The College of Engineering is the engineering school of Texas A&M University in College Station and is home to more than 15,000 engineering students in 14 departments. According to a 2009 report by the American Society for Engineering Education, the college is 2nd in the nation in undergraduate enrollment, and 6th in graduate enrollment. The same report ranks the College 8th in engineering degrees granted, 8th for the number of Hispanics and 10th for the number of women granted degrees. The college is 11th nationally for the number of doctoral degrees granted and 12th for master's degrees granted. The College is recognized among the top public engineering colleges for its undergraduate and graduate programs. History The first engineering department at Texas A&M appeared in 1880, four years after the foundation of the school, with the creation of the Department of Engineering, Mechanics, and Drawing. For the next several years, the curriculum focused on practical training to assist students in finding industrial and vocational work. By 1887, separate departments had been created for mechanical engineering and for civil engineering and drawing. To assist the United States during World War I, the Department of Mechanical Engineering shifted focus to train blacksmiths, automobile mechanics, machinists, draftsmen, general mechanics, and pipe fitters for the war. Following the war, the department's enrollment continued to increase, and it began offering courses in power, industrial and railway, or transportation engineering. In the 1930s, these options were eliminated, while others, including aerodynamics, air-conditioning and physical metallurgy began to be offered. During the 1936-1937 school year, the Department of Mechanical Engineering was first accredited by the Engineering Council for Professional Development, now known as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. By 1940, the engineering school comprised almost half of Texas A&M's enrollment. As World War II dawned, the school again assisted the war effort, with the Department of Mechanical Engineering faculty volunteering to teach at military bases throughout the state. Following the war, college introduced a Ph.D. program, and industries and government began to sponsor research within the college. Academics Degrees offered Aerospace Engineering - BS, MS, MEng, PhD Architectural Engineering - BS Biological and Agricultural Engineering – BS, MS, MEng, MAgr, PhD, EngD Biomedical Engineering - BS, MS, MEng, PhD Chemical Engineering - BS, MS, MEng, PhD Civil Engineering - BS, MS, MEng, PhD Computer Engineering - BS, MS, MEng, PhD Computer Science - BS, MS, MCS,