The building itself cost nearly $30 million and has 135,000 square feet (13,000 m²) of floor space. It serves in excess of 1.5 million people annually.
The University as a whole is known as one of the nation's great research institutions
and the College
of Engineering
is no exception. The College has the third highest per dollar research expenditure in the nation with over $202 million spent annually. The College is home to 26 research centers, 10 major laboratories, and nine affiliate programs. In addition, the college serves as the home for the National Center for Supercomputing Applications
(NCSA), and the United States Department of Energy's
Center for the Simulation of Advanced Rockets
. In total the College employs 408 research faculty members, 2,681 graduate researchers, and over 1,200 staff members.
schools, many of the departments
within the College
of Engineering
are also highly ranked.
, Agricultural Engineering
, and Materials Science & Engineering are considered to be the top such programs in the nation. Mechanical Engineering
, Computer Engineering
, Computer Science
, Electrical Engineering
, Engineering Physics
, and Environmental Engineering
consistently rank in the top five such programs in United States
. The Aeronautical & Astronautical Engineering, Chemical Engineering
, and Nuclear Engineering
programs consistently rank within the top ten such programs in the nation.
programs in Civil Engineering
and Materials Science & Engineering offered by the college are considered to be one of the top two programs in their disciplines. Additionally the graduate programs in Mechanical Engineering
, Computer Engineering
, Computer Science
, Electrical Engineering
, and Environmental Engineering
consistently rank within the top five such programs in the nation. The graduate programs in Aerospace Engineering
, Chemical Engineering
, Nuclear Engineering
, and Physics
consistently rank within the top ten such programs in the nation.
The faculty of the College
of Engineering
has earned many honors over the course of the College's prestigious career. Currently 82 of the faculty hold named chairs or professorships, 34 are members of the National Academy of Engineering
, 15 are members of the National Academy of Sciences
, 15 are members of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
, two are Nobel Laureates, one is a National Medal of Science recipient, and one is a National Medal of Technology recipient.
In 2002, Bill Nye was a featured guest at Engineering Open House.
Steam engine
A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid.Steam engines are external combustion engines, where the working fluid is separate from the combustion products. Non-combustion heat sources such as solar power, nuclear power or geothermal energy may be...
on the University's seal is a good clue as to the importance of the engineering program to the University. Engineering at Illinois consistently ranks amongst the top five such engineering colleges in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by the U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is an American news magazine published from Washington, D.C. Along with Time and Newsweek it was for many years a leading news weekly, focusing more than its counterparts on political, economic, health and education stories...
and ranks amongst the top three in the world in the Academic Ranking of World Universities
Academic Ranking of World Universities
The Academic Ranking of World Universities , commonly known as the Shanghai ranking, is a publication that was founded and compiled by the Shanghai Jiaotong University to rank universities globally. The rankings have been conducted since 2003 and updated annually...
.
Campus
The College of Engineering is located at the northern terminus of the University of IllinoisUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
occupying the Bardeen Quadrangle, the Beckman Quadrangle and many nearby areas. Green Street almost perfectly divides the Engineering campus
UIUC Engineering Campus
The Engineering Campus is the colloquial name for the Bardeen Quadrangle and the Beckman Quadrangle at the College of Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.-Bardeen Quadrangle:...
from the rest of the University, so engineers and the College of Engineering are often referred to as "North of Green."
Engineering Hall
UIUC Engineering Hall
Engineering Hall is an administrative building at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It is located in the south end of the Bardeen Quadrangle on Green Street in Urbana, Illinois, facing the Illini Union. Engineering Hall serves all disciplines within the UIUC College of Engineering and...
serves as the primary anchor point for the College of Engineering and houses administrative offices as well as academic facilities. Built in 1894, it is the oldest surviving building on the Engineering portion of campus. It was designed by George Bullard, a University alumnus as part of a University held architecture competition and is an example of the Renaissance Revival style of architecture.
The Bardeen Quad is home to the Grainger Engineering Library
Grainger Engineering Library
The Grainger Engineering Library is a library at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign College of Engineering dedicated to all disciplines of engineering at the University...
, the largest Engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
Library
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
in the world with over 260,000 physical volumes and a substantial electronic repository. The building itself cost nearly $30 million and has 135,000 square feet (13,000 m²) of floor space. It serves in excess of 1.5 million people annually.
Departments
- Aerospace Engineering
- Agricultural and Biological Engineering
- Bioengineering
- Chemical Engineering and Biomolecular Engineering
- Civil and Environmental EngineeringDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignThe Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign was founded in 1871 as the Department of Civil Engineering, having been one of the four branches of the university’s Polytechnic Department since 1867, the year the University of Illinois was...
