Semiconductor Manufacturing
One-Semester Course Sequence; Award is ECC Letter of Completion
Campus Location: North
Engineering & Technologies Division
In a one-semester course sequence, the following courses
will provide students the fundamental knowledge of
semiconductor processing and fabrication, DC electricity,
and quality control principles and software. Hands-on
laboratory courses will not only prepare students to make
electrical measurements required for testing photovoltaic
cells and panels but expose students to a variety of
semiconductor fabrication and characterization
equipment used in the manufacture of photovoltaic panels.
Curriculum contains a total of 14 credits:
EL 118 and EL 119
Electrical Circuits I and Lab
IE 110
Computer Applications for Electricians
IT 118
Introduction to Quality
IT 126
Statistical Process Control
NS 100 and NS 101
Introduction to Nanotechnology and Lab
3 credit hours
1 credit hour
3 credit hours
3 credit hours
4 credit hours
Individuals completing courses will be qualified in working with the following items and their
associated tasks:
• Demonstrate ability to use electrical instruments to perform: standard tests, measurements and tasks.
• Operate nanofabrication process equipment with a focus on safety, environmental and health
issues. Processes will include, but are not limited to: reactive ion etching, metallization, thick and
thin film deposition and photolithography.
• Apply quality standards used by industry.
Additional Facts:
• Ten ECC faculty and staff members recently completed three workshops over 11 days at Penn State
University. The Penn State Nanotechnology Applications and Career Knowledge (NACK) Center is a
National Science Foundation designated National Center of Excellence for Nanotechnology
Workforce Development (www.nano4me.org). Several faculty members attended an additional 5
days of training last summer.
• Proposed courses in sequence are drawn from accredited degree programs in Electrical Engineering
Technology AAS, Industrial Technology AOS and Nanotechnology AAS.
Although no math course is required, Math
Placement at college-level math is necessary and
a Math Placement test will be administered.
Course Descriptions
EL 118 - Electrical Circuits I - Credit Hours: 2 - This course will provide an overview of fundamental concepts necessary to work with electrical
circuits including: electron theory; conductors; insulators; electromotive force; direct current; conventional current; voltage; resistance; factors
affecting resistance; Ohm’s law; resistors in series; parallel and series/parallel; distribution of voltage and current; voltage and current divider
rules; electrical power; and Kirchhoff’s laws. Corequisite: Math Placement at degree level; F (N). Course Outcomes - Upon completion of this
course, the student will be able to: Understand theoretical concepts as they apply to electrical circuits; Understand and correctly use electrical
terminology, symbols and units; Identify basic components and determine their function in various types of circuits; Apply electrical theory and
concepts to determine the circuital values of voltage, current and power; and Employ a systematic and methodical approach to mathematically
solving circuital problems. [Note: The Electrical Engineering AAS degree requires MT 125 for this course]
EL 119 - Lab for EL 118 – Credit hours: 1 – Laboratory course for semiconductor fabrication one-semester course sequence to complement EL
118, with experiments emphasizing: use of voltage, current, power and resistance measuring instruments; factors effecting resistance;
distribution of voltage, current and power in series, parallel and series/parallel DC resistor circuits; Kirchhoff’s Laws; current sources such as
solar cells/panels; IV curve, efficiency and fill factor of solar cell/panel; solar cells/panels in series, parallel and series/parallel; data taking and
writing a well-organized report. Corequisite: EL 118; F/S (N). Course Outcomes: Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
Apply theoretical concepts to practical electrical circuits; Display a working knowledge of electrical symbols by constructing a circuit from a
schematic; Select the proper instruments to measure voltage, current, power and solar irradiance; Determine the proper placement of meters
in a working circuit; Identify basic components and determine their function in a circuit; Employ a systematic and methodical approach to
analyzing and solving circuital problems; and Format data into tables and graphs to develop a neat, concise, well-written report.
