WOLF PACK INNOVATION: College of Engineering past and present

The engineering program at the University of Nevada, Reno was established in 1889 as the School of Mechanic Arts and Mining, before becoming the College of Engineering in 1905. Since that time, the College has enjoyed continuous growth in undergraduate and graduate programs as well as steady increases in research and outreach activities.

The college is composed of five departments: Chemical & Materials Engineering, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Computer Science & Engineering, Electrical & Biomedical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. The following bachelor’s degree programs have been accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET: biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, environmental engineering, materials science and engineering, and mechanical engineering. The following bachelor’s degree program has been accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission and the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET: computer science and engineering. The College also is developing an Aerospace Engineering program.

The College is focused on research and innovation that contributes to economic growth and diversification in Nevada, improves quality of life both at home and around the globe and advances the state of the art in its field. The College’s faculty work with local industries, national agencies and scholars around the globe to develop impactful research programs that push the boundaries of engineering and offer innovative technologies to researchers and industry partners. The College’s research focus areas align with both regional and national priorities that reflect the University’s role as a land-grant institution in the state of Nevada as well as a Carnegie classified “very high research activity” institution. Key areas of research focus in the College include resilient supply chains, lithium and critical materials; equitable infrastructure, mitigating natural hazards; cyber-protected information and information technology; sustainable, net-circular, green and recyclable systems; and unmanned vehicles.

The College is home to a number of research centers, many of which work closely with industry to facilitate technology development and transfer. These centers include the Center for Civil Engineering Earthquake Research (CCEER), the Cybersecurity Center, the Nevada Institute for Sustainability, the Nevada Water Innovation Institute, the Center for Advanced Transportation Education and Research (CATER) and the Western Regional Superpave Center.