Nanoscale Science

Bachelor of Science Degree

The College of Nanoscale Science is part of the Colleges of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) on the Albany site of the SUNY Polytechnic Institute. The CNSE offers two approved undergraduate majors, nanoscale engineering and nanoscale science and a student initiated interdisciplinary major option. Information pertaining to the nanoscale engineering major can be found in the catalog section for the College of Nanoscale Engineering and Technology Innovation. The CNSE undergraduate curriculum in the interdisciplinary field of nanoscale science is designed to provide SUNY Poly undergraduate students with a well-rounded education of the highest quality. The curriculum provides students with the analytical tools necessary to explore, discover, and innovate, while cementing fundamental knowledge in nanoengineering. The program imparts a broad-based, basic and applied, scientific understanding of atomic scale phenomena, behaviors, and properties of matter in order to achieve deliberate control over nanometer-scale atomic and molecular systems. The program also enables a quantitative mastery of the fundamental nature of nanoscale interactions that can be effectively used to characterize and measure the behavior and structure of nanometer scale assemblies and systems. This degree program offers an academically rigorous preparation for students intending to pursue scientific, technical, or professional careers in nanotechnology enabled fields or graduate studies in nanoscale science or nanoscale engineering, biotechnology, biotech-related fields, and other physical sciences such as materials science, physics, and chemistry.

Degree Requirements Overview
The B.S. program in Nanoscale Science requires the completion of the following categories of courses:

  1. Foundational Principles: 20 credits
  2. Core Competencies courses: 21 credits
  3. Concentrations courses: 12 credits of Nanoscale Science courses from 1 of the following concentration areas or courses by advisement:
    • Nanoelectronics
    • Nanostructured Materials
    • Nanobioscience
  4. Capstone Undergraduate Research/Design courses: 9 credits
  5. 9 credits of 400-level Nanoscale Science or Engineering topical elective courses.
  6. 6 credits of Nanotechnology survey courses
  7. 6 credits of 200-level Nanoscale Engineering Design and Skills electives
  8. 1 credit of a senior seminar courses
  9. 18 credits of Mathematics

B.S. in Nanoscale Science—102 total credits

Students shall satisfy the requirements listed below.

I. SUNY General Education Requirements (30 credits)

All SUNY students must satisfy the following requirements.

No fewer than 30 credits must be attained from the SUNY approved General Education Course List with the following provisions:

  • Mathematics (satisfied by major mathematics requirement)
  • Basic Communication (satisfied by Capstone courses)
  • Information Literacy (satisfied by Capstone courses)
  • Critical Thinking (satisfied by Capstone courses)

At least five (5) out of the following eight (8) SUNY General Education categories:

  • Natural Science (satisfied by major requirement)
  • Social Science (satisfied by major requirement)
  • American History
  • Western Civilization
  • Other World Civilization
  • Humanities
  • The Arts
  • Foreign Language

The requirement to complete a Bachelor of Science in Nanoscale Science already meets a minimum of 25 credits that fulfill SUNY General Education

The Basic Communication (written and oral discourse) and the Critical Thinking and Information Management competencies are embedded throughout the Nanoscale Science major’s curriculum and are specifically approved by SUNY for the three-semester Capstone Requirement.

In order to graduate with a Nanoscale Science major a student needs to complete requirement three of the following general education categories: American History, Western Civilization, Other World Civilizations, Humanities, The Arts, or Foreign Languages.

With one exception, the student may use a course that applies to more than one General Education category to meet all of the categories satisfied by that course. The one exception is no student may use one course to meet both the Arts and the Humanities requirements.

A student bringing in a course as Advanced Placement, transfer, or other credit, whether acquired before or after matriculation, which fulfills a SUNY General Education requirement may use that course to meet the requirement. NOTE: a student brings in such credit or is thinking of taking a course elsewhere after matriculation should verify with his or her Academic Advisor or the CNSE Director of Academic Advisement whether the course indeed will fulfill the SUNY General Education requirement.

II. Liberal Arts/Sciences Requirements (30 credits) 

The New York State Education Department (SED) requires a student earning a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree to attain no fewer than 60 credits of combined SUNY General Education and Liberal Arts/Sciences courses. There may be overlap between courses meeting both the SUNY General Education Requirements and Liberal Arts/Sciences Requirements, but a student may receive course credits only once even if multiple requirements are satisfied by a single course. The total number of combined credit hours must be no fewer than 60 credits.

Since all mathematics requirements in the major, all nanoscale science (N SCI) and all nanoscale engineering (N ENG) courses except N ENG 405, 408, 411, and 444 are Liberal Arts and Sciences Courses, students will automatically meet this requirement within the major.

