Boise
State University’s new master of science degree in materials
science and engineering, which will be offered starting this
fall semester, has particular relevance to Boise’s position as
a center for microelectronics research and design. Increasing
demand among engineering graduate students, engineers working
in local industry and corporate employers led to the creation
of the new program, which was approved by the State Board of
Education this spring.
As conveyed at an international gathering of electrical
engineers on the Boise State campus earlier this month,
continuing improvements in semiconductor materials will be
essential to sustaining advances in microelectronic devices
that pervade our culture — from cell phones to medical devices
to consumer electronics.
The master’s degree in materials science and engineering is an
interdisciplinary program with faculty participation in
engineering, chemistry and physics. Although the program has
strong emphases in microelectronics, understanding properties,
structure, processing and performance of materials is
essential knowledge for engineers and scientists of all kinds.
For example, civil engineers optimize building materials for
strength, cost and environmental issues. Chemists utilize
surface science techniques to understand the atomic properties
of surfaces. Physicists manipulate materials on the atomic
level to alter their bulk properties. Mechanical engineers use
materials such as polymers, composites or ceramics to design
products that are lighter, stronger or more corrosion
resistant.
For more information about the master’s degree program in
materials science and engineering, contact mechanical
engineering professors Amy Moll, 426-5719, or John Gardner,
426-5702.
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Contact
Amy Moll
Mechanical engineering
426-5719
John Gardner
Mechanical engineering
426-5702
Media contact
Pat Pyke
communications and marketing
208 426-1987
