Nanotechnology (MS)

Program Description

The Master of Science in Nanotechnology program provides students with scientific knowledge and research training in nanoscience and nanotechnology. The program prepares students for seeking employment in industry and academia involved in nanotechnology research, product development and commercialization, or to pursue advanced PhD degrees in related areas.

The Nanotechnology MS program consists of 30 credit hours of study that covers Fall, Spring and Summer consecutive academic terms. Admissions to the program occur in both the Fall and Spring semester of each year, and students are expected to finish the degree in two years.

The program of study includes a balanced course offering including interdisciplinary scientific courses and research training in the field of nanotechnology. The curriculum of courses is delivered via face-to-face instruction. The program includes 3 credit hours of independent study and 6 credit hours of thesis research under the supervision of a faculty at the NanoScience Technology Center. This training will provide students with hands-on research experiences on nanomaterial synthesis, nanostructure fabrication and characterization, and application development in their interested areas.

Program Tracks

• Nanotechnology MS, Non-Thesis Track

Curriculum

The Nanotechnology MS program consists of 30 credit hours of graduate courses including 12 credit hours of required (core) courses in nanotechnology, 9 credit hours of elective courses in physics, engineering, chemistry, biology or other related fields, 3 credit hours of independent study, and 6 credit hours of thesis research.

From the core courses in nanotechnology and elective courses in related science/engineering areas, students will gain basic and broader understanding of the most advanced techniques, developments and applications of nanoscale materials and devices. From the independent study and thesis research training, the students will gain hands-on experiences to work on problems and product development involving nanoscience and nanotechnology.

Total Credit Hours Required: 30 Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Bachelor’s Degree

Required Courses: 15 Credit Hours

Core Courses: 12 Credit Hours

Select four courses from the following list of courses.

• IDS 6250 - Introduction to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology 3 Credit Hours
• IDS 6254 - Nanofabrication and Characterization 3 Credit Hours
• IDS 6252 - Biomedical Nanotechnology 3 Credit Hours
• IDS 6255 - Nanotechnology in Energy and Sustainability 3 Credit Hours
• IDS 6253 - Bioanalytical Technology 3 Credit Hours

Independent Study: 3 Credit Hours

Students will take 3 credit hours of independent study, resulting in a required research report of independent learning experience. Independent Study must have a formally defined core of knowledge to be learned by the student. In accordance with the policy of the College of Graduate Studies, the core of knowledge to be learned by the student must be specified in written form and approved by the student, the instructor, and the program coordinator prior to enrollment in Independent Study.

Elective Courses: 9 Credit Hours

• IDS 6257 - Principles and Techniques of Nanobiology 3 Credit Hours
• IDS 6258 - Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology for Rechargeable Batteries 3 Credit Hours
• IDS 6260 - Properties of Materials at Nanoscale 3 Credit Hours
• IDS 6261 - Nanotechnology for Sustainable Agriculture 3 Credit Hours
• EMA 5586 - Photovoltaic Solar Energy Materials 3 Credit Hours
• EMA 5060 - Polymer Science and Engineering 3 Credit Hours
• EMA 6518 - Transmission Electron Microscopy 3 Credit Hours
• EMA 6605 - Materials Processing Techniques 3 Credit Hours
• PHY 5704 - Physics of Nanoelectronics Devices 3 Credit Hours
• PHY 5933 - Selected topics in biophysics of macromolecules 3 Credit Hours
• OSE 5312 - Light Matter Interaction 3 Credit Hours
• OSE 6938 - ST: Photonic Polymer Materials 3 Credit Hours
• MCB 5225 - Molecular Biology of Disease 3 Credit Hours
• PCB 5238 - Immunobiology 3 Credit Hours
• PCB 5236 - Cancer Biology 3 Credit Hours
• CHM 6710 - Applied Analytical Chemistry 3 Credit Hours

Thesis: 6 Credit Hours

Students will conduct and complete an independent thesis research project under the supervision of a NanoScience Technology Center faculty. The student will defend the thesis at the completion of the study. Students will gain hands-on research experiences on nanomaterial synthesis, nanostructure fabrication and characterization, and application development in their interested areas.

• IDS 6971 6 Credit Hours

Application Requirements

For information on general UCF graduate admissions requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Admissions section of the Graduate Catalog. Applicants must apply online. All requested materials must be submitted by the established deadline.

Applicants should have obtained an undergraduate degree in one of the following areas: physics, chemistry, biology, or engineering.

In addition to the general UCF graduate application requirements, applicants to this program must provide:

• One official transcript (in a sealed envelope) from each college/university attended
• Résumé or Curriculum Vitae
• Goal Statement
  • The goal statement should discuss all relevant professional background and any previous research and/or teaching experience. The statement should explain the motivation behind the pursuit of a master’s degree in Nanotechnology. Future career goals after the completion of the applicant’s master study should be discussed.
  • The goal statement should between 500 and 1,000 words.
• Three letters of recommendation
• Applicants applying to this program who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Credential evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. only.

The acceptance decision will be based on the assessment of the applicant’s GPA from previous college/university, past work experience, recommendation letters and the statement of interest and objectives. Additionally, the committee will evaluate other academic indicators such as having completed a senior thesis, authorship on publications, internship, involvement in scientific research projects, and/or presentations at major scientific meetings and non-academic indicators such as evidence of leadership, extracurricular activities, work or military experience, and/or volunteer activities. For applicants that already have had working experiences in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) fields, emphasis will be placed on their past experiences and recommendation letters.

Readmission

Applicants who are applying for readmission need not resubmit transcripts if the transcripts are previously on file with UCF. However, the following application requirements do need to be current for the new readmission application:

• Résumé/Curriculum Vitae
• Goal Statement
• Letters of Recommendation

Application Deadlines

Financials

Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see the College of Graduate Studies Funding website, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.

Fellowships

Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies. Fellowships are given to support a student’s graduate study and do not have a work obligation. For more information, see UCF Graduate Fellowships, which includes descriptions of university fellowships and what you should do to be considered for a fellowship.