New Minor in Nanoscale Science and Technology starting in Fall 2015.
The blue and brown colors in butterfly Morpho peleides limpida are not pigments but due to Nature’s remarkable Nanotechnology. This and many other nanoscience topics will be covered in a series of three UG courses composing the new Minor in Nanoscale Science and Technology at UCF.
Within the rapid advance in nanoscience, with continuous breakthroughs leading to exciting applications in current and new emerging technologies, and the high degree of industrial innovation in Central Florida, UCF has an important role to play in the education of knowledge workers for an industry that is becoming more and more sophisticated. While UCF provides several opportunities for the graduate population to pursue training in nanoscience, this minor will create a new avenue for undergraduate students to familiarize themselves with the concepts and principles of nanoscience and nanotechnology.
This 18-hour minor has been built around three NEW core nano-courses (nine credits) which focus exclusively on the fundamentals of nanoscience and nanotechnology and the implications to society. These core courses will be offered as Service-Learning designated courses starting Fall 2015. The remaining nine hours of courses may be chosen from a diverse list of electives, including current offerings by different departments in campus (e.g., Optics, Material Science and Engineering, Biology, Philosophy…), as well as it will accommodate and promote any future nano-related course at UCF.
The overall goal is for the students to acquire a working knowledge of nanoscience principles and industrial applications, and to understand the societal and technology issues that may impede the adoption of nanotechnology. In addition, students are expected to develop the ability to communicate effectively , work collaboratively, and identify paths and requisite knowledge and skills for nanotechnology careers.
Core courses:
- PHZ3462-SL –Nanoscience I: The Science and its Societal Impacts
Provides a broad view of nanoscience and the basic theoretical principles behind it, with special focus on fundamental properties and implications to society. - PHZ3464-SL –Nanoscience II: Technological Applications (New in Fall 2015)
Provides a comprehensive summary of the most relevant experimental advances in nanoscience and their applications in current technologies as well as their potential for future emerging technologies. - PHZ3466-SL – Nanoscience III: A virtual Nanolab
A course focused on the computational aspects of nanoscience. Students will model the nano-world using computers.
Service-learning: These three core courses will be offered as UCF Service-Learning approved courses. In an effort to enhance the understanding of the topics covered in these courses and to prepare students for an effective dissemination of scientific knowledge and research to society, students will be engaged in several activities involving public middle schools in the Orange/Seminole counties. A number of service-learning activities will be developed by the students in close collaboration with participating school instructors to accommodate the activity to their specific needs. Successful completion and delivery of the project will be used to calculate the Service-Learning grade portion (40% of the course grade). The final product will be permanently displayed and accessible to other schools in the area through the existing UCF – Schools blog www.highschoolscience.ucf.edu. Each course requires a minimum of 15 hours of service to the community as part of the course assignments. Note that Students seeking a Service-Learning Certificate need to obtain a minimum GPA of 2.5 in four SL courses and 60 hours of community service.
Elective courses
Three courses (9 credits) must be chosen from the list of nano-related courses offered by the minor. The current list of approved electives is:
PHY3802L – Intermediate Physics Laboratory (3hrs)
PHY3101 – Physics for Scientists and Engineers III (3hrs)
PHZ3151 – Computer Methods in Physics (3hrs)
CHM3410 – Physical Chemistry (4hrs)
CHM5450 – Polymer Chemistry (3hrs)
CHM4610 – Inorganic Chemistry (3hrs)
EMA3691 – Nanomaterials Process Engineering (3hrs)
EMA3014 – Nanomaterials Characterization and Applications (3hrs)
BSC 3424 – Nanobiotechnology (3hrs)
OSE3490 – Nanophotonics (3hrs)
PHY5933 – Selected topics in biophysics of macromolecules (3hrs)
PHI 3626 – Advanced Ethics in Science and Technology (3hrs)
PHI4690 – Ethics in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (3hrs)
PHZ5425C – Electron Solid Interactions (3hrs)
Additional requirements for the selection of electives include:
- One course (3 credits) must be from the Physics department (i.e. PHY- or PHZ-).
- Up to two courses (6 credits) may be double counted—used both toward satisfying the requirements of the major in Physics and the Nanoscale Science and Technology minor.
- At least two of the courses (6 credits) must be from outside the individual student’s major.
- A grade of “C” or above is required in all courses to be credited toward the Nanoscale Science and Technology Minor.
- The Minor will only awarded upon successful completion of a major degree.
- Other electives could be incorporated upon approval by the program director.
Prerequisite Courses
Students must satisfy each course’s prerequisites before enrolling in the class. In addition, the students must have completed the following courses, which are taken by most science majors:
Select 1 of the following two courses:
PHY 2048C Physics for Engineers & Scientists I, or
PHY 2053C College Physics I
Select 1 of the following two courses:
PHY 2049C Physics for Engineers and Scientists II, or
PHY 2054C College Physics II
Select 1 of the following two courses:
CHM2045C – Chemistry I
CHS1440 – Principles of Chemistry
Suggested courses:
COP3223 – Introduction to C++
EGN3211 – Engineering Analysis and Computation
Note that the pre-requisites here are different form those that you will find in the current version of the catalog (where CHM2046 and COP3223 are both required). Don’t worry, we will change the catalog next year. For the moment, if you want to enroll, just email Enrique del Barco at delbarco@ucf.edu to get a permission number to override these courses).