Semiconductor and Quantum Materials and Devices Option

A gloved hand holds a microchip

This option focuses on the science, design, and manufacturing of electronic and quantum devices using conventional and modern semiconducting, insulating, and conducting materials. The foundational and technical electives prepare students for careers in the areas of semiconductor manufacturing, electronic communications, 2D materials, neuromorphic computing, quantum processing, defect analysis in electronic materials, and electronic thin films, for example. They also prepare students interested in applications of biological materials and devices such as wearable and/or stretchable sensors and health monitoring. Students in this option can find employment at companies such as Intel, Samsung, Micro, AMD, Motorola, Texas Instruments, and any company working on semiconductor devices or next generations of quantum processing.

The core FE courses represent foundational electives for SQMD. The student must select a minimum of 2 of these courses. The alternate FE courses provide pathways to specialties within EPQMD and form the foundation for the listed technical electives. As with all our options, a student can petition another course for either the core, alternate FE, or the TE. One or more members approve these of our undergraduate curriculum committee.

The Foundational Elective (FE) courses aim to provide some flexibility in the junior year while maintaining a high level of technical content (i.e., not intro/overview courses), providing a breadth of topics covered, and supporting potential deeper study in the senior year.

A total of five FE courses are required. Some courses on these lists are suitable as Technical Electives, but each class can be used to fill one degree requirement. At most one 100-level course may be used.

Core FE (6-12 cr.)

Recommended Alternate FE (0-6 cr.)

Recommended Technical Electives (9-12 cr)

Technical electives are from biomedical engineering, chemistry, computer science and engineering, electrical engineering, energy engineering, engineering science and mechanics, materials science and engineering, math, and physics.

Senior Thesis (6 cr)

 

 
 

About

The Penn State Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics (ESM) is an internationally distinguished department that is recognized for its globally competitive excellence in engineering and scientific accomplishments, research, and educational leadership.

Our Engineering Science program is the official undergraduate honors program of the College of Engineering, attracting the University’s brightest engineering students. We also offer graduate degrees in ESM, engineering mechanics, engineering at the nano-scale, and an integrated undergraduate/graduate program.

Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics

212 Earth and Engineering Sciences Building

The Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA 16802

Phone: 814-865-4523