- Computer Science
- Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Industrial and Enterprise Systems Engineering
- Materials Science and Engineering
- Mechanical Science and Engineering
- Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering
- Physics
Research
Research institute
A research institute is an establishment endowed for doing research. Research institutes may specialize in basic research or may be oriented to applied research...
and the College
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
of Engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
is no exception. The College has the third highest per dollar research expenditure in the nation with over $202 million spent annually. The College is home to 26 research centers, 10 major laboratories, and nine affiliate programs. In addition, the college serves as the home for the National Center for Supercomputing Applications
National Center for Supercomputing Applications
The National Center for Supercomputing Applications is an American state-federal partnership to develop and deploy national-scale cyberinfrastructure that advances science and engineering. NCSA operates as a unit of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign but it provides high-performance...
(NCSA), and the United States Department of Energy's
United States Department of Energy
The United States Department of Energy is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material...
Center for the Simulation of Advanced Rockets
Center for the Simulation of Advanced Rockets
The Center for Simulation of Advanced Rockets is an interdisciplinary research group at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and is part of the United States Department of Energy's Advanced Simulation and Computing Program...
. In total the College employs 408 research faculty members, 2,681 graduate researchers, and over 1,200 staff members.
Honors
In addition to the program as a whole ranking in top five of EngineeringEngineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
schools, many of the departments
Academic department
An academic department is a division of a university or school faculty devoted to a particular academic discipline. This article covers United States usage at the university level....
within the College
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
of Engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
are also highly ranked.
Undergraduate rankings
The Undergraduate programs in Civil EngineeringCivil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
, Agricultural Engineering
Agricultural engineering
Agricultural engineering is the engineering discipline that applies engineering science and technology to agricultural production and processing...
, and Materials Science & Engineering are considered to be the top such programs in the nation. Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
, Computer Engineering
Computer engineering
Computer engineering, also called computer systems engineering, is a discipline that integrates several fields of electrical engineering and computer science required to develop computer systems. Computer engineers usually have training in electronic engineering, software design, and...
, Computer Science
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
, Electrical Engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
, Engineering Physics
Engineering physics
Engineering physics is the study of the combined disciplines of physics, engineering and mathematics in order to develop an understanding of the interrelationships of these three disciplines. Fundamental physics is combined with problem solving and engineering skills, which then has broad...
, and Environmental Engineering
Environmental engineering
Environmental engineering is the application of science and engineering principles to improve the natural environment , to provide healthy water, air, and land for human habitation and for other organisms, and to remediate polluted sites...
consistently rank in the top five such programs in United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The Aeronautical & Astronautical Engineering, Chemical Engineering
Chemical engineering
Chemical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with physical science , and life sciences with mathematics and economics, to the process of converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms...
, and Nuclear Engineering
Nuclear engineering
Nuclear engineering is the branch of engineering concerned with the application of the breakdown as well as the fusion of atomic nuclei and/or the application of other sub-atomic physics, based on the principles of nuclear physics...
programs consistently rank within the top ten such programs in the nation.
Graduate rankings
The GraduateGraduate school
A graduate school is a school that awards advanced academic degrees with the general requirement that students must have earned a previous undergraduate degree...
programs in Civil Engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
and Materials Science & Engineering offered by the college are considered to be one of the top two programs in their disciplines. Additionally the graduate programs in Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
, Computer Engineering
Computer engineering
Computer engineering, also called computer systems engineering, is a discipline that integrates several fields of electrical engineering and computer science required to develop computer systems. Computer engineers usually have training in electronic engineering, software design, and...
, Computer Science
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
, Electrical Engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
, and Environmental Engineering
Environmental engineering
Environmental engineering is the application of science and engineering principles to improve the natural environment , to provide healthy water, air, and land for human habitation and for other organisms, and to remediate polluted sites...
consistently rank within the top five such programs in the nation. The graduate programs in Aerospace Engineering
Aerospace engineering
Aerospace engineering is the primary branch of engineering concerned with the design, construction and science of aircraft and spacecraft. It is divided into two major and overlapping branches: aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering...
, Chemical Engineering
Chemical engineering
Chemical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with physical science , and life sciences with mathematics and economics, to the process of converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms...
, Nuclear Engineering
Nuclear engineering
Nuclear engineering is the branch of engineering concerned with the application of the breakdown as well as the fusion of atomic nuclei and/or the application of other sub-atomic physics, based on the principles of nuclear physics...
, and Physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
consistently rank within the top ten such programs in the nation.
Faculty honors
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
of Engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
has earned many honors over the course of the College's prestigious career. Currently 82 of the faculty hold named chairs or professorships, 34 are members of the National Academy of Engineering
National Academy of Engineering
The National Academy of Engineering is a government-created non-profit institution in the United States, that was founded in 1964 under the same congressional act that led to the founding of the National Academy of Sciences...
