Nanoscience is concerned with the study of matter at a scale on the order of 10 to thousands of atoms. At Carleton, you will examine nanoscience through the disciplines of physical chemistry and electrical engineering to understand the physical, chemical and electronic characteristics of matter in this size regime. The combination of these two areas of study will equip you to fully understand nanoscience in photonic, electronic, energy and communication technologies.

The focus of the program will be on materials—their use in electronic devices, their scalability and the control of their properties. Further required courses in mathematics, physics and statistics will round out the program, and advanced courses in bionanoscience and nanoelectronics are available.

Course overview

As a student in the program, you will begin with courses in relevant areas of math, physics and chemistry, as well as the introductory Seminar in Science. As you progress in the program, you will take required courses in mathematics, physics and statistics, and will be able to tailor your degree by specializing in either organic or analytical chemistry. You will also take increasingly sophisticated courses in electronics, with an emphasis on circuit design and materials. In your final year, you will complete a fourth-year experimental research project on a topic of special interest.

The Nanoscience program has been designed with enough flexibility to allow you to complete a minor in Mathematics or Physics with no additional credit requirements. Minors in other areas such as business or biotechnology are also possible.

Future opportunities

Graduates of the program will be well qualified to work for the federal government and other agencies, as well as in industry and research. Nanoscientists and nanotechnologists work in areas of communications and solar cell technology, microelectronics, the aerospace industry, as well as in research and development in green technologies, to name but a few.