Minor in Nanoscience and Technology

As the field of nanotechnology develops further, particularly in the North Texas region, The University of Texas at Dallas has an important role to play in the education of knowledge workers for the industry. The minor in nanoscience and technology offered by the Department of Materials Science and Engineering provides a means for undergraduate students to familiarize themselves with the concepts and principles of nanotechnology.

Educational Objectives

Upon completion of the minor program, students will:

  • Have a comprehensive general education background.
  • Have a working knowledge of nanoscience and nanotechnology principles and industry applications.
  • Be able to apply key concepts in materials science, chemistry, physics, biology and engineering to the field of nanotechnology.
  • Understand the societal and technological issues that may impede the adoption of nanotechnology.
  • Have the ability to communicate effectively and work collaboratively.
  • Be able to become successful professionals and, if they desire, be able to pursue graduate study.
  • Be able to identify career paths and requisite knowledge and skills for career change toward nanotechnology.

This minor has been designed around three core MSEN (previously NANO) designated courses, the content of which is exclusively related to nanoscience and nanotechnology. The remaining nine semester credit hours of courses may be chosen from the list of courses below. The contents of the courses BIOL 4461, CHEM 3322 and PHYS 4301 are similar enough that only one of these three courses may count toward the minor. In addition, several lower-division electives have been included to provide streamlined access to the available upper-division electives. Since the three core courses are all upper-division electives, only one of the remaining nine semester credit hours must be an upper-division course, although students may choose to challenge themselves by pursuing all nine semester credit hours as upper-division electives.

Apply to the NANO Minor Program

The Minor in Nanoscience and Technology is intended for current UTD undergraduate students. If you are not currently enrolled in an undergraduate program, you must first submit an application to the undergraduate major program of interest.

Requests to add the Minor in Nanoscience and Technology are submitted through the UTD Student Center in PeopleSoft. To submit a request, follow the application instructions provided on this guide. If you have questions regarding how the Minor course requirements fit into your current undergraduate degree plan, please contact your undergraduate academic advisor.

Requirements

A total of 18 semester credit hours are required, consisting of three core classes (9 semester credit hours) and 9 additional semester credit hours of electives.

Please note that, starting in Fall 2018, NANO-prefixed courses have been relabeled to MSEN-prefixed courses. The courses themselves have not changed, and either version will count towards the requirements listed below.

I. Core Requirements: 9 semester credit hours

MSEN 3301 Introduction to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
MSEN 3302 Microscopy, Spectroscopy and Nanotech Instrumentation
MSEN 4V95 Undergraduate Research in Nanotechnology

II. Elective Requirements: 9 semester credit hours

Students must complete at least nine semester credit hours chosen from the following courses. At least one of the courses must be upper division (3000 or 4000):

MSEN-designated courses:

MSEN 3310 Introduction to Materials Science
MSEN 4391 or EE 4391 Technology of Plasma
MSEN 4V95 Undergraduate Research

Lower-division courses:

CHEM 2323 Introductory Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 2325 Introductory Organic Chemistry II
MATH 2451 Multivariable Calculus with Applications
PHYS 2303 Contemporary Physics
MECH 2320 Mechanics of Materials

Upper-division courses:

PHYS 4352 Concepts of Modern Physics
MECH 4360 Introduction to Nanostructured Materials
MECH 4370 Introduction to MEMS
EE 3310 Electronic Devices
EE 3311 Electronic Circuits
CHEM 4335 Polymer Chemistry
CHEM 3472 Instrumental Analysis
CHEM 4473 Physical Measurements Laboratory
CHEM 3321 Physical Chemistry I
CHEM 4355 Computational Modeling

Only one of the following courses may be used to count toward the Minor:

BIOL 4461 Biophysical Chemistry
CHEM 3322 Physical Chemistry II
PHYS 4301 Quantum Mechanics I