Nanotechnology Minor

Nanotechnology is a branch of engineering and technology that deals with the design and fabrication of extremely small electronic devices and mechanical elements, assembled at the molecular scale. At this size the matter exhibits novel or improved physical and chemical properties.

The Nanotechnology Minor is designed to provide knowledge and skills valuable to students planning to seek employment in fields such as semiconductor manufacturing, microelectronics, optoelectronics, information storage, medicine, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. In addition, the minor also prepares students for graduate studies where exciting research opportunities will bring familiarity and hands-on experience in the nanotechnology field of choice.

Knowledge of Physics and Chemistry is central to every engineering and technology field, and so these are prerequisite courses for the Nanotechnology Minor. The minor requires 20 credits including the Core Course and four Elective Courses (or a minimum of 17 credits if transfer courses are accepted). The Core Course surveys the broad field of nanotechnology bringing familiarity with the essential technologies and enabling the understanding of the various study paths that students can follow.

A. Prerequisite Courses (8 credits)

  • PHY 101 General Physics
  • CHE 110 Essentials of Chemistry

B. Core Course (3 courses)

  • ETC/MTC 290 Introduction to Nanotechnology
  • ETC/MTC 395 Semiconductor Microfabrication
  • ETC/MTC 484 Thin Film Processing

C. Elective Courses (2 courses)

  • ETC 265 Sensor Technology
  • ETC/MTC 392 Micro and Nano Electro-Mechanical Systems
  • ETC/MTC 394 Nanoscale Materials
  • ETC 397 Fundamentals of Photovoltaic Energy or
    NENG 421 Introduction to Solar Cell Nanotechnology (CNSE)
  • ETC/MTC 432 Process Control and Design of Experiments
  • ETC 445 System-on-Chip Embedded Systems
  • ME 449 Finite Element Analysis or
    MTC 467 Finite Element Applications
  • NENG 422 Introduction to Fuel Cell Nanotechnology (CNSE)
  • NENG 423 Renewable and Alternate Energy Nanotechnologies (CNSE)