This paper describes Boise State's successful new microelectronics program, including facilities, laboratories, curriculum, and research projects. Since its beginning in 1997, industry support, enabling excellent lab facilities and equipment, as well as abundant internship and collaborative through various video course delivery modes and alternative schedules will be discussed. Also described is the Idaho
INDUSTRIAL SUPPORTMicrofabrication Lab, a small Class 1000 cleanroom utilizing several of these research projects =e in collaboration with 150mm tools, which was completed in Fall 1998. The adjoining local microe~ectronics companies such as: ~i~~~~
CAD lab and VLSI tesddevice characterization lab and theTechnology, ~i~~~~ c~~~ Micron Electronics, Hewlett-Packard, Jabil, American Microsystems Inc., Amkor, undergraduate courses utilizing these labs will also be described. A Master's level program in microelectronics is planned to begin in 2000. Initial research activities and strategy scp Technologiesy Extended Systems9 In-'ystern will be discussed along with a modular cleanroom expansion Teradpe, Cascade Microtech, and zilOg-The plan.generous support and goodwill of these companies for BSUs 1. HISTORY new program is evident in several areas: guiding the program Research projects are beginning in the areas of: SO1 CMOS device modeling, ultra-low power RF-CMOS 1cls for fiiendly CO, wafer cleaning, advanced ferroelectric and this program has grown and is experiencing tremendous wireless applications, 3-D microstructures, environmentallyresearch opportunities. Meeting industry educational needs photolitho~aphy and optoelectronic ' In 1996, the State of Idaho transformed what had been a University of Idaho satellite engineering p r o g m into a new College of Engineering at Boise State University. BS degree programs in Civil, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering through the Industry Board, mentoring engineering students, sPonsorh2 senior design Projects, providing adjunct faculty, giving Plant tours, providing internships, placing graduates, donating lab equipment, and helping install that were established and a nationwide search for 20 new faculty equipment* The most the flagship of BSU's new BSEE Laboratory construction of the new 64,000 ft2 Micron Engineering p~ann~g/construct~on/instrumentation first COUTSe Center, which was matched by $6 million from other offerings began in spring 1997. ne early status of this companies and individuals. This new facility housing offices, laboratories, and classrooms is shown below. program was reported at the 1997 UGIM Conference [l].There are now over 100 students taking upper-division . microelectronics classes at BSU. The program has received national recognition during its first two years [2,3] and is viewed as one of the catalysts for Boise's rapid high-tech growth [4]. The ABET accreditation visit for this new program was completed in October 1998, following the first graduates in May 1998. In addition, the BSU College of Applied Technology recently initiated a new two-y...