Fulton Schools of Engineering

Fulton Schools of Engineering
Name	Fulton Schools of Engineering
Established	1885
Type	Public
Parent	Arizona State University
Dean	Kyle Squires
City	Tempe
State	Arizona
Country	United States
Website	https://engineering.asu.edu

Fulton Schools of Engineering. The Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering is the engineering college of Arizona State University, one of the largest and most comprehensive engineering programs in the United States. Named for philanthropist Ira A. Fulton, the schools encompass a vast array of disciplines and are central to ASU's designation as a top-tier research institution by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. With a focus on innovation, entrepreneurship, and societal impact, it operates across multiple campuses in the Phoenix metropolitan area.

History

The origins of the Fulton Schools of Engineering trace back to the founding of the Tempe Normal School in 1885, which later evolved into Arizona State University. Formal engineering education began in the 1960s with the establishment of the College of Engineering Sciences. A transformative gift from Arizona businessman and philanthropist Ira A. Fulton in 2003 led to the renaming and significant expansion of the college. This period coincided with the leadership of Michael M. Crow, under whose presidency ASU embarked on a model of the "New American University," emphasizing accessibility, research excellence, and community engagement. The schools were subsequently organized into six distinct schools to better manage their scale and scope, cementing their role as a national leader in engineering education.

Academics and programs

The Fulton Schools of Engineering offers over 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs across six primary schools: the School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, the School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence, the School of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering, the School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, the School of Manufacturing Systems and Networks, and the Polytechnic School. It is consistently highly ranked by U.S. News & World Report in disciplines such as industrial engineering, electrical engineering, and environmental engineering. The curriculum strongly integrates with initiatives like the Grand Challenges Scholars Program and is supported by extensive partnerships with industry leaders such as Intel, Boeing, and Raytheon Technologies. Graduate education is robust, with numerous master's and doctoral programs, including professional master's degrees offered through the ASU Engineering Graduate Programs.

Research and innovation

Research expenditures exceed $200 million annually, placing the Fulton Schools among the top engineering research institutions nationally. It is home to several federally funded research centers, including the Center for Bio-mediated and Bio-inspired Geotechnics (an NSF Engineering Research Center), the Quantum Energy and Sustainable Solar Technologies (QESST) Center, and the LightWorks initiative. Key research thrusts span nanotechnology, robotics, renewable energy, biomedical engineering, and advanced materials. The schools foster innovation through entities like the Luminosity Lab and partnerships with the ASU Research Park and SkySong. Faculty and students are actively involved with agencies including the Department of Energy, the National Institutes of Health, and the Department of Defense.

Campuses and facilities

Engineering programs are delivered across four ASU campuses: the Tempe campus, the Polytechnic campus in Mesa, the Downtown Phoenix campus, and the West campus in Glendale. The Tempe campus houses the core engineering complex, including the Goldwater Center for Science and Engineering and the ISTB 4 building. The Polytechnic campus is the hub for aerospace, manufacturing, and robotics, featuring facilities like the Simulator Building and the Meteor Crater research station. State-of-the-art facilities include the Macromolecular Discovery Center, the Center for Efficient Exascale Discretization, and the ASU NanoFab cleanroom, part of the National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure.

Student life and organizations

Student life is enriched by over 60 engineering-focused student organizations, including chapters of national honor societies like Tau Beta Pi and professional societies such as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Competitive student teams, like the Sun Devil Satellite Laboratory and the ASU Formula SAE team, regularly achieve national recognition. The Fulton Undergraduate Research Initiative provides extensive opportunities for hands-on projects. The Engineering Projects in Community Service program connects students with real-world challenges, while the Fulton Schools of Engineering Career Center facilitates co-ops and internships with companies like Northrop Grumman and Texas Instruments.

Notable alumni and faculty

The schools' alumni have founded or led major technology firms and hold influential positions globally. Notable alumni include Catherine Kuenzel, former CFO of NXP Semiconductors; Rory McIlroy, professional golfer and philanthropist; and Michael P. Anderson, a NASA astronaut and mission specialist lost on the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. Distinguished faculty have included Regents' Professor Dieter Schroder, a pioneer in semiconductor devices; National Academy of Engineering member Bruce Rittmann, known for his work in environmental biotechnology; and Subbarao Kambhampati, a noted researcher in artificial intelligence. The faculty also includes recipients of prestigious awards like the Pulitzer Prize, the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, and fellowships from the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Category:Arizona State University Category:Engineering universities and colleges in Arizona Category:Educational institutions established in 1885 Category:Tempe, Arizona