Carnegie Institute of Technology - Definition and Overview

The Carnegie Institute of Technology was founded in 1900 by Andrew Carnegie. His stated intention was to build a "first class technical school" in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for the children of local steel mill workers. In about a century, it has expanded from four small programs to become Carnegie Mellon University. The Institute still exists under the same name, as CMU's school of engineering, one of the world's best.

The Carnegie Institute should not be confused with the Carnegie Institution of Washington, a foundation supporting scientific research.

History

By 1905, the massive buildings of the Carnegie Technical Schools began to rise out of a barren field east of the city. Applications poured in, and the first students of the School of Science and Technology optimistically began classes in unfinished buildings, still surrounded by the sounds of construction.

In 1912, with the original campus nearly complete and three more schools holding classes, the first engineer entered the working world with a bachelor's degree from the newly accredited Carnegie Institute of Technology.

Expansion and Merger

Over the next five decades, Carnegie Tech became well-known not only for its engineering and science programs, but also for its progressive programs in drama and fine arts. This recognition as an academically prominent institution set the stage for merging with Mellon Institute, a private applied research institute. Out of this 1967 union, Carnegie Mellon emerged as one of the nation's most prestigious research universities.