The Elmore Family School ofElectrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) is the largest academic unit at Purdue University College of Engineering. The School of ECE offers both undergraduate B.S. degree as well as M.S. and Ph.D. graduate degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering. The school enrolls over 1,900 undergraduates (sophomores through seniors) and over 1,300 graduate students. U.S. News & World Report ranks Purdue's Electrical Engineering 9th and Computer Engineering 10th at the Undergraduate level [America's Best Colleges 2023]. The Graduate programs in both Computer Engineering and Electrical Engineering are ranked 9th [America's Best Graduate Schools 2023][2]
The online MS program in Electrical Engineering is ranked #1 in the nation (U.S. News & World Report, 2023).[3]
History
The School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) was established in 1888 with Louis Bell, Professor of Applied Electricity, as the head.[4] At this time the first Electrical Engineering building was located opposite of Stanley Coulter Hall on the site of the present-day Wetherill Laboratory of Chemistry. Railroad tracks came alongside the building to provide a berth for the Purdue University Interurban Test Car.
Purdue Electrical Laboratory, c. 18921904 Panorama of Purdue campus with Electrical Laboratory
In 1901, Telephone Engineering became part of ECE to accommodate the urgent need for engineers who understood how to expand telephone systems from city to city.
WBAA, Indiana's oldest surviving radio station, was started in Purdue ECE in 1922.
In 1924, a new Electrical Engineering building was constructed to celebrate Purdue's 50th birthday. Additions to the building were added in 1932 and 1940 made possible by Thomas Duncan, a Scottish immigrant who owned the nearby, highly successful Duncan Electric Company.
Purdue ECE played an important role in the early TV technology with Professor Roscoe George's many inventions including the first all-electronic television receiver.[5]
The Lab for Applied Industrial Control was created in 1966.
The Materials and Electrical Engineering Building was built in 1988.
In 1996, the School of Electrical Engineering is officially renamed the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering.[6]
In August 2021, the school was renamed as the Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, as a recognition of a $25M gift by venture capitalist Bill Elmore (BSEE75, MSEE76).[7]
In September 2022, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb, and Senator Todd Young toured the microelectronic training facilities at the Birck Nanotechnology Center to promote domestic semiconductor manufacturing in the U.S as part of the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act.[8][9]
School Heads
Reginald Fessenden, 3rd Head of Purdue ECEMark Smith, 18th Head of Purdue ECE
