<p>Well, at my school (University of Waterloo, Canada), there is a nanotechnology engineering program (click</a> here for the curriculum), which seems really similar to materials science and engineering. Furthermore, I am more interested in materials science and nanotechnology than the traditional process engineering of ChemE. </p>
<p>I am not interested in graduate studies (at least right now) and I'm hoping to get a decent job after graduation. My question is, is it a risky decision to make to switch from ChemE into this new nanotech program? Does the curriculum seem to provide me with enough training to work at least a simple materials engineer?</p>
<p>I must decide within the next few days for the program switch. Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>Yes, it is risky; industry is much more comfortable with traditional degrees than with the interdisciplinary ones, especially when it comes to engineering. IMO, your best bet is chemE, or double chemE/chemistry, double chemE/materials (or to do chemE with a concentration in chemistry or materials) and to spend some time doing nanotech research as an undergraduate. After your chemE BS, an MS in nanotechnology might be worth pursuing (incidentally, the curriculum for nanotech looks interesting and rigorous to me, but I don't think that will matter to a recruiter, who knows pretty much every course the chemE has taken but doesn't know squat about "Mathematical Methods for Nanotechnology Engineering").</p>
<p>Do either ChemE or materials. I did chemE and went into nanotech. </p>
<p>Even the nanotech people don't wnat to see a nanotech engineering degree. They want to know, just by looking at your major, what courses you've taken and how you've been trained. Engineers don't like guessing or assuming that you'll be adequately prepared to do the work.</p>
<p>If you really want to, do nano on the grad level, but your undergrad major MUST be a staple engineering (chem, mechanical, EE, comp sci; for other disciplines, add in civil, environ., aeronautics, etc at will) or science (chem, physics, or chemical physics). </p>
<p>CalKidd did a good job explaining it, but it really, really bears repeating.</p>
<p>many unis now offer nano as a concentration in MS programs (usually EE) maybe you can do that...I would go for a more traditional engineering degree and if you are interested in Nano a BS in EE would be perfect</p>
<p>The closest thing to materials science and engineering at UW is nanotech. </p>
<p>About the job issue: I'm just throwing this out here, but UW does have a really large co-op program and network. I'm not sure how that would change the problem with getting jobs with degrees in new programs.</p>
<p>I may seem like I'm trying to get you guys to strengthen my confidence in switching programs, I do want honest answers, and I really appreciate all them, although they are somewhat depressing and discouraging :(</p>