IE 110 – Computer Skills for Electricians – Credit hours: 1 – This course provides operating system fundamentals; including: files, directory
structure and using the ECC network; Introduction to Microsoft Word and Excel; Introduction to Multisim. Corequisite: EL 118; F/S (N). Course
Outcomes: Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to: Demonstrate use of a word processor for generation of formatted text
and reports; Demonstrate use of a spreadsheet for technical data tables and formulas; Be able to generate graphs based on spreadsheet
tables; and Use circuit simulation software to analyze the behavior of DC circuits.
IT 118 - Introduction to Quality - Credit Hours: 3 - This course provides fundamental, yet comprehensive coverage of quality control concepts.
Quality management principles, practices, tools and techniques are covered. Basic math skills are required. S (N). Course Outcomes - Upon
course completion the student should be able to: Express an in-depth definition of quality; Identify organizational units’ responsibility for
quality; Effectively use quality management tools and techniques; Communicate quality related information effectively; and Apply basic
descriptive statistics, basic probability.
IT 126 - Statistical Process Control - Credit Hours: 3 - This course is designed to provide the students with a thorough understanding of how
principles of statistics are applied to the control of quality in manufacturing. Coverage will include basic descriptive statistics, control charts for
variables and attributes and the contribution of variability to current quality philosophy. F (N). Course Outcomes - Upon successful completion
of this course the student will be able to: Apply a variety of statistical concepts; Determine process capability; Construct control charts;
Calculate the cost of quality; Explain the fundamentals of sampling; Select the appropriate statistical method; Interpret the results of statistical
analysis; and Use statistical methods and control charts as tools to solve industrial quality problems.
NS 100 - Introduction to Nanotechnology - Credit Hours: 3 - This course will introduce students to the concept of size and scale in relation to
nanoscience. It will introduce students to the common terminology, and cover the basic mathematics required for working in the nanoscale,
and the environmental, health and safety concerns of nanotechnology. The classification of materials by their physical, chemical, electrical,
optical, and mechanical properties will be discussed, as well as the lab instruments used to characterize them such as optical, electron beam
and scanning probe microscopes, spectrophotometers, and profilometers. Basic nanotechnology processes and fabrication will be covered, in
addition to current nanotechnology applications in such diverse fields as electronics, medicine, textiles, energy, biotechnology, and consumer
products. Corequisite: Math Placement at degree level; NS 101; F/S (N). Course Outcomes - At the completion of the course, the student will
be able to: Recognize that the rules of nanoscience and properties of nanomaterials are fundamentally different than those we experience in
everyday life; Demonstrate an informed perspective on nanotechnology that balances legitimate health safety concerns with possible benefits;
Describe the concepts of top down and bottom up fabrication for nanotechnology applications; Demonstrate an understanding of the various
material properties that can be manipulated on the nanoscale; Describe the utilization and application of various characterization instruments;
and Critically evaluate new and emerging applications of nanoscale science and technology in the fields of engineering, science, medicine, and
consumer products.
NS 101 - Lab for NS 100 - Credit Hours: 1 - Laboratory course for semiconductor fabrication one-semester course sequence to complement
NS100. This course will provide students with a hands-on introduction to nano fabrication and characterizations tools. Experiments will cover
the following broad topical areas: vacuum systems; top down fabrication; characterization; on-wafer electrical measurements; and thin film
growth and characterization. Corequisite: NS 100. F/S (N). Course Outcomes - Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
Perform basic electrical, optical, mechanical, and electron microscopy characterization of Nanotechnology materials; Demonstrate an
understanding of the basic top-down processes used to fabricate nano materials; and Perform basic nanofabrication processes.
More Information:
ECC offers programs related to potential solar city positions; including: Semiconductor Manufacturing course sequence (1 semester in Nano
Technology program), Nanotechnology AAS, Industrial Technology AOS, Biomanufacturing AAS, Electrical Engineering Technology AAS,
Mechanical Engineering Technology AAS, Engineering Science AS, Building Management and Maintenance AOS.
Contact Barb Bohlen, Office of Transition Programs at (716) 851-1239