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Michigan State University
Michigan State University

College of Engineering
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History of the college

College of Engineering Timeline

2024

  • Technology Engineering added to degree program offering

Circuit with code overlay

2023

Member of the Society of Women Engineers at MSU pose near the Rock. Courtesy photo.

2022

Group in Demmer Center celebrating the grand opening

2021

STEM Building on a cloudy sunny day

2016

Bio Building in front of an early morning sun rise

2015

2014

2013

Construction on the Bio Engineering Facility Building Frame

1999

1998

  • Theodore Bickart retires, George Van Dusen named acting dean

1997

  • $14 million, 46,000 square foot addition to the Engineering Building from the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Institute for Materials Research

1990

  • MSU purchases Hulett Road Research Facility

1989

  • Lawrence W. Von Tersch retires, Theodore A. Bickart, Dean of Engineering at Syracuse University, appointed dean
  • $34.5 million addition and renovation to the Engineering Building adds 167,000 square feet of space
  • The Crop and Food Bioprocessing Center established

1988

  • Dedication of Research Complex - Engineering
  • Ground breaking ceremony for Engineering Building addition and renovation
  • Composite Materials and Structures Center established

Engineering Research Complex Building

1981

  • MSU purchases Jolly Road Research Facility
  • Department of Civil and Sanitary Engineering renamed Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

1978

  • A. H. Case Center for Computer-Aided Engineering and Manufacturing established

1975

  • Engineering Cooperative Education Program established

1973

  • Engineering Arts major approved
  • Society of Women Engineering student chapter established

1971

  • Material Science graduate degree program approved

1969

  • Department of Computer Science established and graduate program approved
  • MiSTriga reactor becomes operational

1968

  • J. D. Ryder retires, Lawrence W. Von Tersch, associate dean, appointed dean

1966

  • Engineering Science program established

1964

  • Engineering program reduced to 180 hours including Natural Science and Physical Education
  • Michigan State University of Agriculture and Applied Science renamed as Michigan State University

1963

  • Tau Beta Pi dedicates seven-foot replica of society's symbol, The Bent, to chapter founder Lester P. Breckenridge

Bronze Statue of the Tau Beta Pi Symbol

1962

  • Engineering Building is constructed where it is now, 428 S. Shaw Lane

1958

  • Engineering Experiment Station renamed Division of Engineering Research

1957

  • MSU's first computing system, called Michigan State Integral Computer (MISTIC), began operation (Left to right: Lawrence W. Von Tersch and Julian Kateley working on the MISTIC computer)

Old black and white photo of Lawrence W. Von Tersch and Julian Kateley working on the MISTIC computer

1956

  • The MSU Computer Laboratory was created to provide centralized academic computing functions

1955

  • Michigan State College of Agriculture and Applied Science renamed as Michigan State University of Agriculture and Applied Science

1954

  • Doctoral Program in Civil Engineering approved

1953

  • L. G. Miller retires and J. D. Ryder, head of Electrical Engineering at University of Illinois, appointed dean
  • Department of Applied Mechanics, Oldsmobile Display

1951

  • Department of Applied Mechanics established

1950

  • JETS, Junior Engineering Training for Schools, is organized

1949

  • Department of Metallurgy established

1948

  • Dedication of Farrall Hall, the agricultural engineering building (now called Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering BAE)
  • First annual College of Engineering Exposition
  • H. B. Dirks retires and Lorin G. Miller, chairperson of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, appointed dean

1947

  • The Electrical Engineering Building is constructed (now the Computer Center)

1946

  • First PhD awarded to Lawrence B. Hein, Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering
  • Doctoral Program in Electrical Engineering approved

1940

  • Flat fee system adopted by college

1936

  • Seven academic departments receive accreditation that is continuous to the present

1932

  • Ethel V. Lyon is the first female granted permission to enroll in engineering

Old black and white professional headshot of Ethel V. Lyon

  • Department of Chemical Engineering joins the Division of Engineering

1927

  • Michigan's first rural electrical power line, reaching from Mason to Dansville, is placed in service with the cooperation from the college

1925

  • College renamed Michigan State College of Agriculture and Applied Science

1924

  • Engineering Experiment Station established

1918

  • War Service work begins; Student Army Training Corps for auto mechanics is established

1917

  • R. E. Olds Hall of Engineering is built on the old foundation of the former Engineering Building

1916

  • Engineering Building and Mechanical Building destroyed by fire 

1909

  • College renamed Michigan Agricultural College
  • Division of Engineering is established with departments in civil engineering, drawing and design, mechanical engineering, physics, and electrical engineering

1908

  • Engineering Hall is dedicated

1907

  • The State Board of Agriculture begins awarding professional degrees in mechanical, civil, and electrical engineering for those engineers who have five years of practical service in the field
  • George Bissel is appointed as the first Dean of Engineering

1902

  • Master's program in Civil Engineering established
  • First Senior Engineering Society organized to discuss mechanical, civil and electrical engineering. Weekly meetings held; papers read and discussed

1901

  • College renamed Michigan State Agricultural College
  • Departments of Civil and Electrical Engineering are established, with master's degrees available in Electrical Engineering

1892

  • Student chapter of Tau Beta Pi is founded by Lancaster P. Breckenridge

1888

  • First undergraduate degrees granted to four engineering students

1885

  • College renamed Michigan Agricultural College
  • Original Mechanical Laboratory designed by Rolla Carpenter and constructed

1862

  • Passage of Morrill Land-Grant College Act establishes colleges of agriculture and mechanic arts
     

1861

  • College renamed the State Agricultural College of Michigan

1916

  • Engineering Building and Mechanical Building destroyed by fire 

1909

  • College renamed Michigan Agricultural College
  • Division of Engineering is established with departments in civil engineering, drawing and design, mechanical engineering, physics, and electrical engineering

1908

  • Engineering Hall is dedicated

1907

  • The State Board of Agriculture begins awarding professional degrees in mechanical, civil, and electrical engineering for those engineers who have five years of practical service in the field
  • George Bissel is appointed as the first Dean of Engineering

1902

  • Master's program in Civil Engineering established
  • First Senior Engineering Society organized to discuss mechanical, civil and electrical engineering. Weekly meetings held; papers read and discussed

1901

  • College renamed Michigan State Agricultural College
  • Departments of Civil and Electrical Engineering are established, with master's degrees available in Electrical Engineering

1892

  • Student chapter of Tau Beta Pi is founded by Lancaster P. Breckenridge

1857

  • Classes begin

1855

  • Agricultural College of the State of Michigan founded in East Lansing