George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing
The George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing is composed of nine academic departments, with research that's enriched by more than 20 engineering-related centers and institutes. Departments and centers within Rice Engineering and Computing take advantage of Houston's role as a center for the energy industry, medical research, space exploration, and the city's growing high-technology sector. Many research projects are undertaken with local companies. Strategic focus areas encompass local and global societal challenges, including health and well-being, energy and sustainability, advanced materials, future computing, and resilient and adaptive communities.
Rice Engineering and Computing has a tradition of giving students a sound foundation in the fundamentals of engineering and computing, augmented by experiential learning and leadership skills. As the #16 undergraduate engineering school in the nation (U.S. News & World Report), Rice Engineering and Computing empowers the next generation of leaders with strong technical and communication skills, creative problem solving, and the ability to work in multidisciplinary teams.
The Rice Engineering and Computing undergraduate curriculum prepares technically strong students and provides them with communication and critical thinking skills to help them succeed in professional and academic settings. Each major and minor offers hands-on opportunities and innovative strategies that prepare students to identify and solve real-world challenges. Students are ensured internships that will develop leadership and entrepreneurship skills, thereby giving them real engineering experience. For those who are entrepreneurially inclined, it provides them the knowledge and resources to turn ideas into start-ups.
Rice Engineering and Computing has 13 programs of study toward thesis-based PhD and master's degrees across nine departments, all of which are ranked in the top 30 in the nation. Students seeking a non-thesis degree may enroll in professional master's programs, which combines the technical with business, leadership, and management.
Master of Engineering Management and Leadership program (MEML)
RCEL, for instance, runs the Master of Engineering Management and Leadership program (MEML). The MEML program at Rice is a professional, non-thesis master’s degree meant for technical professionals with engineering or related technical backgrounds; recent college graduates from engineering and the computational science fields should also apply. The MEML program is offered both on-campus and online, with full-time and part-time options. Students who have a BA or a BS degree in any field of engineering or related study may apply. This program is designed to educate engineers on the best ways of leading, managing, and inspiring teams of engineers and technical professionals who are digital natives. In short, it aims to train engineers to lead engineering, without leaving engineering.
Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen (OEDK)
The Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen (OEDK) provides a space for undergraduate students majoring in bioengineering, chemical and biomolecular engineering, civil and environmental engineering, computational and applied mathematics, computer science, electrical and computer engineering, materials science and nanoengineering, mechanical engineering, and statistics to design, prototype, and deploy solutions to real-world engineering challenges. To create the full circle of real-world experience that has societal impact, interdisciplinary teams tackle problems proposed by industry and partners in the Texas Medical Center and abroad.
Rice Center for Engineering Leadership (RCEL)
The Rice Center for Engineering Leadership (RCEL) was established in 2009 with a gift from John ’73, ’74, and Ann ’75 Doerr. The official Engineering Leadership Certificate was approved in 2014. RCEL’s mission is to inspire, educate, and develop, ethical leaders in technology who will excel in research, industry, non-engineering career paths, or entrepreneurship. RCEL’s programing enhances a traditional engineering education by providing skills not typically covered in the Rice engineering curriculum. Through a series of curricular and co-curricular learning experiences, RCEL students learn to create and communicate a vision, build a high-performing team, form and execute collaborative plans, and create innovations that endure.
Data to Knowledge Lab (D2K)
The School’s Data to Knowledge Lab (D2K) is a dynamic hub for innovative, interdisciplinary data science education. Through courses, co-curricular programs, sponsored projects and events, we offer hands-on experiential learning opportunities where students engage with complex real-world data, transforming it into actionable knowledge through machine learning, AI, and computation.
Sources: https://engineering.rice.edu/; https://engineering.rice.edu/academics/graduate-programs/master-engineering-management-and-leadership; https://engineering.rice.edu/academics/graduate-programs/master-engineering-management-and-leadership/oncampus; https://d2k.rice.edu/;
Last updated: March 2026