The Ph.D. in Nanoscience requires a minimum of 49 credit hours and is designed to prepare students to take positions in industrial, governmental, or academic research settings by providing a solid background in nanoscience theory and experimental techniques through course work and dissertation research. Advanced elective courses in nanoscience areas ensure students will have substantial depth of understanding in their area of interest and enable them to effectively carry out advanced nanoscience research.

For information regarding deadlines and requirements for admission, please see https://grs.uncg.edu/programs/.

In addition to the application materials required by the Graduate School, applicants must submit a personal statement indicating their interest in the program and a current curriculum vitae.

Qualified applicants with a B.S. degree in an area related to Nanoscience (physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, computer science, or engineering) and, as a minimum, completed calculus through differential equations may apply to the Ph.D. program.

Degree Program Requirements

Required: 49 credit hours

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Foundations of Nanoscience Courses (6 credits)
NAN 700	Principles of Nanoscience I: Physical, Chemical, and Biological Foundations	3
NAN 706	Principles of Nanoscience II: Analytical, Statistical, and Computational Foundations	3
Advanced Nanoscience Courses (9 credits)
Select one concentration option (9 credits) from the following:		9
Without a concentration
NAN 727	Principles of Quantum and Solid State Physics
NAN 729	Mathematical Methods in Modeling Complex Systems
NAN 731	Systems and Synthetic Biology
NAN 732	Nanomaterials Chemistry
NAN 733	Physical Biology
Two approved elective courses (6 credits)
Synthetic Biology Concentration
Material Science and Nanomaterials Concentration
Additional Required Courses (16 credits)
NAN 707	Lab Protocols and Practice 1	6
NAN 708	Science Communications 1	6
NAN 710	Scientific Integrity	1
NAN 746	Nanosafety	3
Dissertation Research (18-30 credits)
NAN 790	Doctoral Research 2	6
NAN 799	Nanoscience Dissertation Research 3	12-24
Total Credit Hours		49

¹

Students must complete NAN 707 and  NAN 708 twice each for a total of 6 credits each.

²

Students must take NAN 790 twice for a total of 6 credits.

³

Students must complete a minimum of 12 credits in NAN 799.

Students Entering with a M.S. in Nanoscience from UNC Greensboro

Entering doctoral students who have completed a Master's of Science in Nanoscience at UNC Greensboro will complete the following course requirements for the Ph.D. in Nanoscience.

Required: 30-42 credit hours

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Required Courses (6 credits)
NAN 708	Science Communications 1	3
NAN 746	Nanosafety 2	3
Elective Courses (6 credits)
Select two courses (6 credits) of electives 3		6
Dissertation Research (18-30)
NAN 790	Doctoral Research	6
NAN 799	Nanoscience Dissertation Research	12-24
Total Credit Hours		30-42

¹

Must be taken in the Fall semester.

²

If taken as an elective course in the M.S. program, the student may substitute another elective course to fulfill the requirement.

³

NAN 790 may be substituted for one or both elective courses if the student's committee determines that the student has developed an adequate formal background during their M.S. program.

Materials Science and Nanomaterials Concentration

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Required Courses (6 credits)
Select two courses (6 credits) from the following:		6
NAN 727	Principles of Quantum and Solid State Physics
NAN 729	Mathematical Methods in Modeling Complex Systems
NAN 732	Nanomaterials Chemistry
Elective Courses (6 credits)
Select two courses (6 credits) from the following: *		6
NAN 728	Nanotechniques
NAN 748	Macromolecular and Supramolecular Chemistry
NAN 749	Spectroscopy Methods in Nanoscience
NAN 755	Biomimetics and Biomaterials
NAN 762	Nanoscale Reactions
NAN 764	Materials, Syntheses, and Processes by Design
NAN 771	Computational Quantum Nanochemistry
Total Credit Hours		12

*

Or elective course approved by the student's committee and advisor.

Synthetic Biology Concentration

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Required Courses (6 credits)
Select two courses (6 credits) from the following:		6
NAN 731	Systems and Synthetic Biology
NAN 732	Nanomaterials Chemistry
NAN 733	Physical Biology
Elective Courses (6 credits)
Select two courses (6 credits) from the following: *		6
NAN 750	Nanomedicine
NAN 752	Molecular Biology in Nanosciences
NAN 753	Introduction to Stem Cell Biology and Ethics
NAN 754	Immunology
NAN 755	Biomimetics and Biomaterials
NAN 757	Nanomechanics
Total Credit Hours		12

*

Or elective course approved by the student's committee and advisor.

Required Milestones*

• Residency (Immersion)
• Plan of Study
• Research Competency
• Comprehensive Exam (Written & Oral)
• Dissertation Proposal
• Admission to Candidacy
• Dissertation Defense
• Filing the Final Approved Dissertation
• Publication of at least one Peer-Reviewed Manuscript
• Annual Committee Meetings
• Attendance and Participation in Departmental Seminar Program

*

General information about milestones for doctoral programs is available in Section III of the Graduate Policies page in the University Catalog. For information about how milestones are accomplished for a specific program, please refer to the doctoral program's handbook.

Accelerated B.S. in Physics to Ph.D. in Nanoscience

Application and Admission

Qualified UNC Greensboro undergraduate students who are pursuing the B.S. in Physics may apply for admission to the accelerated B.S. to Ph.D. in Nanoscience. A cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.5 based on at least 30 credits earned at UNC Greensboro is required. Students must also maintain a 3.5 GPA in the courses listed under Major Requirements and Additional Area Requirements in the undergraduate program. Applicants will be required to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) during the second semester of their junior year. Applicants must have completed at least 60 credits before applying for admission to the accelerated program. During the summer after their junior year applicants will complete the accelerated program information when applying for admission to the Ph.D. degree program.

Courses

Admitted students may apply the following 12 credits of graduate-level course work toward completion of both the undergraduate and graduate degree, provided that they earn a grade of B (3.0) or better in each course and fulfill graduate-level requirements:

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
NAN 601	Nanomaterials Chemistry	3
NAN 602	Physical Biology	3
NAN 603	Principles of Quantum and Solid-State Physics	3
NAN 605	Mathematical Methods in Modeling Complex Systems	3

Please consult with an advisor to determine how the courses taken at the graduate level will meet requirements in the bachelor's degree program. All degree requirements for the Ph.D. in Nanoscience remain the same.