<p>I am interested in nanotechnology, (i.e. quantum dots, aerogel, non-netwonian/superfluids) and its practical applications. But, since the field is so interdisciplinary, I am not sure what to major in...what is the best major that would give me the most preparation for research and design?</p>
<p>Engineering Physics
Physics
Applied Physics
Materials Science Engineering/Physics dual major
MSE by itself
ChemE, EE, something else?</p>
<p>I say Engineering Physics or MatSci.</p>
<p>The most important thing however, is that you become involved with a professor who specializes in that field. Your own undergraduate research will help supplement your curriculum.</p>
<p>matsci hands down. maybe chemE. Don't touch EE unless you want to be restricted to electronics applications and device physics.</p>
<p>I'd say do Materials Science and a minor in physics. That way you won't have to take a lot of breadth courses in the physics department that you don't care about, and you'll be able to focus on the more materials-oriented classes.</p>
<p>I had originally planned on doing my PhD project on some semiconductor technology, so I took extra quantum mechanics, thermodynamics, and solid state physics classes as an undergrad and it gave me a much stronger physics background compared to the rest of my friends in MSE.</p>
<p>I'd say nanotech</p>
<p>Nanotechnology</a> Engineering | University of Waterloo</p>
<p>^ If you do something so narrow in undergrad such as majoring "just" in nanotech, you might actually be damaging your chances of future work in other potential areas where you would be interested in.</p>
<p>But if I take MatSci don't I have to take courses in metallurgy and ceramics? I find that really boring.</p>
<p>At my school (Rose-Hulman) we don't have a MatScience major, but under either Physics or Engineering Physics you can get a concentration, neither of which have metallurgy or ceramics, so you can probably find other programs that do without them. I think the "best" thing you can do for such an interdisciplinary field is to do your UG major in something like MatScience, Physics, etc (if you can double major or do minors, that's good too) and then do an graduate degree that just points further in the direction of whatever you want to study. Find a program/researcher doing something you're interested in and find out what sorts of programs they have. It doesn't seem like there is a nanotech grad degree yet, but if you can work yourself into the position of working next to someone that is working in the field you want then I think you'd be on a great path.</p>
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But if I take MatSci don't I have to take courses in metallurgy and ceramics? I find that really boring.
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<p>The fundamentals of most "nanotech" science came out of studies of metals 50-100 years ago. Metals are nice because they can take on very simple structures, and there's great models you can develop based off of metals in order to figure out what's going to happen in more complicated structures.</p>
<p>To me, it's like trying to learn quantum mechanics without first learning classical mechanics. Sure, it's possible, but you're going to be at a huge disadvantage.</p>
<p>Also, you probably won't have to take any actual "metallurgy" classes. You'll take things on crystal structures (very important for nanostructures), defects in materials (very important for nanostructures), thermodynamics (very important for nanostructures), heat/mass transport theory (very important for nanostructures), phase diagrams (very important for nanostructures), special properties anisotropic materials (extremely important for nanostructures), and then you'd get to start taking your upper-level electives.</p>
<p>Not to mention, the novel things you can do with nanotech is the unique properties that come out of the very small scale. What good is having that knowledge if you don't know how it differs at all from bulk materials?</p>
<p>So MatSci would be much better preparation than any type of physics or engineering?</p>
<p>Usually it's taught as Materials Science & Engineering at most schools, though at some they call it Materials Science or Materials Engineering.</p>
<p>On the nano-scale a lot of physics becomes important which you probably won't get from a normal MSE program, so I'd also advise you to take a few extra physics courses to supplement your fundamental science knowledge.</p>
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But if I take MatSci don't I have to take courses in metallurgy and ceramics? I find that really boring.
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<p>Can't start running before you learn how to walk brother.</p>
<p>...I think metallurgy is cool. =(</p>
<p>Take a class in welding. It'll change your mind, as it's freaking amazing. Fire, electricity, excessive heat, molten metal... What's not to love?</p>
<p>so matsci and a physics minor would be the best?</p>
<p>That's what I'd go with.</p>
<p>What about physical chemistry? I forgot to ask about that, I'm still not sure exactly what it is.</p>
<p>I took an entire course on physical chemistry and I'm still not sure exactly what it is...</p>
<p>physical chemistry is a field within chemistry, which basically is the physics of chemistry. It can encompass bonding, collision theory, quantum chemistry, electrochemistry, thermochemistry, etc.</p>
<p>If you were to get a chemistry BS, your route to nanotechnology would probably be materials science grad school. Many materials scientists got a chemistry undergraduate degree</p>
<p>I think many materials science engineering majors are basically a hybrid between chemEs, solid state physics, and mechanical engineering if that makes any sense at all.</p>
<p>I had a year of physical chemistry as an undergrad. I just remember group theory.</p>
<p>I'd say MSE with some background classes in Physics. I never took a metallurgy class at my undergrad, but I took plenty of nano classes.</p>