Instruction in engineering began at Rutgers in 1864, when the state of New Jersey designated the Rutgers Scientific School as the State College for the Benefit of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. The present School of Engineering became a separate entity in 1914 and continues to maintain two principal objectives: the sound technical and cultural education of the student and the advancement of knowledge through research.

The School of Engineering has designed each of its engineering curricula to contain three types of courses: (1) courses covering the basic scientific principles essential to advanced study in any field of science or engineering; (2) nontechnical courses that, with the basic sciences, are a part of the common heritage of educated persons; and (3) technical courses in which the basic scientific principles are applied to problems in a particular engineering field. Throughout all courses, the emphasis is on a thorough understanding of fundamental principles and engineering methods of analysis and reasoning. All curricula are sufficiently comprehensive to form a foundation for a satisfying career as a practicing engineer; for advanced scientific and technical study and research; and for advanced study and careers in business, law, and medicine.