Industrial feedback for a microelectronics curriculum

Abstract

This paper addresses the question of sufficient breadth and depth for undergraduate engineering curriculum in the area of microelectronics, based on input from an industrial panel. This panel was formed as part of a NSF Course and Curriculum Development (CCD) grant to help define the appropriate mix between specific skills, fundamentals, and exposure to current technology. Their input calls for curricula with broader coverage of the entire design cycle from concept to manufacturing. The panel lists specific concepts that are increasingly important for today's chip designers and manufacturers, as well as timeless fundamentals that must continue to be emphasized in undergraduate programs. Suggestions on how to incorporate the growing demands of industry into over stretched engineering curriculum and courses are discussed.