Starting this fall, NC State University’s College of Engineering will offer a first-of-its-kind master’s degree in wide bandgap (WBG) semiconductors.
The M.S. in WBG semiconductors — jointly offered by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Department of Materials Science and Engineering — will be offered in a hybrid format, with in-person and online components.
Built on NC State’s national leadership in semiconductor research, the brand-new program will prepare students for careers in the rapidly expanding semiconductor, defense, and advanced manufacturing sectors. Coursework will cover materials, processes, and devices at the core of WBG technologies.
“Wide bandgap semiconductors are critical for our nation. Investments in WBG are driving state-of-the-art advances in semiconductor manufacturing, power electronics, RF systems, electric vehicles, renewable energy, aerospace systems, and resilient energy infrastructure,” said Veena Misra, head of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. “To continue this important trajectory, we need a workforce that understands wide bandgap semiconductors, and NC State is uniquely positioned to lead this effort.”
NC State is not only the headquarters of PowerAmerica; the university is also home to the Commercial Leap Ahead for Wide bandgap Semiconductors (CLAWS) Hub as well as the Future Renewable Electric Energy Delivery and Management (FREEDM) Systems Center.