Postgraduate: Course rule and topic information

Master of Nanotechnology

(MNano)

The program of study for this course changed from 2008. An information session and/or counselling session will be held closer to enrolment for all continuing students.

INTRODUCTION

The Master of Nanotechnology is a 72-unit program offered by the Faculty of Science and Engineering on a Commonwealth Supported basis.

The course articulates with the Graduate Certificate in Nanotechnology and the Graduate Diploma in Nanotechnology, and the sequentially developed topics allow progression through the three awards.

Candidates who have completed either of these courses are awarded credit for related topics. Up to 36 units of credit may be awarded to students with appropriate honours level studies. Up to 18 units of credit may be awarded to students with relevant professional experience.

Students who have completed the four-year undergraduate Nanotechnology course at Flinders may have 36 units of credit towards completion of the Masters program.

COURSE AIMS

The primary aim of this suite of degrees is to facilitate skills transfer from another relevant area of engineering or science and technology to the study of nanotechnology. Students will develop the capacity to:

• understand the basic scientific concepts underpinning nanoscience;
• understand the properties of materials and biomaterials at the atomic/molecular level and the scaling laws governing these properties;
• understand current frontier developments in nanotechnology;
• recognise and develop novel and innovative ideas;
• demonstrate ability in a range of laboratory methods, specifically the fabrication and characterisation tools used in nanotechnology such as various microscopies, surface modifications and molecular level construction methods;
• demonstrate communication, problem-based and critical thinking skills that will promote life long learning in their future careers.

In addition to the above, the Masters degree aims to provide students with training in research methodology and the preparation of a professional thesis or report - from project conception, design of methods, collection of results and their analysis, through to final conclusions and recommendations for future work. This will be achieved by way of a significant research/industry training project.

The project will also equip students with expert skills in advanced experimental tools in the area of nanotechnology which will further enhance employment prospects in the industry.

Learning outcomes - Students will:

• be able to apply the latest techniques and theories;
• have a sound grounding and expert knowledge in multidisciplinary areas of nanoscience;
• have a sound grounding in and expert knowledge of the basic sciences relevant to employment or further study in the traditional sciences;
• have a grounding in economics and commerce relevant to the needs of high-technology companies;
• be prepared to work in a high tech work force or pursue further postgraduate studies in nanotechnology.

Transferable Professional Skills

Within the science disciplines studied, students will have developed:

• communication and presentation skills;
• research skills appropriate for further study and employment;
• teamwork and interpersonal skills;
• an appreciation of the need for continuing professional development;
• a capacity for experimental design and critical analysis of data;
• familiarity with modern, computer-based communication technology.

COURSE RULE

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants who do not hold the Graduate Certificate in Nanotechnology or the Graduate Diploma in Nanotechnology must normally hold a degree in any relevant discipline of science or engineering or equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution. Examples of relevant disciplines include but are not limited to Chemistry, Physics, Materials Engineering, Chemical Engineering or Biotechnology.

The Faculty Board may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature.

PROGRAM OF STUDY [March, 2008]

To qualify for the Master of Nanotechnology, a student must complete 72 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to a specified program of study.

Students must undertake 48 units comprising:

NANO8100A	Nanotechnology Research Project 1: Part A§	6
NANO8100B	Nanotechnology Research Project 1: Part B§	6
NANO8200A	Nanotechnology Research Project 2: Part A§	6
NANO8200B	Nanotechnology Research Project 2: Part B§	6

Plus the following topics:

BTEC9610	BioBusiness	6
NANO8005	Advanced Nanotechnology 1 (Surface Science) GE	3
NANO8111	Nanotechnology 1: Fundamentals of Nanotechnology GE	6
NANO8201	Nanotechnology 2: Structures and Characterisation GE	6
NANO8302	Nanotechnology 3:Frontiers of Nanotechnology GE	6

plus 21 units from the following topics:

BTEC9630	Special Masters Topic in Biotechnology	6
BTEC9650	Advanced Experimental Biotechnology	9
BTEC9673	Graudate Biotechnology Theory - Medical Biotechnology	3
BUSN8001	Science Based Enterprises GE	3
BUSN8002	Managerial Economics GE	3
CPES8102	Advanced Special Topics in Physics A GE	6
CPES8103	Advanced Special Topics in Physics B GE	6
CPES8122	Quantum Physics 2 GE	6
CPES8123	Quantum Physics 3 GE#	6
CPES8141	Physical Chemistry 3 GE#	6
CPES8162	Inorganic and Polymer Chemistry 3 GE#	6
NANO8003	Advanced Biodevices 1 (Supramolecular Chemistry) GE	3
CPES8129	Advanced Nanomaterials Studies A	3
NANO8103	Advanced Surface Characterisation	3
NANO8104	Bioinspired Nanotechnology	3
EEET4047	Introduction to Microelectro-mechanical Systems (MEMS)*	4.5

*Students interested in this topic should enrol cross-institutionally in the topic EEET4047 Introduction to Microelectro-mechanical Systems (MEMs) at University of South Australia. Note that students will undertake this topic as a replacement for a 3-unit Flinders topic, and their degree will be 73.5 units in total.

# Topic not available until 2009.

§ Students must enrol in, and complete, Part A and Part B of this topic in one calendar year as both topics are taught, and assessed, as a continuum.