Materials Engineering vs. Chemical Engineering as a Major

So, the area I really want to study is molecular self assembly: specifically using it to create objects. If you’ve seen the replicator on Star Trek, that’s the goal (I know that invention is far off, but if i can do anything to get us closer to it, I’ll be happy).
Anyway, I don’t really know what major would help me study this… I’ve thought about Nanotechnology, but not many colleges offer it as a major. So, I’m probably going to go into either Materials Engineering or Chemical Engineering. Which would teach me more about molecular self assembly?

Traditional chemical engineering focuses a lot on big processes. Pipes, valves, entire plants. I am not familiar with MatSE but it might be closer to what you want. Or you could go chemical and take a lot of electives that hone in on your desired topic.

That sounds like a PhD in Chemistry or Molecular engineering.

Some areas of specialty are too broad to be considered a major for an undergraduate degree. BME is also often considered too broad to be a single major.

http://www.seas.upenn.edu/prospective-students/graduate/programs/masters/nano.php

Chem Eng has a nano concentration option and MSE core automatically gives a nano concentration. Pick a school with graduate and PHD research with state of the art facilities where you can work as an undergraduate. Then follow your passion for a major and take courses from many of the interdisciplinary fields.