Engineers that develop or use electronic
systems technologies must be able to synthesize interdisciplinary
knowledge from many diverse sources: electrical, mechanical, thermal,
materials, manufacturing, and business. In
addition, they must be able to effectively communicate (verbally and in
writing), as well as be adept at working on teams. Rapid advances in
electronic products and systems require special efforts to educate the
technical workforce. These special efforts include the use of
systematic
just-in-time transfer of state-of-the-art knowledge derived from the
latest research results.
The CALCE educational strategy is to pioneer a multi-faceted approach
for the transfer of ideas and knowledge to all levels of students,
through test-bed-development learning projects, a series of
broadcast-quality videos, multi-media materials, text books, and
courses. In addition, unique exchange programs between industry and the
university are in place to promote collaborative research, education,
and technology transfer. This strategy has already leveraged over $7M
spent in the last five years on instituting innovative changes in the
University of Maryland's engineering undergraduate and graduate
programs.
Graduate program in
Electronic Products and Systems
As a result of its interdisciplinary
nature, the EPS graduate curriculum allows considerable flexibility in
accommodating diverse undergraduate backgrounds, and graduate programs
with various specializations can be pursued at the center. These
specializations include reliability, mechanics, vibrations, computer
aided
design, electrical contacts and connectors, thermal engineering, high
temperature electronics, optoelectronics, electronics manufacturing
with
an emphasis on environmentally friendly processes, electromagnetic
compatibility and cost analysis for electronic systems. For a typical
Master of Science degree plan - click here.
The Frequently Asked Questions page covers other common issues.
EPS
Research Areas : Research areas addressed by the
EPS curriculum are listed below. Each of these areas has a breadth of
faculty
involvement as well as collaborative activities with our partners.
- Parts Reliability
- Permanent Interconnects
- Contacts and Connectors
- Substrates and Circuit Card Assemblies
- Thermal Management and Assessment
- Stress Characterization and Management
- Virtual Qualification
- Accelerated Screens and Test
- Parts Selection and Management
- Risk Assessment of Electronic Systems
- Life Cycle Economics
- Electromagnetic Compatibility and Interference
- Electromagnetic Wave-Material Interaction
- Electromagnetic Propagation Measurements
These research areas cover all levels of electronic products:
- Components and Interconnects:
multi chip modules (MCM)-L: laminated
substrates, MCM-C: ceramic substrates, MCM-D: thin-film substrates,
attachments,
die attach, 3-D packaging, wire bonds, chip-on-board, flip chip,
optical
interconnects, leads and lead frames, metal and ceramic cases, lid
seals, and
lead seals, plastic encapsulated packaging, resistors/capacitors/other
passives,
power devices, flat panel displays, and high temperature devices
- Circuit Cards and Interconnects:
area array interconnects; ball
grid arrays/pin grid arrays, solder joints, flux-less, lead-free and
composite
solder, plated-through holes and vias, printed wire board assemblies;
modeling,
design for environment, placement and routing, flex and rigid flex
circuits,
connectors, heat sinks/spreaders, liquid flow through cooling, phase
change
material (PCM) cooling, high temperature electronics and conformal
coating
- Boxes and Systems:
enclosures, fasteners and hold-sown hardware,
cables, connectors, card guides and mounts, racks, vibration isolators,
power
supplies, high temperature electronics, forced air cooling, passive
cooling and
liquid cooling.
- Supply Chain of Electronic Products: electronic
parts selection and
manufacturing, life cycle cost analysis, electronic manufacturing
services, and
supply chain creation and management.
Course
Selection : Under the guidance of their advisor,
students select
course work that sets forth the entire program of study that will be
undertaken
to satisfy the objectives for the degree. The course selection is
tailored on
individual basis to meet students' needs and in such a way that a
student may
specialize in one of the many focus areas in electronic products. For
the list of graduate courses offered within the electronic products and
systems area of specialization in the Department of Mechanical
Engineering,
click here.
Two examples
of course sequences for M.S. and Ph.D. degree requirements are given
below.
Representative
Selection 1: Electronics Packaging with
Emphasis on solids and mechanics of materials
M.S.