, 15 are members of the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
, 15 are members of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
, two are Nobel Laureates, one is a National Medal of Science recipient, and one is a National Medal of Technology recipient.
Notable Alumni
- Fazlur Rahman Khan, considered to be the EinsteinAlbert EinsteinAlbert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theory of general relativity, effecting a revolution in physics. For this achievement, Einstein is often regarded as the father of modern physics and one of the most prolific intellects in human history...
of structural engineeringStructural engineeringStructural engineering is a field of engineering dealing with the analysis and design of structures that support or resist loads. Structural engineering is usually considered a specialty within civil engineering, but it can also be studied in its own right....
and the Greatest Structural Engineer of the of the 20th Century - Alumni have created companies such as Netscape Communications, AMD, PayPalPayPalPayPal is an American-based global e-commerce business allowing payments and money transfers to be made through the Internet. Online money transfers serve as electronic alternatives to paying with traditional paper methods, such as checks and money orders....
, Oracle CorporationOracle CorporationOracle Corporation is an American multinational computer technology corporation that specializes in developing and marketing hardware systems and enterprise software products – particularly database management systems...
, Siebel SystemsSiebel SystemsSiebel CRM Systems, Inc. was a software company principally engaged in the design, development, marketing, and support of customer relationship management applications. The company was founded by Thomas Siebel in 1993. At first known mainly for its sales force automation products, the company...
, Lotus SoftwareLotus SoftwareLotus Software is a software company with headquarters in Westford, Massachusetts...
, YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
, Tesla MotorsTesla MotorsTesla Motors, Inc. is a Silicon Valley-based company that designs, manufactures and sells electric cars and electric vehicle powertrain components. It was the only automaker building and selling a zero-emission sports car, the Tesla Roadster, in serial production...
, and structures such as the Sears TowerSears TowerSears' optimistic growth projections were not met. Competition from its traditional rivals continued, with new competition by retailing giants such as Kmart, Kohl's, and Wal-Mart. The fortunes of Sears & Roebuck declined in the 1970s as the company lost market share; its management grew more...
, and the John Hancock CenterJohn Hancock CenterJohn Hancock Center at 875 North Michigan Avenue in the Streeterville area of Chicago, Illinois, is a 100-story, 1,127-foot tall skyscraper, constructed under the supervision of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, with chief designer Bruce Graham and structural engineer Fazlur Khan...
.
Engineering Open House
The College of Engineering opens its doors to the public annually during Engineering Open House (EOH), the largest student-run event on the University of Illinois campus. Engineering Open House typically features over 200 student project exhibits, four design contests (College, High School, Middle School, Grade School), appearances by local and national celebrities, entertainment, competitions for visitors, and prizes.In 2002, Bill Nye was a featured guest at Engineering Open House.
EOH Dates
- 92nd Annual: March 09-10, 2012 - Theme: Dream. Design. Discover.
- 91st Annual: March 11–12, 2011 - Theme: Defining the future
- 90th Annual: March 12–13, 2010 - Theme: Integrating knowledge, deriving genius
- 89th Annual: March 13–14, 2009 - Theme: Unlocking Potential; Featured speaker: Grant ImaharaGrant ImaharaGrant Masaru Imahara is a Japanese American electronics and radio control expert, best known for his work on the American television show MythBusters.-Education and early work:...
from The Mythbusters - 88th Annual: March 7–8, 2008 - Theme: Sparking Curiosity
- 87th Annual: March 9–10, 2007 - Theme: Inspiring Innovation
- 86th Annual: March 10–11, 2006 - Theme: Beyond Imagination
- 85th Annual: March 11–12, 2005 - Theme: Reinventing Reality
- 82nd Annual: March 8–9, 2002 - Theme: Free Your Mind; Featured speaker: Bill NyeBill NyeWilliam Sanford "Bill" Nye , popularly known as Bill Nye the Science Guy, is an American science educator, comedian, television host, actor, mechanical engineer, and scientist...
- 81st Annual: March 2–3, 2001 - Unearthed time capsule from 1975.
- 80th Annual: March 3–4, 2000
See also
- The Beckman InstituteThe Beckman InstituteThe Beckman Institute is an interdisciplinary-research institute named after scientist and philanthropist Arnold O. Beckman . It is famous for imaging and other research...
- Coordinated Science Laboratory
- National Center for Supercomputing ApplicationsNational Center for Supercomputing ApplicationsThe National Center for Supercomputing Applications is an American state-federal partnership to develop and deploy national-scale cyberinfrastructure that advances science and engineering. NCSA operates as a unit of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign but it provides high-performance...