Nanoscale Science

The Nanoscale Science program prepares students for a career in nanoscience by combining a strong component in quantum theory, which governs the behavior of systems at the nanoscale, with the study of practical nano- and mesoscale devices. This provides the student with the knowledge required to successfully navigate the emerging field of nanoscale science and nanotechnology.  In addition, a year-long course in methods of experimental physics is offered to ensure that students obtain the advanced practical skills valuable to the nanotechnology industry.

Rice is a well-established center for nanotechnology, with researchers active in several departments outside the physics core. In 2015, Rice University has merged two of its multidisciplinary research institutes, the Richard E. Smalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology and the Rice Quantum Institute, to form a new entity, the Smalley-Curl Institute (SCI). The Institute will assist its members in forging new, cross-cutting and interdisciplinary research areas, and in seeking new means of supporting their work. Research in SCI encompasses advanced materials, quantum magnetism, plasmonics and photonics, biophysics and bioengineering, ultracold atom physics, condensed matter and chemical physics, and all aspects of nanoscience and nanotechnology. 

The Smalley-Curl Institute includes among its faculty Nobel Laureate Robert Curl, as well as esteemed faculty from the departments of physics and astronomy, chemistry, electrical and computer engineering, civil and environmental engineering, chemical engineering, bioengineering, computational and applied math, and mechanical engineering and materials science. It focuses on interdisciplinary studies in many areas of nanoscale science including carbon nanotubes, nanoshells, and nanobiology.

Students pursuing the MS Nanoscale Science Degree (MSNS) must complete:

• A minimum of 14 courses (40 credit hours) to satisfy degree requirements.
• A 3-6 month internship. At the conclusion of the internship, students must present a summary of the internship project in both oral and written form as part of the Professional Master’s Seminar.
• A minimum of 30 credit hours at the 500-level or above.

In addition to the core science courses, students are required to complete a three to six month internship and take a set of cohort courses focusing on business and communication.Part-time students who already work in their area of study may fulfill the internship requirement by working on an approved project with their current employer. Certain course requirements may be waived based upon prior graduate coursework or industrial experience.

CORE REQUIREMENTS  

Students must complete a total of 8 courses (22-23 credit hours) to satisfy the MS in Nanoscale Science Degree's Core Requirements.

Core Science Courses 

Students must complete 4 courses (13-14 credit hours depending on course selection) as listed below.

• PHYS 533 Nanostructures and Nanotechnology I [ 3 credit hours ] 
• PHYS 534 Nanostructures and Nanotechnology II [ 3 credit hours ]
• PHYS 537 Methods of Experimental Physics I [ 4 credit hours ]
• One course from the following:
  • PHYS 538 Methods of Experimental Physics II [ 4 credit hours ]
  • PHYS 539 Characterization and Fabrication at the Nanoscale [ 3 credit hours ] (offered every other year) 
  • PHYS 416 Computational Physics [ 3 credit hours ]
  • PHYS 605/ELEC 605 Computational Electrodynamics & Nano-Photonics [ 3 credit hours ]
  • ELEC 571 Imaging at the Nanoscale [ 3 credit hours ]

Cohort Courses 

Students must complete the following 4 courses (9 credit hours):

• NSCI 610/ENGI 610 Management in Science and Engineering [ 3 credit hours ] 
• NSCI 501 Professional Master’s Seminar (required for two semesters) [ 2 credit hours ]
• NSCI 511 Science Policy and Ethics [ 3 credit hours ] 
• NSCI 512 Professional Master’s Project [ 1 credit hour ] 

INTERNSHIP
An internship may be conducted under the guidance of a host company, government agency, or national laboratory. A summary of the internship project is required in both oral and written form as part of the Professional Master's Project.

RECOMMENDED ELECTIVES

To fulfill the remaining requirements for the Nanoscale Science degree program, students must complete a total of 6 additional courses (18 credit hours) as elective coursework from areas of specialization listed below, of which at least 6 credit hours must be science/engineering courses at the 500-level or above. Examples of courses and specializations that may be used as electives in this program include:

Nano-Materials    

• PHYS 517 Computational Physics [ 3 credit hours ] 
• PHYS 539 Characterization and Fabrication at the Nanoscale [ 3 credit hours ]
• MSNE 535/PHYS 535 Crystallography and Diffraction [ 3 credit hours ] 
• MSNE 580 Microscopy Methods in Material Science [ 3 credit hours ] 
• MSNE 614 Special Topics II [ 1-9 credit hours ] 
• MSNE 650 Nanomaterials and Nanomechanics [ 3 credit hours ]

Nano-Optics and Nano-Photonics   

• ELEC 568 Laser Spectroscopy [ 3 credit hours ]
• ELEC 585/BIOE 591 Fundamentals of Medical Imaging [ 3 credit hours ]
• ELEC 571 Imaging at the Nanoscale [ 3 credit hours ] 
• ELEC 603 Topics in Nanophotonics [ 2 credit hours ] 
• PHYS 569/ELEC 569 Ultrafast Optical Phenomena [ 3 credit hours ] 

Nano-Bio   

• BIOE 442 Tissue Engineering [ 1 credit hour ] 
• CHEM 547 Supramolecular Chemistry [ 3 credit hours ] 
• ELEC 568 Laser Spectroscopy [ 3 credit hours ]
• ELEC 571 Imaging at the Nanoscale [ 3 credit hours ] 
• PHYS 539 Characterization and Fabrication at the Nanoscale [ 3 credit hours ] 

Management and Entrepreneurship 

• MGMT 629 Business Plan Development [ 1.5 credit hours ]
• MGMT 625 Creative Entrepreneurship [ 1.5 credit hours ]
• MGMT 670 Operations Strategy [ 1.5 credit hours ]
• MGMT 676 Social Enterprise [ 1.5 credit hours ]
• MGMT 734 Tech Entrepreneurship [ 3 credit hours ]
• BUSI 463 Entrepreneurship: Strategy and Funding [ 3 credit hours ]
• MGMT 724 Social Entrepreneurship [ 1.5 credit hours ]

Other Electives   

• CEVE 505/ENGI 505 Engineering Project Management and Economics [ 3 credit hours ]
• MGMT 609 Managing Energy Transitions [ 1.5 credit hours ]
• MGMT 661 International Business Law [ 3 credit hours ]
• MGMT 669 Business Strategy in Energy Industry [ 1.5 credit hours ]
• MGMT 674 Production and Operations Management [ 1.5 credit hours ]  
• MGMT 670 Operations Strategy [ 1.5 credit hours ] 

Note: Each of these electives is not offered every year, and some courses may have prerequisites or require instructor permission. Most courses with the MGMT dedication carry 1.5 credit hours and last half of a semester.

• Completed application (apply on-line)
• Three personal letters of recommendation - recommenders can now submit their letters on-line
• General GRE scores (use the code 6609 for Rice; do not worry about a department code)
• Official transcripts from all universities attended
• TOEFL scores (if required)