 Microelectronics, the study and manufacturing
of very small electronic devices, is an exciting
area of growth within the field of engineering. While
industry advances at a rapid pace, new designs and
devices that depend on this technology are continually
being developed. Take a quick look around, and you
will see this new technology everywhere — from hand-held devices like MP3 players, cell phones and
digital cameras to high-speed communications,
advanced automobiles and specialty medical
equipment.
At the core of these technologies is microelectronics.
Understanding this field will enable you to see
how the physical devices manufactured through an
integrated circuit fabrication process are limited by
processing techniques and material constraints. Every
day, breakthroughs in the design and manufacturing
of microelectronic devices are driving the explosion of
the technology around us — and
you could be a part of it.
Today’s semiconductor
engineers are solving
real problems that
allow them to further
scale the minimum
device sizes for diodes,
transistors, capacitors,
floating gates and other
devices which can limit the
advancements in technology growth. The growing
field of nanotechnology has allowed us to look at ways
to scale microelectronic devices beyond the point at
which current physical size scaling fails. The behindthe-scenes development and manufacturing of these
devices is where chemical engineers can make — and
are making — a significant impact.
Chemical Engineers in the Microelectronics Industry
 Chemical engineers are involved in all aspects of microelectronics fabrication and can be found in all areas of a fabrication facility. Using process engineering knowledge, they skillfully move wafers through the many steps required to manufacture the devices upon which our daily lives depend. By pursuing a microelectronics concentration in
chemical engineering at U.Va., you will gain the skills and knowledge required to pursue a career in the ever-expanding microelectronics processing industry.
The Microelectronics Concentration combines
fundamental chemical engineering building blocks
with an understanding of electrical devices and
integrated circuit fabrication to provide an education
that will allow the student to pursue employment or
graduate study in semiconductor manufacturing.
The program consists of 10.5 credit hours of classes,
which includes the following required courses:
ECE 203 — Introductory Circuit Analysis
Provides a basic understanding of electrical circuit
devices and how and why they function
ECE 303 — Solid-State Devices
Covers the theory of semiconductor solid-state devices,
including charge transport, diode and transistor
formation and function
ECE 564 — Microelectronic IC Fabrication
Covers the fabrication technologies used to manufacture semiconductor devices
ECE 415 — Microelectronic IC Fabrication Lab
Provides hands-on opportunities to apply the IC fabrication techniques to build
semiconductor devices
Internship, Research and
Employment Opportunities
Various opportunities exist for summer internships with semiconductor manufacturing companies. Students pursuing a microelectronics
concentration will have the ability to take summer
or permanent positions at companies like Micron
Technology Inc., Qimonda and BAE.
Additional opportunities at research
labs and small start-up companies
also abound. |
