The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science
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| The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science | |
|---|---|
| Name | The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science |
| Established | 1864 |
| Type | Private |
| Parent | Columbia University |
| Location | Manhattan, New York City, New York (state) |
| Dean | Ramanarayanan (Ram) Balakrishnan |
| Students | ~4,700 |
| Undergrad | ~2,600 |
| Postgrad | ~2,100 |
| Colors | Columbia blue and white |
| Website | columbia.edu |
The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science is the engineering school of Columbia University located in Morningside Heights, Manhattan, New York City. Founded in 1864 as the Columbia College School of Mines, the school has evolved through associations with figures such as Alexander Graham Bell, Nikola Tesla, Michael I. Pupin, Thomas Edison, and Vannevar Bush. It occupies historic and modern facilities and hosts interdisciplinary research linking to institutions including NewYork‑Presbyterian Hospital, Brookhaven National Laboratory, IBM, Google, and NASA.
History
The school traces origins to the 1864 establishment of a mining curriculum at Columbia College during the post‑Civil War industrial expansion influenced by contemporaries like Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, J.P. Morgan, Grover Cleveland, and initiatives such as the Morrill Land-Grant Acts. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, engineers and inventors including Charles F. Chandler, Michael I. Pupin, Edwin Howard Armstrong, Lee De Forest, and Harold P. Brown advanced work at the school while it expanded laboratory infrastructure adjacent to Low Memorial Library and Butler Library. Mid‑20th century growth linked to wartime and Cold War programs connected to Manhattan Project, Office of Naval Research, National Science Foundation, and collaborations with researchers from Bell Labs, Brookhaven National Laboratory, and Princeton University. The Frederick P. Rose and Henry R. Luce‑era philanthropy and the 1997 benefaction from the Fu family resulted in the current naming and capital campaigns supporting facilities such as Mudd Hall, Hammer Health Center, and the Zuckerman Institute partnerships.
Academics
The school offers undergraduate and graduate degrees including the Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, Master of Engineering, Doctor of Philosophy, and professional programs aligned with standards from bodies like the ABET. Curricula integrate coursework and research spanning robotics, bioengineering, computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, and applied physics, with joint programs in partnership with Columbia Business School, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, School of International and Public Affairs, and Barnard College. Students pursue capstone projects, industry internships with companies such as Microsoft, Amazon, Apple Inc., Facebook, and participate in fellowship programs like the Rhodes Scholarship, Marshall Scholarship, National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, and industrial fellowships sponsored by Ford Motor Company and General Electric.
Departments and Programs
Academic departments include Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, Chemical Engineering, Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics, and interdisciplinary programs such as Biomedical Engineering, Earth and Environmental Engineering, Data Science Institute programs, and joint tracks with Columbia Law School. Professional and specialty offerings include the Columbia–Cornell Tech collaborations, executive engineering degrees, and certificate programs tied to initiatives like AI Now Institute and partnerships with IEEE, ACM, and ASME.
Research and Centers
Research activities are organized through centers and institutes including the Columbia Nano Initiative, Data Science Institute, Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Medical Center Precision Medicine Initiative, Center for Computational Learning Systems, Sustainable Engineering Initiative, and laboratories focusing on quantum information science, photonics, materials, and energy, often collaborating with federal agencies such as the Department of Energy, National Institutes of Health, and industrial partners like Intel, Samsung Electronics, Siemens', and Boeing. Notable research milestones involve contributions to telecommunications, semiconductor device innovation, structural engineering, climate modeling, and biomedical devices with affiliated faculty and alumni recognized by awards including the Nobel Prize, Turing Award, National Medal of Science, and National Medal of Technology and Innovation.
Campus and Facilities
Facilities span the historic Morningside campus and Manhattan locations, including Mudd Hall, Davis Auditorium, Buell Hall, Low Memorial Library, the Meyer Hall laboratories, and the Columbia University Irving Medical Center collaboration spaces, with fabrication and cleanroom resources in the Shared Cleanroom and the Center for Engineering Innovation. The school benefits from proximity to research ecosystems at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, NewYork‑Presbyterian Hospital, Barnard College, Teachers College, Columbia University, and tech hubs in Silicon Alley and Hudson Yards.
Student Life and Organizations
Student organizations include chapter affiliations with professional societies such as IEEE, ACM, ASME, AIChE, and honor societies like Tau Beta Pi and Eta Kappa Nu, as well as project teams competing in International Aerial Robotics Competition, Formula SAE, Solar Decathlon, and IEEE Xtreme. Campus student life connects to broader Columbia activities including Columbia University Marching Band, Columbia Spectator, and cultural organizations tied to Asian American Students' Association, Latin American Student Organization, and graduate groups involved with the Graduate Student Advisory Council.
Admissions and Rankings
Admissions are coordinated with Columbia College and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences for many programs, with selective undergraduate and graduate acceptance rates comparable to peer institutions such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, Harvard University, Princeton University, and University of California, Berkeley. The school appears in national and global rankings by publications and organizations including U.S. News & World Report, Times Higher Education, and QS World University Rankings, often ranking highly for engineering, computer science, and biomedical engineering specialties.