The first step in launching a lucrative and fulfilling career in this emerging field is getting the best nanotechnology education. Universities worldwide offer various nanotechnology programs and degree options. Choosing the right one depends on your desired career path.
Building a Broad Base of Knowledge
Nanotechnology is a broad field with many career paths and levels of education, ranging from associate’s to doctoral degrees. In general, when embarking on a career in this field, you will be best served with a solid foundation of knowledge in computer science or a degree in engineering in a specific subset of nanotechnology. Given the amount of publishing and research that is involved with nanotech, a degree or a minor in communications, journalism, or writing could also serve you well.
Finding a Niche
Experienced professionals already working in the field advise prospective nanotech students to find out which subject they enjoy and then specialize in it. Because nanotechnology is such an interdisciplinary field, many recipients of a nanotechnology degree who pursued only a broad education find themselves at an impasse when it comes to finding a niche.
Nanotech scientists work in fields such as meteorology, physics, engineering, information technology, chemistry, and biology. Nanotechnology is applied throughout almost every industry, from medicine and green technology to petroleum products and consumer electronics. Some nanotech graduates even go on to become entrepreneurs. Students should consider which sector they would prefer to work in and tailor their nanotechnology education toward that end.
Nanotechnology Degree Options
Certificate Program
Nanotechnology certificates are offered for post-graduate professionals, such as engineers and researchers. These certificates can be earned online from many accredited universities and allow you to enter into the field after you’ve already earned a degree.
Associate’s Degree
An associate’s degree in nanotechnology can typically be earned in two years or sixty credit hours. These programs are meant to provide students with the education they need to work effectively in production positions or as nanotechnology factory workers. The degrees can be earned remotely or on-campus.
Bachelor’s Degree
Undergraduate degrees in this discipline help prepare students for career opportunities in a wide variety of nanotech fields and also enable them to take on paid research positions upon entering graduate school. Often, bachelor’s degrees in science offer a minor in nanotechnology.
Master’s or Doctoral Degree
Graduates with a master’s or doctoral degree in nanotechnology are highly marketable, finding jobs as research scientists, nanoengineers, directors of research, and nanoscience professors.
Nanotechnology Programs
Many nanotechnology programs, including certificates, associate’s degrees, and even some bachelor’s degrees, can be completed online. More and more online universities are offering courses in nanotechnology, which will increase your marketability to employers or help you on your way to earning a higher degree.
Certificate Programs
- Nanobiotechnology
- Nanomanufacturing
- Nanoelectronics
- Nanomaterials and Characterization
- Nanomodeling and Simulation
Associate’s Degree Programs
- Nanofabrication Technology
- Chemistry with Specialization in Nanofabrication Technology
- Biological Science with Specialization in Nanofabrication Technology
- Engineering with Specialization in Nanofabrication Technology
- Nanofabrication Manufacturing Technology
- Nanoscience Technology
Bachelor’s Degree Programs
- Industrial Technology with Concentration in Nanofabrication Manufacturing Technology
- Biological and Environmental Sciences with Concentration in Nanofabrication Manufacturing Technology
- Chemistry with Concentration in Nanofabrication Manufacturing Technology
- Physics with Concentration in Nanofabrication Manufacturing Technology
- Applied Physics Nanotechnology Track
Master’s or Doctoral Degree Programs
- Nanoscale Physics
- Chemical Engineering
- Professional Science Masters in Nanoscience
- Biochemistry
- Physics
- Nanotechnology
- Nanoscale Science
- Aerospace Engineering
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