Bachelor's Degrees

If you are considering a post-secondary education geared toward nanotechnology, you're largely out of luck.  There is only one undergraduate nanotechnology degree for nanotechnology in North America, and one more in Australia.

 

For American residents, the closest undergrad degree exclusively for nanotechnology is actually in Canada.  The University of Toronto's division of Engineering Science offers a specialized stream in Na

Bachelor's Degrees

If you are considering a post-secondary education geared toward nanotechnology, you're largely out of luck.  There is only one undergraduate nanotechnology degree for nanotechnology in North America, and one more in Australia.
 

For American residents, the closest undergrad degree exclusively for nanotechnology is actually in Canada.  The University of Toronto's division of Engineering Science offers a specialized stream in Nano-engineering.  It is a four-year program with the first two years de-streamed.  At the end of the second year, you can choose the nano-engineering stream and complete your studies.  The degree is still just a Bachelor's of Applied Science and Engineering.

The University of South Wales in Sydney, Australia, offers a full four-year undergraduate program for nanotechnology.  Australia isn't particularly known for a strong nanotechnology research sector, but the presence of this degree program will likely attract research money in Australasia. 

Of course, an undergraduate degree in nanotechnology isn't going to land you a job in the industry.  For the most part, you'll need to continue your studies as a Master's or PhD somewhere.

For the average person looking to get a start in nanotechnology, your best bet is still a normal engineering or chemistry degree.  For engineering, the fields of electrical engineering and materials engineering are two good degrees that will give you sufficient background to pursue a postgrad education.  Chemists are currently in high demand as synthesis routes are the most important research focus right now in nanotechnology.

As a rule of thumb, you can do your bachelor's anywhere you want without serious detriment to your continuing education.  It helps to pick a university that is on the nanotechnology research network, like Harvard, MIT, UC Berkeley, UC Los Angeles, Columbia, Cornell, etc.  Most students that I've talked to about this consider a bachelor's degree as just a stepping stone in the path to a true nanotechnology education.

no-engineering.  It is a four-year program with the first two years de-streamed.  At the end of the second year, you can choose the nano-engineering stream and complete your studies.  The degree is still just a Bachelor's of Applied Science and Engineering.

The University of South Wales in Sydney, Australia, offers a full four-year undergraduate program for nanotechnology.  Australia isn't particularly known for a strong nanotechnology research sector, but the presence of this degree program will likely attract research money in Australasia. 

Of course, an undergraduate degree in nanotechnology isn't going to land you a job in the industry.  For the most part, you'll need to continue your studies as a Master's or PhD somewhere.

For the average person looking to get a start in nanotechnology, your best bet is still a normal engineering or chemistry degree.  For engineering, the fields of electrical engineering and materials engineering are two good degrees that will give you sufficient background to pursue a postgrad education.  Chemists are currently in high demand as synthesis routes are the most important research focus right now in nanotechnology.

As a rule of thumb, you can do your bachelor's anywhere you want without serious detriment to your continuing education.  It helps to pick a university that is on the nanotechnology research network, like Harvard, MIT, UC Berkeley, UC Los Angeles, Columbia, Cornell, etc.  Most students that I've talked to about this consider a bachelor's degree as just a stepping stone in the path to a true nanotechnology education.