Graduate Study
Microelectronic Engineering
Program Overview
A ME or a MS degree is offered in the area of microelectronics manufacturing. The ME in microelectronics manufacturing engineering is a full-time, one-year intensive classroom- and laboratory-oriented program culminating with an internship. The MS in microelectronics manufacturing engineering is a full-time, two-year research-oriented program, which includes a master's thesis. Both programs are intended to prepare students for a career in the semiconductor industry and provide a broad interdisciplinary background in optics, chemistry, device physics, computer science, electrical engineering, photographic science, and statistics.
The objective of the MS program in microelectronic engineering is to provide an opportunity for students to perform graduate level research as they prepare for entry into the semiconductor industry or a Ph.D. program. The program requires strong preparation in the area of microelectronics, takes two years to complete, and requires a thesis.
Curriculum Review
The program consists of eight graduate level (700 level or higher) courses, including seven core courses and one elective course for students with a BS degree in a discipline other than microelectronic engineering. Five core courses and three elective courses are required for students with a BS in microelectronic engineering. In addition, all students in this program are required to take a variable-credit (1 or 0 credits) seminar/research course each quarter they are at RIT. Up to four credits will be allowed to count toward the required 36 hours. A nine credit thesis, which includes dissertation submission and oral defense, will be required of all students in this program. The total number of credits needed for the MS in microelectronic engineering is 45.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree in electrical, chemical engineering, materials science and engineering, physics, or the equivalent from an accredited college or university in good academic standing. An undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale, or strong academic/supervisor endorsements are required. Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores are not mandatory but may support the candidacy statistics.
Prerequisites
The prerequisites include a BS in engineering (such as electrical or microelectronic engineering), including an introductory course in device physics and an introductory course in fabrication technology. Students from RIT's BS in microelectronic engineering program will meet these prerequisites. Students who do not have these prerequisites can take these courses during their first quarter of study and still complete the MS program in two years. The prerequisite courses will not count toward the 36 credits worth of graduate courses required for the MS degree.