Degree Courses: Mechanical Fundamentals of Electronic
Systems, Electronic Product Development, Mechanics
of Photonic Systems, Modeling Material Behavior, Computer Aided
Manufacturing, Linear Vibrations, Advanced Mechanical, Engineering
Analysis I, Manufacturing Technologies for Electronic Systems
Ph.D. Degree
Courses: In addition to the above for the M.S., Micro- and
Nano-Structural Characterization, High-Power and High-Temperature
Electronics, Experimental Mechanics, Applied Finite Element Methods,
Numerical Analysis I
Representative Selection 2: Emphasis on thermal engineering
M.S. Degree Courses: Mechanical
Fundamentals of Electronic Systems, Electronic Product Development,
Mechanics of Photonic Systems, Advanced Classical Thermodynamics,
Advanced Conduction and Radiation Heat Transfer, Advanced Convection
Heat Transfer, Advanced Mechanical Engineering Analysis I,
Manufacturing Technologies for Electronic Systems
Ph.D. Degree Courses: In addition to
the above for the M.S., High-Power and High-Temperature Electronics,
Thermal Issues in Electronic Systems, Viscous Flow, Computational Fluid
Dynamics and Heat Transfer, Numerical Analysis I
Thesis
Research : Research is a key component
of the graduate education. All students pursuing a graduate degree
within
the EPSC program are required to complete a thesis and to defend it in
a
public forum. Thesis research calls upon all the knowledge that the
students acquired during his/her academic career as an engineer. It
also
requires independent and creative thought as well as commitment and a
strong sense of direction.
Semester-in-Industry
: Under the EPS
curriculum, graduate students have the opportunity to spend their third
semester in an industry internship working with the internship provider
on
a project of mutual interest. These projects are related to
the
topics of the student’s thesis research. The internship
experience
provides students an opportunity to focus their research to the
industry’s
needs, while providing first-hand exposure to the engineering
challenges
confronting the electronics industries today.
Just-in-Time
Instruction : In the EPS
graduate program, the latest research results and topics of significant
industry interest are directly and systematically incorporated into the
curriculum. Many of the EPS courses are based on the results of the
research conducted at CALCE EPS Center. Some of the recent topics of
significant industry interest investigated by CALCE include
plastic
encapsulated microcircuits, flip chip technologies, accelerated testing
for reliability assessment, virtual qualifications methods, life cycle
cost analysis and thermal management.
EPS graduate courses are also supplemented by the
Experts in the
Classroom Lecture Series. Guest lecturers selected for the series are
experts on specific technology or application areas from industry,
national laboratories, or academia. Industry experts bring the latest
applications perspectives into the classroom. In addition, all CALCE
master's and doctoral defenses are also widely attended by outside
speakers and faculty providing another forum for exchange of ideas and
transfer of technology.
Team
Learning : All EPS students participate
in group projects defined by the latest research conducted at CALCE as
well as by course curricula. The projects emphasize effective oral,
written and graphic communication. They also foster professionalism and
teach students to work effectively in a team environment.
Electronic
Learning : All
EPS courses use World Wide Web technology to deliver materials and
assignments and to provide online forums to facilitate open-ended
interactions among students and faculty. The use of personal computers
is
integral to students' work.
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Degree requirements
The center
offers Master's of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy
(Ph.D.) degrees. The M.S. degree requires 24 credits of graduate level
coursework (up to 6 credits transferable) and 6 credits of research. At
least 15 credits must be for courses taken at the 600 level or above.
All
M.S. students must complete and defend a thesis. The Ph.D. degree
requires
18 graduate credit hours beyond the Master’s degree,
including 12 credits
of research. Also required is the successful completion of a
qualifying examination, a successful defense of a Ph.D. proposal, and
the
completion and oral presentation of the dissertation. Students accepted
into the Ph.D. program without a Master’s degree are required
to take an
additional 24 credits of coursework (42 credits of coursework total).
All
credits must be for courses 600 level or above.
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Admision Requirements
Applications
for admission are accepted each
semester. Programs leading
to the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees are open to qualified students holding a
B.S. degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Materials, Systems and
Reliability Engineering. Admissions may also be granted to students
with degrees in mathematics and physics. The competition for admission
is strong and is granted to students who exhibit an excellent academic
record and strong research potential. In addition to the requirements
set forth by the University
of Maryland Graduate School,
applicants are also required to submit scores from the Graduate Record
Examination (GRE) Students whose native language is not English and who
do not hold a degree from an accredited US institution are required to
submit scores of the Test of English as a Foreign
Language (TOEFL).
To apply, applicants should follow the University of Maryland and Mechanical Engineering Department admission procedures. To indicate their interest in the Electronic Products and Systems Program, applicants should list EPS on the application form as their area of specialization.
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Financial Assistance
All EPS students are supported through Graduate Assistantship which include a twelve-month stipend of approximately $18,019-$19,609, tuition remission and subsidized health benefits.
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Contact Information
For more information on our program, contact:
Prof. Michael Pecht
University of Maryland
CALCE Electronic Products and Systems Center
1103 Engineering Lab Building
College Park, MD 20742
Tel: 301-405-5323
Fax: 301-314-9269
Graduate students are also encouraged to contact individual faculty advisors in the area of electronic products and systems. For a list and contact information click here
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