The Grainger College of Engineering launches Semiconductor Engineering minor to build talent pipeline

The Grainger College of Engineering is offering a new undergraduate Minor in Semiconductor Engineering starting fall 2024 to meet the growing demands and expectations of the semiconductor industry. 

Following the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act, industry and research institutions across the United States have been ramping up to train the semiconductor workforce of the future. 

The Grainger College of Engineering is leading the way in microelectronics, and our expertise in microelectronics can be traced back more than 75 years: this is the home of the LED, transistor and integrated circuit, all of which have shaped modern electronics. Today, Grainger Engineering is advancing microelectronics at all stages of development, including materials, devices and systems. 

The new minor will enable students to learn the fundamentals of semiconductors by looking at semiconductor science, design and manufacturing from the perspectives of research and industry. 

“The creation of this minor builds on our legacy of excellence in microelectronics and taps into a clear need for talented engineers in this rapidly growing industry,” said Grainger Engineering Dean Rashid Bashir. “Our students will rise to meet the challenges of these next-generation technologies.”

Semiconductor engineering incorporates many areas of science and technology. The new minor brings together courses from six academic departments: Electrical and Computer Engineering; Materials Science and Engineering; Mechanical Science and Engineering; Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering; Industrial and Systems Engineering; and Physics. 

The qualification will equip students with a depth and breadth of knowledge spanning multiple disciplines. Students enrolled in the new minor can grow their expertise in diverse areas of semiconductor design, manufacturing and applications, mastering the skills necessary to pursue semiconductor engineering career paths.

“The new semiconductor minor will encourage students to take a more holistic view of semiconductors,” said Bruce Hajek, head of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. “Our program offers strong hands-on experience and helps meet the growing need to develop the microelectronics and semiconductor talent pipeline.”

As well as the new minor, students can enroll in over 75 related courses in microelectronics. Grainger Engineering has dedicated researchers, centers and partnerships focused on accelerated semiconductor performance and advanced technologies, and industry partners include Samsung, IBM and Intel.

The Samsung Semiconductor Technology Program

Students who pursue the Minor in Semiconductor Engineering may be eligible for a Samsung Technology Track Scholarship, which supports undergraduate students pursuing coursework in semiconductor engineering. In September 2023, Samsung Austin Semiconductor announced a $1 million contribution per year to Grainger Engineering from academic years 2023 through 2027. The second cohort of students were selected in spring 2024 from Electrical and Computer Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering and Industrial and Enterprise Systems Engineering.

Minor in Semiconductor Engineering: the basics

• Engineering students can fulfill the minor’s requirements within their technical elective courses. 
• Students must complete a minimum of 16 credit hours to fulfill the requirements for this minor. 
• At least six hours of coursework for the minor should be advanced (300-level or 400-level courses) and distinct from credits earned for majors or other minors.
• Students can apply up to 3 credit hours of independent study towards the “semiconductor elective courses” requirement, enabling them to study advanced topics under the guidance of a faculty member.

See the Catalog listing for more details about the new minor.