25 Years of Microelectronic Engineering Education

Rochester Institute of Technology started the nation's first Bachelor of Science program in Microelectronic Engineering in 1982. The program has kept pace with the rapid advancements in semiconductor technology, sharing 25 of the 40 years characterized by Moore's Law. The program has constantly advanced its integrated circuit fabrication laboratory in order to graduate students with state-of-the-art knowledge, who become immediate and efficient contributors to their company or graduate program. Today, this facility serves as a key resource for research in semiconductor devices, processes, MEMS, nanotechnology, and microsystems. This has led to the creation of the first PhD program in engineering at RIT, a Doctorate in Microsystems Engineering. The department enjoys strong support from the semiconductor industry through its industrial affiliate program. Recently the department received a $1 million department level reform grant to address the imminent need for a highly educated workforce for the US high tech industry that is on the verge of nanotechnology revolution.