Educational Opportunities
Because of nanotechnology's highly interdisciplinary nature, relevant educational opportunities are dispersed across many academic departments. Graduate students whose research projects relate to nanotechnology typically earn a Ph.D. from a home department and are encouraged to take courses from multiple departments and/or colleges.
Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Degree
Truly interdisciplinary Ph.D. programs may be developed via MSU's Dual Major Doctoral Degree program. Such programs are arranged with the concurrence of the graduate programs involved (see "Dual Major Doctoral Degrees" in the MSU Academic Programs Guide). Typically, two departments are involved, with one being the student's primary affiliation (and home of the principal advisor), and the other a secondary affiliation (home of a secondary advisor or collaborator). Admission requirements to graduate school are those of the primary department. The student's coursework program is established according to guidelines negotiated between the departments. For example, a credit ratio of 60%:40% between the primary and secondary departments may be specified, with no more than 125% of the typical course load of a single Ph.D. degree being required for the interdisciplinary degree. The degree would be called, for example, a Ph.D. in "Chemical Engineering and Physics", when the primary affiliation for the Ph.D. is Chemical Engineering, and the secondary affiliation is Physics. Obligations for teaching are typically met in the primary department. Comprehensive (preliminary) exams are also typically arranged according to the guidelines of the primary department, and must meet the standards of a guidance committee that includes members from both departments, with ~60% members from the primary department and ~40% members from the secondary department.
Courses specifically related to nanotechnology
| Atomic and Electronic Structure of Matter | (PHY 971) |
| Foundations of Nanoscale Science and Technology | (PHY 905, Special Problems) |
| Probes of Nanostructure in Complex Materials | (PHY 973, Special Topics in Condensed Matter Physics) |
| Molecular Self Assembly | (CHE 891, Selected Topics, Section 003) |
| Experimental Methods in Nanotechnology | (CHE 891, Selected Topics, Section 002) |
| Surface and Interfaces of Materials | (CHE871, MSE871) |
| Multifunctional Nanomaterials | (PKG 891, Selected Topics) |