About the College of Engineering

College Leadership

College of Engineering Leadership in Kemper Hall Lobby Left to Right: Jean VanderGheynst, Associate Dean, Undergraduate Studies; Bruce R. White, Dean; Karen McDonald, Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Studies; Bruce Hartsough, Associate Dean, Academic Personnel and Planning.

Departments & Chairs

 

UC Davis College of Engineering Facts

  • Founded in 1962
  • Academic departments: 8
  • Undergraduate majors: 15
  • Graduate programs: 10
  • Faculty: 211 (85 new faculty since fall 2000) Total Faculty FTE (183.21)
  • Undergraduates: 3,000
  • Graduate students: 1,100
  • Alumni: 19,000
  • Current and Former Faculty Elected to National Academies: 17
  • Faculty Early Career Development Awards (NSF): 33
  • Ranked by U.S. News and World Report 2009:
    • among the top 20 U.S. public university engineering programs
    • among the top 20 public engineering graduate schools
    • Ranked 3rd among top 50 engineering programs for percentage of female faculty
  • Proximity to biotech industrial corridors and California state capitol in Sacramento

Student studying

Students

Degrees Awarded in 2007-2008:

  • BS: 535
  • MS: 146
  • Ph.D.: 121

Undergraduate Program:

  • One of the largest undergraduate engineering programs in the UC system, with 3000 undergraduate students
  • 18.8% increase in freshman applications
  • Support services and organizations to assist students with engineering majors and adjustment to university life

Graduate Studies:

  • Faculty/student ratio: 1:5
  • Demographics:
    • 26.3 percent women at UC Davis vs. 22.5 percent nationally
    • 2007-2008 Ph.D.s awarded to women: 32 percent vs. 21 percent nationally
  • Major Training Grants:
    • NSF-IGERT: Collaborative Research & Education in Agricultural Technologies & Engineering
    • NIH: Engineering Approaches to Molecular Imaging
    • NIH: Training Program in Biomolecular Technology
    • NSF: Bridge to Doctorate
  • Educational collaborations with Lawrence Livermore and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory

Research Highlights

There are more than 100 research facilities sponsored by or affiliated with specific engineering departments. Selected programs include:

Energy and Environment

Recognized leaders in energy efficiency, biomass, wind, alternative fuels and hybrid vehicles

  • UC Davis Energy Institute
  • Air Quality Research Center
  • Advanced Transportation Infrastructure Research Center Facility
  • Biogas Energy Project
  • Energy Efficiency Center
  • Environmental and Water Resources Engineering
  • Center for Advanced Laboratory Fusion Science and Engineering
  • Materials Design Institute
  • Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation Geotechnical Centrifuge
  • Tahoe Environmental Research Center
  • Center for Nanomaterials in the Environment, Agriculture and Technology
  • Institute of Transportation Studies

Health and Well-being

Research and expertise in imaging and sensing technology to probe fundamental workings of biological and chemical systems, fight disease and ensure safety of our food supply

  • Center for Biophotonics Science and Technology
  • UC Davis Genome Center
  • Center for Genomic and Molecular Imaging
  • Northern California Nanotechnology Center

Information Management in a Connected World

Innovation and leadership in data visualization, optical communications and security

  • Computer Security Laboratory
  • Center for Information Technology in the Interest of Society
  • Center for Future Information Technology
  • High-Power Microwave Source and Plasma Interaction Laboratory
  • Institute for Ultra-Scale Visualization

Visit Research for more about these programs.

Fundraising Highlights

Total Philanthropic Giving 2007-08:

  • $10,352,736, a 160% increase

Philanthropic Goals:

  • Endowed professorships and chairs
  • Endowed graduate fellowships
  • Undergraduate awards and scholarships
  • Classroom and laboratory facilities

College of Engineering Annual Fund 2007-08:

  • Total committed: $111,087

Student studying in Engineering III lobby

Trends in Research Expenditures

In Thousands of Dollars

Graph of trends in research expenditures

Trends in Research Awards

In Thousands of Dollars

Graph of trends in research awards