Research That Has Changed the World

Engineering instruction has been central to Berkeley since its earliest days. When the University was chartered in 1868, three of its six colleges were mandated to focus on engineering. By 1942, these Colleges of Civil Engineering, Mechanic Arts, and Mining merged to form today's College of Engineering.

Take a look at some of the milestones in our illustrious history and see how the research of our faculty and students has changed the world.

Seven Departments to Teach You How to Change the World, Too

Each of the College's seven engineering departments represent a separate field of engineering. As rapidly as technology evolves, however, engineering education evolves a step ahead, incorporating new knowledge and emerging technologies. Engineering today is broadly interdisciplinary; solving today's challenges requires engineers from many disciplines working together.

Some of the departments offer more than one undergraduate major, and several offer joint major programs, allowing a student to earn a B.S. degree in two different fields of engineering in four years.  See the admissions page for information on all of the programs to which you can apply.

Bioengineering
As biology and modern engineering move closer to being seamlessly integrated, bioengineering seeks to improve health and human productivity through major advances in medicine.

Civil and Environmental Engineering
Civil and environmental engineers tackle societal problems in the areas of public safety, resource protection, natural hazard mitigation, and the efficient functioning of urban systems in the US and worldwide.

Electrical Engineering & Computer Sciences
The rapid growth of technology and society's growing dependence on computers, communication systems, consumer electronics and information processing have made Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences more influential in our everyday lives than ever before.

Industrial Engineering & Operations Research
Concerned with the efficient operation of complex systems, this department investigates the design and organization of operations affecting manufacturing, service organizations, transportation, energy and more.

Materials Science & Engineering
Modern engineering systems, such as computers, high-performance engines, and nuclear reactors require new and better materials than ever before. This department studies the selection and design of materials and their production.

Mechanical Engineering
Involved with the art and science of the design of mechanical components and systems, this department investigates mechanical systems from aeronautics to waves.

Nuclear Engineering
This department studies the understanding of nuclear processes and their application in the energy, environmental, manufacturing, materials processing, and medical industries.

Note: Chemical engineering is offered through the College of Chemistry.