Acronym
UCB
Category
Institution
Alternate Names
UC Berkeley
N. CA Established
1868
Significance to Structural Engineering History in Northern California

The Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at the University of California, Berkeley has a long tradition dating back to the founding of the University. The University of California was established in Berkeley in 1868 with a charter that provided for six colleges, including civil engineering. The College of Civil Engineering was established four years later in 1872.  Elizabeth Bragg was the first female in the United States to receive a civil engineering degree in 1876. Among its earliest graduates was Julia Morgan in 1894, the only woman in her class. Charles Derleth Jr., who investigated the 1906 San Francisco earthquake extensively and published many reports, served as the Dean of Civil Engineering from 1907 to 1929 and then Dean of the College of Engineering from 1929 to 1944.

Over the years, the faculty has distinguished themselves through research and technology that has enhanced the structural engineering profession. Some of the notable faculty are Egor Popov, Raymond Davis, T.Y. Lin, Ray Clough, Alex Scordelis, Joseph Penzien, Ed Wilson, Vitelmo Bertero, Anil Chopra, Ben C. Gerwick, Steve Mahin and Jack Moehle.

Some of the notable alumni, who have made significant contributions to Northern California structural engineering history, are Leon H. Nishkian, Henry Degenkolb, Walter Hensolt, Greg Deierlein, David Friedman, Ashraf Habibullah, Janiele Maffei, James O. Malley, Maryann Phipps, and Loring Wyllie.

With both a distinguished faculty and accomplished alumni, the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department consistently ranks in the top 3 in undergraduate and graduate programs in the United States.