PhD Nanoscale Science and Engineering

This program shares faculty and other resources with existing graduate programs in NSM and SECS. In order to make it easier for students to migrate between different programs, the program is structured similarly to other existing graduate programs in NSM and SECS. All NSM and SECS graduate programs focus on the research component. Therefore, coursework credit is supplemented by the significant amount of credit earned from independent study/independent research courses taken in order to satisfy minimum credit requirements to earn a degree.

A satisfactory quality of achievement with a grade point average of 3.0 or better is required in graduate course work accepted for the degree. The average is determined on the basis of the university’s grading system. In no case may more than one-fourth of the hours accepted toward the degree be of C grade. A grade lower than C- renders the credit unacceptable for meeting degree requirements.

The structure of the program is as follows:
• Core courses
• Elective courses
• Examinations

Core Courses
Core curriculum is based on courses regularly offered by the six constituent departments (biological sciences, chemistry and biochemistry, computer science, electrical and computer engineering, mechanical and materials engineering, and physics and astronomy). The core courses are as follows (up to 30 QH):
BIOL 3705 Advanced Topics in Molecular Biology (1–4 QH)
CHEM 3320 Structure and Energetics II (3 QH)
COMP 3354 Introduction to Systems Programming (4 QH) OR
COMP 3371 Advanced Data Structures and Algorithms (4QH)
ENGR 4200 Introduction to Nanotechnology (4 QH)
ENGR 4210 Intro to Nano-Electro-Mechanical Systems (4 QH) OR
ENGR 4220 Intro to Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (4 QH)
ENME 4310 Computational Methods for Mechanics and Materials (4 QH)
PHYS 3111 Quantum Physics I (4 QH)
PHYS 4411 Advanced Condensed Matter Physics I (3 QH)

Core curriculum assures that all students have knowledge of a certain number of topics. Therefore, core courses taken are dependent on the background of a particular student and are determined by a graduate program adviser upon student’s admission based on the degree earned and courses taken, as evidenced by the available transcripts from each institution attended. A maximum of two core courses from this list can be waived. ENGR 4200 (Introduction to Nanotechnology) is required for all students.

Elective Courses
Elective courses are designed to give students a more specialized knowledge and prepare them for dissertation research. Students have to take at least four elective courses from this list, excluding independent study and independent research courses. The following regularly offered courses are currently included:
BIOL 3642 Neuropharmacology (4 QH)
CHEM 3110/CHEM 3120/CHEM 3130 Chemical Systems I/II/III (3 QH each)
CHEM 3220 Advanced Analytical Chemistry (3 QH)
COMP 3351 Programming Languages (4 QH)
COMP 3709 Computer Security (4 QH)
COMP 3381 Software Engineering I(4QH)
COMP 3421 Database Organization and Management I (4QH)
COMP 4704 Bioinformatics (4QH)
ENEE 4035 Nanophotonics (4 QH)
ENGR 4100 Instrumentation and Data Acquisition (4 QH)
ENGR 4350 Reliability (4 QH)
ENME 4660 Microheat Exchanger (4 QH)
PHYS 3112 Quantum Physics II (4 QH)
PHYS 3841 Thermal Physics I (4 QH)
PHYS 4111/PHYS 4112 Quantum Mechanics I/II (3 QH each)
PHYS 4412 Advanced Condensed Matter Physics II (3 QH)
PHYS 4611/PHYS 4612 Advanced Electricity and Magnetism I/II (3 QH each)
PHYS 4811 Statistical Mechanics I (4 QH)

The intent is to amend this list with additional existing and new courses from NSM, SECS, as well as Daniels College of Business and Sturm College of Law courses.

The dissertation research is normally carried out through independent study (IS) and independent research (IR) credits. The maximum number of IS/IR quarter hours in dissertation research that can be applied toward the total quarter hour requirement is 15.

The credit earned through other graduate courses at the 3000 and higher level not listed above can be applied toward the total quarter hour requirement with the approval of the graduate program adviser.

Ph.D. Examination Structure
After successfully passing core courses, all students intending to pursue a Ph.D. degree, must take a written comprehensive examination. This examination is based on the core courses and is administered by the graduate program committee. The comprehensive examination can have two possible outcomes:
(1) Fail: Student will be moved to the M.S. level
(2) Pass at the Ph.D. level: advancement to preliminary Ph.D. candidacy

The comprehensive examination can be retaken once for students failing on the first attempt.

Students advanced to the Ph.D. preliminary candidacy are required to give an oral presentation on their dissertation research before their dissertation committee after substantial progress in the research is achieved, but at least one year before the anticipated date of graduation. Upon a successful oral presentation, student is advanced to final Ph.D. candidacy.

All students pursuing a Ph.D. degree defend their dissertation before the candidate’s dissertation committee, as specified in the University of Denver’s Graduate Policy Manual.

Dissertation
The student is required to complete and defend a dissertation of publishable quality based on the student’s original research. The dissertation must be completed in written form in accordance with the University’s graduate school guidelines. A summary of the dissertation must be presented in a public seminar and subsequently defended by the student in the final oral examination. The examining committee will consist of the student’s entire Ph.D. committee.

Ph.D. Committee
The Ph.D. committee will consist of at least four faculty members. Three faculty members must be from within the student’s specialty area; these can include the student’s advisor, other faculty in that degree program and, if necessary, off-campus experts. Finally, for the final oral defense of the thesis, an oral defense chair who must be a tenured faculty member