History
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1921
Electrical Engineering separates from the Department of Mechanical & Electrical Engineering; becomes Division of Electrical Engineering.
1930-1939
Shannon develops mathematical principles of Information Theory (1939-1967)
1930
Evans Hall completed and dedicated
1946
ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer) is put into operation
1947
Transistor is invented at Bell Labs
1948
UD is desegragated
1952
Electrical Engineering student Elbert Wisner, UD’s first African American student, graduates
1958
First semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) is demonstrated
1960-1969
An experimental nuclear reactor, used for education and research, is housed in DuPont Hall
1969
ARPANET, the first digital global network, is launched
1969-1975
Public key cryptography is invented
1970-1979
UD becomes on of the first ARPANET nodes and helps develop CSNET, NSFNet, and NREN
UD introduces PDP 11 mainframe computers to campus
1972
HP-35, first handheld scientific calculator, is developed
1979
First CD audio player is demonstrated
1980-1989
UD establishes first global “post office” for academic mail
1981
IBM introduces its first personal computer, uses MS-DOS
1984
EE Chair Peter Warter and UD Officials rededicate Evans Hall after $2M renovation
1984
Apple Computer introduces the Macintosh computer
1993
World Wide Web browser Mosaic is released
1996-1997
Computer engineering degree is established and the department name is changed to Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE)
1997
UD develops concept of vehicle-to-grid technology
2000-present
UD research launches multiple high-tech start ups, including FingerWorks, ETI, EM Photonics, Nuvve, and Cloudamize
UD establishes Cybersecurity Initiative & Cybersecurity Minor and MS degrees
Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) Program begins
2007
Apple acquires UD startup FingerWorks
2017
Innovation Suite (iSuite) Laboratory is opened
2022
The six-story FinTech Innovation Hub on the University of Delaware’s Science Technology and Advanced Research (STAR) Campus opens.
2022
Undergraduate Cybersecurity Engineering major launched.
2025
Undergraduate Artificial Intelligence Engineering major launched.
