Certificate Programs
Nanotechnology Systems and Device Development Graduate Credit Certificate Program
The goal of the program is to prepare students to develop nanotechnology-enabled components, including wearable systems for simultaneously monitoring the medical condition of the wearer and the surrounding environment. The monitored data is transmitted in real time to a local base station (e.g. smartphone) that forwards it to a remote facility for further processing and action decisions. The ultimate purpose of these systems includes medical monitoring for diagnosis of environmentally related diseases, environmental monitoring to warn that the local environment contains allergens or other factors to be avoided. The exact course selection shall be determined in advance by the student and the student’s adviser following the guidelines below. Students shall provide written input to their adviser describing proposed course(s) and how the courses will contribute to the requirements of the certificate. Students must receive a C or better in each course included for the certificate, and must achieve an overall 3.0 GPA for the certificate courses.
Admission Requirements:
An applicant for this graduate certificate must hold either (1) a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or (2) a tertiary (postsecondary) degree that is deemed comparable to a four-year bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution. This degree must be from an officially recognized degree-granting institution in the country in which it operates. Ordinarily, an entering student must have completed in a satisfactory manner a minimum of course work in an Engineering or Science discipline that is equivalent to a Penn State major in those areas. Applicants must have a 3.0 or higher undergraduate GPA. International students must satisfy Graduate Council’s English proficiency requirements.
List of Courses Included in the Certificate:
The certificate requires a minimum of 12 credits, as described below. At least 50% of the total number of credits must be taken at the 500 level.
Required:
3 credits from the following list:
- E E 442. Solid State Devices (3)
- E E 441. Semiconductor Integrated Circuit Technology (3)
- E E 542. Semiconductor Devices (3)
- MATSE 413. Solid State materials (3)
- MATSE 510. Surface Characterization of Materials (3)
3 credits from the following list:
- E E 541. Manufacturing Methods in Microelectronics (3)
- E SC 481. Elements of Nano/Micro-electromechanical Systems Processing and Design (3)
- E SC 577. Engineered Thin Films (3)
- MATSE 450/E SC 450. Synthesis and Processing of Electronic and Photonic Materials (3)
At least 2 credits from the following list:
- ENGR 486. Business Opportunities in Engineering (2)
- ENGR 411. Entrepreneurship Business Basics (3)
- ENTR 430. Entrepreneurship and New Product Development (3)
Electives:
The balance of the required credits shall be determined in advance by the student and his/her graduate adviser. Examples of acceptable courses (a current list of potential elective courses will be maintained by and available from the head of the certificate program):
- E E 546. Field-Effect Devices (3)
- E SC 482. Micro-Optoelectromechanical Systems (MOEMS) and Nanophotonics (3)
- E SC 484. Biologically Inspired Nanomaterials (3)
- MATSE. 400 Crystal Chemistry (3)
- MATSE 483/E SC 483. Simulation and Design of Nanostructures (3)
- MATSE 511B. Transmission Electron microscopy (1)
- MATSE 514. Characterization of Materials (3)
Effective Semester: Fall 2014
Expiration Semester: Summer 2019
Last Revised by the Department: Summer Session 2014
Blue Sheet Item #: 43-01
Review Date: 08/19/2014