Microelectronics process engineering program at SJSU

At present, there is a need for engineers with CMOS processing knowledge, statistical process control (SPC) skills, and the ability to work in an interdisciplinary team environment and assume leadership roles. San Jose State University are developing an interdisciplinary lab-based microelectronics process engineering program that introduces SPC and DOE to students in a microelectronics manufacturing environment. At the heart of the program are three courses, each of which is imagined to be a division of a fictitious semiconductor fabrication company (Spartan Semiconductor Services, Inc., or S3i). The divisions are: Digital NMOS division (MatE/EE129: Introduction to IC Fabrication), Thin Film Research Division (MatE/ChE 166: Advanced Thin Film Processes) and CMOS Division and SPC task force (MatE/EE 167: Microelectronics Manufacturing Methods). Several unique features of the program are its introduction of SPC in a microelectronics manufacturing environment, the inclusion of design of experiments (DOE) topics, and the faculty-faculty, faculty-student and student-student interaction among the three courses (divisions). Ultimately, we are trying to provide a learning environment that will allow our students to be immediately productive in an IC production facility, to be able to communicate with IC process engineers, and to be prepared for graduate school programs.