Department of Civil Engineering
In 1883 a Department of Engineering was established. It had been Senate's intention in establishing engineering education at the University in 1882 to award Certificates in Engineering, in Civil Engineering and Architecture, Mechanical, and Mining Engineering. In 1884, revised by-laws established two degrees in engineering, those of Bachelor of Engineering and Master of Engineering. In so doing the Senate specified three branches (also sometimes called departments) of engineering: Civil Engineering and Architecture; Mechanical Engineering and Mining Engineering.
In 1891 the Civil and Mechanical courses were combined, only to separate again later. Civil Engineering is referred to as department in the 1899 Calendar. Four year degrees in Engineering were approved in 1900; at this time the Mechanical and Electrical courses were combined.
In 1920, the University created six new faculties including the Faculty of Engineering, separating Engineering off from the Faculty of Science after nearly 40 years of association. (The other faculties created at that time were Agriculture, Architecture, Dentistry, Economics and Veterinary Science.) With the establishment of the Faculty of Engineering degrees were given in the several branches of Engineering, viz., Civil Engineering, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, and Mining and Metallurgy. The curriculum covered at least four years. [see 1920 Calendar, p. viii, and see exam results for use of term Department].
Effective 1 January 1982 the departments of Civil Engineering and of Materials and Mining Engineering were amalgamated to form the School of Civil and Mining Engineering. This amalgamation recognised the close association that has developed in Australia between civil engineering and the mineral extractive industries; moreover, by providing for wider contacts with the various branches of the industry, it was intended to strengthen the teaching and research activities in the two areas.
The School of Civil and Mining Engineering was renamed the Department of Civil Engineering, effective 22 August 1996. [Senate minutes 2 Sep 1996, 71/96 (15) Report of the Vice-Chancellor]
In 2016 Civil engineering covered a wide range including the conception, design, construction and maintenance of those more permanent structures and services such as roads, railways, bridges, buildings, tunnels, airfields, water supply and sewerage systems, dams, pipelines, river improvements, harbours and irrigation systems. In the broader sense civil engineers are charged with the task of producing structures and systems that give the greatest amenity for the funds expended. [From http://sydney.edu.au/engineering/about/branches.shtml viewed 12/2/2016]
In 2020 the School of Civil Engineering was one of 7 schools within the Faculty of Engineering.