Nanoscale Engineering

Bachelor of Science Degree

The College of Nanoscale Engineering and Technology Innovation is part of the Colleges of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) on the Albany site of the SUNY Polytechnic Institute. CNSE offers two approved undergraduate majors, nanoscale engineering and nanoscale science. The two undergraduate degree programs are designed to educate students to explore, discover, and innovate, while ensuring their proficiency in one of the two pillars of nanotechnology. As such, CNSE is committed to making certain that both programs meet or exceed the standards of scholarly excellence and academic quality required to graduate scientists, engineers, and professionals who can successfully navigate careers in nanotechnology and, in turn, deliver the innovations that are the lifeline of modern-day academic institutions, global corporations, and the business world. The two undergraduate degrees are synergistic and complementary in scope and objectives, and build on each other’s strengths to maximize return on investment and ensure paramount effectiveness in advancing the institution’s educational mission and overarching goals. Information pertaining to the nanoscale science major can be found in the catalog section for the College of Nanoscale Science.

CNSE is dedicated to providing quality undergraduate education in the interdisciplinary field of nanoscale engineering, which we define as: the application of nanoscale science principles to practical applications, such as the atomic scale design, manufacture, and operation of efficient and functional structures, machines, processes, and systems.

Our educational program, centered around our unique industrial research and development ecosystem, is designed to train high-achieving scientists, engineers, and professionals uniquely educated to pursue opportunities in emerging high technology industries – including nanoelectronics, nanomedicine, health sciences, and sustainable energy – or competitive graduate degrees in current and emerging engineering fields. To achieve these goals that will serve as the career pathway targets for our graduates, the Nanoscale Engineering B.S. program incorporates the following Program Educational Objectives:

CNSE’s Nanoscale Engineering program aims to equip our students with a liberal education in the foundational physical sciences, mathematics, and applied engineering concepts, and to prepare them to develop creative solutions to technological problems through the use of rigorous analytical, computational, modeling, and experimental tools.

  1. CNSE’s Nanoscale Engineering program aims to develop in our students the ability to apply their knowledge to identify, design, and implement practical and conscientious solutions to a wide spectrum of technological challenges. In so doing, the CNSE aims to cultivate the qualities in our graduates that will make them innovative, productive, and highly valued working professionals.
  2. CNSE’s Nanoscale Engineering program aims to educate our students to propose, formulate and execute original solutions to cutting-edge nanoscale engineering problems, incorporating original research and design elements as cornerstones of their approach. These capstone experiences will be facilitated by CNSE’s globally unique R&D complex, and provide the opportunity for students to work within multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary teams. A critical component of this experience is developing the ability to communicate effectively with a broad range of constituents, including peers, technical professionals, business management, and the general public.
  3. CNSE’s Nanoscale Engineering program aims to instill in our graduates the appreciation for and ability to engage in life-long learning and professional development. CNSE aims to educate our students in the broadest sense, so that they will conduct themselves in an ethical and responsible manner, and to make meaningful contributions to the challenges faced by an increasingly global and technology-based society.

Degree Requirements Overview
The requirements for the Nanoscale Engineering program at SUNY Poly are governed not only by the requirements of State Education Department but also those of ABET. Following the ABET criteria, a student’s coursework towards the Nanoscale Engineering degree must include:

  • Two years of a combination of college-level Mathematics (at least 18 credits), Foundational Principals (20 credits) (some with experimental experience) appropriate to Nanoscale Engineering, Nanotechnology Survey courses (6 credits), and 200-level Nanoscale Engineering Design and Skills electives (6 credits)
  • Two years of engineering topics appropriate to Nanoscale Engineering, consisting of
    • Core Competencies courses: 27 credits
    • Concentration courses: 9 credits of Nanoscale Engineering courses from 1 of the following concentration areas:
      • Nanoelectronics
      • Nanoscale Engineering for Energy & Environment Applications
      • Nanobiosystems Engineering
      • Nanoscale Lithography
    • 6 credits of 400-level Nanoscale Engineering or Science topical elective courses
    • Capstone Undergraduate Research/Design courses: 9 credits
  • In addition to the writing, oral discourse and ethical content embedded throughout CNSE coursework, a general education component that complements the technical content of the nanoscale engineering curriculum and is consistent with the program and institution objectives

