The Electronic Materials Designated Minor Program

(This is the old version.  It applies to students who entered the program prior to changes in the MSE curriculum).

Program Coordinators:

L.M. Porter (Materials Science and Engineering)
D.W. Greve (Electrical and Computer Engineering)
Many of the technological changes in recent decades-notably the rise of digital data processing-has been made possible by continuing advances in the performance of electronic devices. These advances include continuous improvement in microprocessor performance, optical communication bandwidth, and magnetic disk storage capacity. Other new areas of innovation include the development of micromechanical systems and the development of flat panel display technology. These advances depend on interactions between engineers from many different disciplines. In particular, there is a strong interaction between device design and materials engineering and processing.

The Electronic Materials Minor is intended to provide students with a firm basis for the application of electronic materials in advanced systems. This minor is well suited for students who intend to pursue careers in the electronics industry (included, but not limited to, semiconductor integrated circuit design and manufacturing, and magnetic storage engineering). The minor also provides an excellent preparation for students interested in pursing graduate work in MSE, ECE, or Applied Physics.

This minor is primarily intended to offer ECE and MSE students an understanding of the important features that must be built into a material during processing so that it will function as required in an electronic or magnetic device. Other students interested in pursuing this minor should consult their advisors to determine whether it will be practical in their own curriculum.

Students in the Electronic Materials program are urged to consider registering for an undergraduate project in addition to the requirements below, especially if they intend to apply to graduate school. The co-directors will make every effort to arrange a suitable project for interested students.

 

Course requirements

The minor requires a minimum of five courses as specified below.

 

Required courses

18-100 Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE students may not take this for credit toward the minor)

27-201 Materials Science I (MSE students may not take this for credit toward the minor)

 

Elective courses

Four additional electives must be taken, with two from group A and two from group B. Some courses are a required part of one of the curricula and consequently cannot be counted again for the minor program.

We have determined that "courses which are a required part of a curriculum" are those which are specifically named in the curriculum requirements. Consequently technical electives and breadth and depth electives may be double-counted.

Group A
Group B

For further information, contact one of the Electronic Materials Minor coordinators:

Prof. L.M. Porter (Materials Science and Engineering)

Prof. D.W. Greve (Electrical and Computer Engineering)