The School of Engineering is one of the ten schools that comprise Tufts University. The school offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in several engineering disciplines and computer science fields. Along with the School of Arts and Sciences (A&S) and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, the School of Engineering is located on the university's main campus in Medford and Somerville, Massachusetts. Currently, the engineering school enrolls more than 800 full-time undergraduates and 600 graduate students. The school employs over 100 full-time and part-time faculty members.
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History
Engineering instruction began at Tufts College in academic year 1865–1866, with the introduction of a three-year degree program in civil engineering. Students in this program received the degree of civil engineer. In 1890, the Department of Electrical Engineering was created, and in academic year 1892–1893, the course of study was extended to four years. With the advent of the four-year program the degrees granted were bachelor of civil or electrical engineering. Tufts College added the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Department of Chemical Engineering in 1894 and 1898, respectively. In 1898, the trustees voted to formally establish an undergraduate College of Engineering with Gardner C. Anthony as the first dean. As part of an administrative reorganization in 1904, the College of Engineering became part of the new Faculty of Arts and Sciences, along with the School (later the College) of Liberal Arts, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and after 1910, Jackson College for Women.
To accommodate a high demand for facilities in engineering programs, Anderson Hall opened in 1960 to host facilities and an engineering library. The College of Engineering added graduate study to its curriculum beginning in 1961, with master's degrees available in all four departments. It added Ph.D. programs in mechanical engineering in 1963, electrical and chemical engineering in 1964, engineering design in 1981, and civil engineering in 1985. The College also offered a combined bachelor's/master's degree program. In 1992, the Gordon Institute, the first organization dedicated to the training of leaders in engineering, became part of Tufts University. In 1999, the College of Engineering became the School of Engineering when oversight of graduate engineering programs was transferred from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. As part of the same reorganization the Faculty of Arts and Science became the Faculty of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering (AS&E).
Ioannis Miaoulis was dean from 1994 to 2002, while Linda Abriola was dean from 2002 to 2015.
Admissions
For the School of Engineering Class of 2023, 4,371 students applied and 667 were accepted, resulting in an acceptance rate of 15%. Of those accepted 41% chose to enroll. For students entering the School of Engineering as part of the Class of 2024, the average verbal/critical reading SAT score was 711 and the average math SAT score was 764. The average ACT composite score was 34. Additionally the percent of those enrolled receiving financial aid was 53%. Tufts School of Engineering has 88 full-time faculty members and a Ph.D. student-faculty ratio of 2.6:1, according to the 2018 data compiled by U.S. News & World Report.
Organization and degree programs
The School of Engineering is under the supervision of a dean, appointed by the president and the provost, with the approval of the Trustees of Tufts College (the university's governing board). The dean oversees undergraduate and graduate education and research in six academic departments and Tufts Gordon Institute.
The School of Engineering and the School of Arts and Sciences form the Faculty of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering (AS&E), a deliberative body under the chairmanship of the president of the university. Historically, the Arts and Sciences and Engineering were part of the same administrative division, sharing a common leadership and budget. The two schools continue to share many administrative functions including undergraduate admissions, student affairs, library, and information technology services.
The School of Engineering currently offers bachelor of science degrees in chemical engineering, civil engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, environmental engineering, data science, computer engineering, mechanical engineering, and biomedical engineering. There are also bachelor of science programs in human factors engineering, engineering science, and engineering physics.
Graduate programs include Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degree curricula, as well as certificates, in:
Bioengineering (M.S.)
Biomedical Engineering (Certificate, M.S., Ph.D.)
Biotechnology Engineering (Certificate, Ph.D.)
Chemical and Biological Engineering (M.S., Ph.D.)
Civil and Environmental Engineering (Certificate, M.S., Ph.D.)
Cognitive Science (Joint Ph.D.)
Computer Engineering (Certificate, M.S.)
Centers and institutes
The School of Engineering hosts a number of centers and institutes, including the Center for STEM Diversity, the Center for Engineering Education and Outreach, the Center for Applied Brain and Cognitive Sciences, and Tufts Gordon Institute.
Center for Applied Brain and Cognitive Sciences (CABCS)
The CABCS is a collaborative research initiative between the U.S. Army and Tufts University. The center hosts a virtual reality lab for monitoring neurological, psychological, and behavior responses. Research at the center focuses around the measurement, predictability, and improvement of a person’s cognitive capabilities in high-stress situations.
Tufts Center for Engineering Education and Outreach (CEEO)
Founded in 1996 as one of the first university-based engineering education centers in the U.S. CEEO researchers, staff, and students have contributed to key findings on teaching and learning in engineering and the development of tools and technologies used globally. CEEO initiatives include:
Novel Engineering: Program that integrates engineering and literacy in elementary and middle school classrooms.
Tufts Student Teacher Outreach Mentorship Program (STOMP): Community outreach program.
Teacher Engineering Education Program: An 18-month certification for in-service teachers in K-12 engineering education.
LEGO Engineering: A web-based resource for educators who use LEGO materials.
Tufts Center for STEM Diversity (CSD)
The Center for STEM Diversity acts as a resource for student-led STEM based organizations on campus and hosts several programs to focus on recruiting, retaining, and graduating underrepresented students.
Research and faculty
Research carried out by faculty and students covers a wide spectrum of fields and disciplines. The School's broad research themes are: energy, water, and the environment; human health and bioengineering; human-technology interface; intelligent systems; and learning science.
Notable research and faculty include:
Maria Flytzani-Stephanopoulos, chemical engineer who has authored more than 160 journal articles describing significant advances in catalysis, surface chemistry, and single-atom catalysts
Christos Georgakis, fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers
Mark Kachanov, Editor-in-Chief of Elsevier
Igor Sokolov, engineer studying physics of cancer and aging, pioneering novel imaging methods, developing new nanomaterials
David Kaplan, biomedical engineer studying biopolymer engineering and silk-based materials
Frederick Nelson, professor emeritus of mechanical engineering
Fiorenzo Omenetto, pioneering the use of silk as a material platform for photonics, optoelectronics, and high-technology applications
Karen Panetta, recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring
Sameer Sonkusale, developing biomedical devices, circuits, and systems
Diane Souvaine, computer science professor and chair of the National Science Board
Notable alumni
Robert Adams (B.S., 1976), electrical engineer, fellow at Analog Devices, Inc. and leader in development of sigma-delta converters
Stephen Moulton Babcock, agricultural chemist who pioneered the development of nutrition as a science
Scott C. Beardsley (B.S., 1985), Dean of the University of Virginia Darden School of Business
Louis Berger (B.S., 1936), civil engineer and founder of Louis Berger Group
Asa White Kenney Billings (B.S., 1929), American hydroelectric engineer and pioneer of the electrification of Brazil
John T. Blake (B.S., 1921), scientist at Simplex Wire and Cable company
Vannevar Bush (B.S., M.S. 1913), engineer and scientist noted for his work on the atom bomb and early computing, co-founder of Raytheon
Peter Cheever (B.S., 1975), former president of LeMessurier Consultants
Frederick Church, American engineer known for early roller coaster design
Richard Coar (B.S., 1942), aeronautical engineer, recipient of the Daniel Guggenheim Medal.
Leo Otis Colbert (B.S., 1907), Director of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, predecessor of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps
Horace Dediu (M.S., 1992), Romanian-American industry analyst known for his work at Apple Inc.