B.S. in Nanoscale Engineering—120 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 Management (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 Sciences (satisfied by major requirement)
  • Social Sciences (satisfied by major requirement)
  • American History
  • Western Civilization
  • Other World Civilizations
  • Humanities
  • The Arts
  • Foreign Language

The requirement to complete a Bachelor of Science in Nanoscale Engineering 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 Engineering major’s curriculum and are specifically approved by SUNY for the three-semester Capstone Requirement.

In order to graduate with a Nanoscale Engineering 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 who 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 Engineering Program Coursework (102 credits)*

A. Foundational Principles courses (20 credits):

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

B. Core Competencies courses (27 credits):

  • N ENG 301 Thermodynamics and Kinetics of Nanomaterials
  • N ENG 302 Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Properties of Nanomaterials
  • N ENG 303 Mechanics of Nanomaterials
  • N ENG 304 Fluid Mechanics and Transport Processes
  • N ENG 405 Micro and Nano Materials Processing Technology
  • N ENG 406 Fundamentals of Nanoelectronics
  • N ENG 407 Thin Film and Nanomaterials Characterization
  • N ENG 408 Industrial Nanomanufacturing

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

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

D. Concentrations courses (9 credits):

Choose ONE of these concentrations

  1. Nanoelectronics
  • N ENG 411 Nanoelectronic IC Fabrication Processes
  • N ENG 412 Micro and Nano Devices and Circuits
  • N ENG 413 Nanoscale Optical and Optoelectronic Devices
  • N ENG 414 Applications of Fields and Waves to Nanoscale Systems
  • N ENG 415 Nanoelectronic Devices
  1. Nanoscale Engineering for Energy & Environment Applications
  • N ENG 421 Introduction to Solar Cell Nanotechnology
  • N ENG 422 Introduction to Fuel Cell Nanotechnology
  • N ENG 423 Renewable and Alternate Energy Nanotechnologies
  • N ENG 424 Nanoscale Chemical and Biological Sensors
  1. Nanobiosystems Engineering
  • N ENG 424 Nanoscale Chemical and Biological Sensors
  • N ENG 431 Advanced Materials Processing for NEMS/MEMS
  • N ENG 435 Nanobiological Systems
  • N ENG 445 Introduction to Pharmaceuticals and Biomanufacturing
  1. Nanoscale Lithography
  • N ENG 441 Nanoscale Patterning
  • N ENG 442 Light Optics for Nanoengineering
  • N ENG 443 Charged Particle Optics for Nanoengineering

E. 400-level Nanoscale Engineering or Science topical elective courses (6 credits by advisement)

F. Nanotechnology survey courses (6 credits):

Choose TWO of these courses

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

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

  • N ENG 201 Introduction to Nanoscale Engineering Design and Manufacturing
  • N ENG 202 Introduction to Computer Programming for Engineers
  • N ENG 203 Introduction to Nanoengineering Electronics

H. Mathematics (at least 18 credits):

  • MAT 151 Calculus I
  • MAT 152 Calculus II
  • MAT 253 Calculus III
  • MAT 260 Ordinary Differential Equations and Series Solutions
  • MAT 280 Linear Algebra

*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, Northwestern, RIT, RPI, San Juan College, and Stanford.

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

A. Admission
Students are evaluated in the junior year for the honors in the major program in nanoscale engineering. 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 Engineering will take all of the same coursework as student following the Nanoscale Engineering major except that Honors students take N ENG 491 Capstone Research II. Team Research and Project Review (Honors) in lieu of N ENG 490 and N ENG 493 Capstone Research III. Team Research and Final Report (Honors) in lieu of N ENG 492.

V. Open Electives (remainder of 120 credits)

This program requires first-year students to purchase a laptop for use in classes and labs. The faculty feel that laptops are an important tool for a student’s education. Details regarding laptop specifications will be sent to new admitted students prior to enrollment.