Certificate in Semiconductor Engineering & Manufacturing

Semiconductors form the backbone of modern information technologies, underpinning critical sectors such as defense, infrastructure, and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence. As global demand rises and geopolitical uncertainties grow, ensuring a reliable domestic supply of semiconductors has become vital to the long-term national and economic security of the United States. However, this goal cannot be achieved without a skilled and diverse workforce capable of supporting a robust and resilient semiconductor industry.

To meet this urgent need, it is essential to expand educational and training opportunities tailored to the demands of the semiconductor sector. The rapid growth of onshore semiconductor manufacturing, coupled with advancements in AI and mobile technologies, has created a pressing skills gap. The University of Houston offers a specialized Semiconductor Certificate Program designed to equip students and engineers with the specialized knowledge and hands-on experience necessary to thrive in this rapidly evolving field. This program is a critical step in building a sustainable talent pipeline and securing the nation’s leadership in semiconductor innovation.

Program

The Graduate Certificate in “Semiconductor Engineering & Manufacturing” is offered for graduate students majoring in broad areas of engineering and natural science and is designed to meet the increasing demands of a highly talented and skillful workforce in the semiconductor industry in the US and Texas. This certificate will require a student to complete 9 credit hours (three courses) in the area of semiconductor engineering and manufacturing.

Audience

The certificate is designed for graduate students in diverse disciplines of engineering and natural science: Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Physics, and Chemistry. Applicants from industry with a suitable background in microelectronics will also benefit from this certificate.

Application

This certificate program is open for both, students who are already enrolled or plan to enroll in a MS or PhD program at UH or individuals who plan to just enroll in this certificate program.

Option A: Students who are currently enrolled or planning to enroll in an MS or PhD program at the University of Houston can add the program as a concurrent certificate objective. Please register for the program using our application form and make an appointment to discuss details for course enrollment.

Option B: Individuals who are planning to enroll only for this certificate program:

• An online application must be completed with the graduate school ApplyWeb Application
• 1 official transcript should be mailed to one of the following addresses below:

• 1 unofficial transcript uploaded with ApplyWeb Application
• For further information on how to apply, please review the following website: How to Apply

For further information concerning international applications, please review the following website: International Applicants

Admissions

Students pursuing an MS or PhD degree have already been admitted to UH and they will be enrolled in the Certificate program simply upon request. Applications from prospective students interested in the Certificate only, without a further advanced degree, will be evaluated by the Certificate admission committee. Admissions will be regulated by existing university rules as detailed in the Graduate Catalog. Specifically, “applicants for admission to the Certificate program must meet the same admissions standards and requirements as other applicants for graduate study, with the exception of officially reported standardized exam scores (e.g., GRE, GMAT).” Certificate only students will not be required to take the GRE.

Scholarship

Scholarship is available for U.S. citizens in the MS program pursuing the certificate program. For further information, please contact Dr. Jae-Hyun Ryou (see the contact below).

Curriculum

9 credit hours (three courses) required out of the following courses in semiconductor:

• MECE 6365 - Semiconductor Materials and Devices
• MECE 6397 - Thermal Transport and Management in Semiconductors
• MECE 6397 - Modeling and Process of Semiconductor Devices
• ECE 6305 - Power Electronics and Control
• ECE 6306 - Introduction to Nanotechnology
• ECE 6307 - Nanomaterials and Solar Energy
• ECE 6314 - Nanoscale Design & Fabrication
• ECE 6328 - CMOS Analog Integrated Circuits
• ECE 6346 - VLSI Design
• ECE 6348 - Material Science of Thin Films
• ECE 6372 - Advanced Hardware Design
• ECE 6384 - Micro-Nano-Electro-Mechanical Systems and Nano Devices
• CHEE 6375 - Chemical Processing for Microelectronics
• CHEE 7387 - Plasma Processing Principles and Applications
• PHYS 7397 - Physics and Applications of Semiconductors

Note that the course offering is subject to change and will be updated regularly.

Contact

Dr. Jae-Hyun Ryou
Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Email: jryou [at] uh.edu (jryou[at]uh[dot]edu)
Phone: 713-743-0858