III. Nanoscale Science Program Coursework (102 credits)*

A. Foundational Principles courses (20 credits):

  • N SCI 114 Chemical Principles of Nanoscale Science and Engineering I
  • N SCI 115 Chemical Principles of Nanoscale Science and Engineering Laboratory I
  • N SCI 116 Chemical Principles of Nanoscale Science and Engineering II
  • N SCI 117 Chemical Principles of Nanoscale Science and Engineering Laboratory II
  • N SCI 126 Physical Principles of Nanoscale Science and Engineering I
  • N SCI 127 Physical Principles of Nanoscale Science and Engineering Laboratory I
  • N SCI 128 Physical Principles of Nanoscale Science and Engineering II
  • N SCI 129 Physical Principles of Nanoscale Science and Engineering Laboratory II
  • N SCI 140 Physical Principles of Nanoscale Science and Engineering III
  • N SCI 141 Physical Principles of Nanoscale Science and Engineering Laboratory III

B.Core Competencies courses (21 credits):

  • N SCI 220 Structure of Matter
  • N SCI 230 Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics for Nanoscale Systems
  • N SCI 300 Integrated NanoLaboratory I
  • N SCI 305 Integrated NanoLaboratory II
  • N SCI 350 Introduction to Quantum Theory for Nanoscale Systems
  • N SCI 360 Nanoscale Molecular Materials and Soft Matter
  • N SCI 410 Quantum Origins of Material Properties

C. Capstone Undergraduate Research/Design courses (9 credits):

  • N SCI 390 Capstone Research I
  • N SCI 490 Capstone Research II. Team Research and Project Review
  • N SCI 492 Capstone Research III. Team Research and Final Report

D. Concentrations courses (9credits):

Choose ONE of these concentrations

  1. Nanoelectronics
  • N SCI 310 Nanoscale Surfaces and Interfaces
  • N SCI 320 Advanced Physical/Chemical Concepts for Nanoscale Science
  • N SCI 420 Electronic Properties of Nanomaterials
  • N SCI 421 Nanoscale Electronic Devices
  • N SCI 422 Concepts in Molecular Electronics
  • N SCI 423 Magnetic and Spintronic Materials and Devices
  • N SCI 424 Optoelectronic Materials and Devices
  1. Nanostructured Materials
  • N SCI 310 Nanoscale Surfaces and Interfaces
  • N SCI 320 Advanced Physical/Chemical Concepts for Nanoscale Science
  • N SCI 430 Nanoscale Physical Properties in Reduced Dimensions
  • N SCI 431 Growth of Nanostructured Materials
  • N SCI 432 Particle Induced Chemistry
  • N SCI 433 Properties of Nanoscale Composite Structures
  • N SCI 434 Nanostructural Characterization Techniques
  1. Nanobioscience
  • N SCI 240 Biochemical Principles for Nanoscale Science
  • N SCI 330 Energetics and Kinetics in Nanobiological Systems
  • N SCI 440 Biological Architectures for Nanotechnology Applications
  • N SCI 441 Nanobiology for Nanotechnology Applications
  • N SCI 442 Nanoscale Bio-Inorganic Interfaces
  • N SCI 443 Biological Routes for Nanomaterials Synthesis

E. 400-level Nanoscale Science or Engineering topical elective courses (9 credits by advisement)

F. Nanotechnology survey courses (6 credits):

Choose TWO of these courses

  • N SCI 101 Nanotechnology Survey
  • N SCI 102 Societal Impacts of Nanotechnology
  • N SCI 103 Economic Impacts of Nanotechnology
  • N SCI 104 Disruptive Nanotechnologies

G. 200-level Nanoscale Engineering Design and Skills electives (6 credits):

  • N SCI 201 Introduction to Nanoscale Engineering Design and Manufacturing
  • N SCI 202 Computer Control of Instrumentation
  • N SCI 203 Advanced Circuits Laboratory
  • N SCI 204 Finite Element Modeling
  • N SCI 205 Numerical Simulation
  • N SCI 210 Introduction to Nanobioscience Methods and Skills

H. Senior seminar course (1 credit):

  • N SCI 498 Current Topics in Nanoscale Science and Engineering (or equivalent)

I. Mathematics (at least 18 credits):

  • MAT 151 Calculus I
  • MAT 152 Calculus II
  • MAT 253 Calculus III
  • Linear Algebra
  • Applied mathematics course (by advisement)

*Some of the courses in this degree program were inspired in part by the scholarly programs of other institutions.  To this end, SUNY Poly acknowledges the academic work of MIT and Stanford.

IV. Honors Program in Nanoscale Science Coursework (102 credits)

A. Admission
Students are evaluated in the junior year for the honors in the major program in nanoscale science. Invitations to participate will be made by the CNSE Honors Director. The student must have an earned overall GPA of 3.25, and a 3.50 for all courses attempted in the major, at the time of admission to the honors program. In addition, all applicants to the honors in the major program must provide as part of the completed application a written statement of purpose which explains the reasons and motivation for wanting to undertake the honors in the major program.

B. Requirements
Students admitted to the Honors Program in Nanoscale Science will take all of the same coursework as student following the Nanoscale Science major except that Honors students should take N SCI 491 Capstone Research II. Team Research and Project Review (Honors) in lieu of N SCI 490 and N SCI 493 Capstone Research III. Team Research and Final Report (Honors) in lieu of N SCI 492.

V. Open Electives (remainder of 120 credits)