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Purdue Starts Comprehensive Semiconductor Degree Programs in U.S.

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Re: Purdue Starts Comprehensive Semiconductor Degree Programs in U.S.

#51

Post by Bilal_io »

Kerrick wrote: post #44
Bilal_io wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Semi-relates: Why don't universities offer online undergraduate programs? It's frustrating. I enrolled myself back to finish my bachelor's degree and my school offers very few or no online options for the classes I need.

Some do. I just started going back to school and I’m working on a B.S. In Software Development at Western Governors University. They’re accredited and online only. They also offer a B.S. in Computer Science.

I heard about WGU and was a bit skeptical, not knowing how it's viewed by other universities if I wanted to continue my master's program elsewhere. I have a couple of questions if you don't mind. I assume you've done your research before you joined, what made you decide to go for it? what's your current experience there? And do you know other people that took their degree from WGU and joined another university for their master's?

Re: Purdue Starts Comprehensive Semiconductor Degree Programs in U.S.

#52

Post by Dracophoenix »

iron2disulfide wrote: post #45

Skimmed the article; what's the difference between this program and what's already taught in electrical and computer engineering classes? I studied ECE for my BS and MS and there were already a couple of chip design-related courses: digital design, VLSI, FPGA, semiconductor physics, IC fabrication. I guess more specialized coursework on verification or manufacturing would have been nice, but I don't think that would…

Which company did you work for?

Re: Purdue Starts Comprehensive Semiconductor Degree Programs in U.S.

#53

Post by j_walter »

iron2disulfide wrote: post #45

Skimmed the article; what's the difference between this program and what's already taught in electrical and computer engineering classes? I studied ECE for my BS and MS and there were already a couple of chip design-related courses: digital design, VLSI, FPGA, semiconductor physics, IC fabrication. I guess more specialized coursework on verification or manufacturing would have been nice, but I don't think that would…

There is a big difference between chip design and running a factory...which generally isn't taught anywhere. When I got my ChE degree many years ago we had like 3 or 4 courses for semiconductors and in one course we learned about the manufacturing aspect. Even then it was super outdated with respect to what I actually dealt with when working as a Process Engineer at a fab.

Re: Purdue Starts Comprehensive Semiconductor Degree Programs in U.S.

#55

Post by jjoonathan »

bushbaba wrote: post #48
jjoonathan wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Warning: nerd trap. Low wages, horrendous deadlines (tapeout), hard work. Perhaps this has changed, given that we're in a semiconductor boom cycle now, but I have my doubts. When SMIC started trying to poach TSMC talent, the response was not to make pay competitive (or even half decent), let alone in line with the massive geopolitically-relevant value being created. No, the response was a mask-off legislative crackdo…

When in University, Intel gave a presentation. They stated the same facts that the Semi industry will be low waged, hard work, and require MULTIPLE PHDs. That presentation gave me enough information to recognize that I really didn't want to be in the semi-industry.

Intel turned the screws so hard on their employees that the market actually punished them for it. That never happens, but Intel went so far beyond the pale that it did.

A mentor of mine hit his breaking point when they split/bankrupt/acquired his team to discharge pension obligations. Real nasty stuff. He said everyone was retiring, "good luck with the next node" (10nm) -- which I discounted as sour grapes on account of Intel appearing invincible at the time, but wow have the years cast that story in a different light.

Re: Purdue Starts Comprehensive Semiconductor Degree Programs in U.S.

#56

Post by driscoll42 »

Bilal_io wrote: post #8
hnthrowaway0315 wrote: post #4

As someone working full-time in Canada, wish I could roll back my life 10+ years and get into one of the semiconductor schools. Good luck to all who are admitted into this program, looks very interesting. Link to online degree: https://engineering.purdue.edu/semiconductors/degrees#online...

Semi-relates: Why don't universities offer online undergraduate programs? It's frustrating. I enrolled myself back to finish my bachelor's degree and my school offers very few or no online options for the classes I need.

There's one to my knowledge offered by the University of London: https://www.coursera.org/degrees/bachelor-of-science-compute...

Re: Purdue Starts Comprehensive Semiconductor Degree Programs in U.S.

#58

Post by AnimalMuppet »

hnthrowaway0315 wrote: post #38
AnimalMuppet wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are a number of embedded gadgets that run on Android, complete with code in Java. (They aren't hard real-time systems, but not all embedded devices care about that.) Look for things that have a real graphical display and touchscreen.

Thanks! Is that different from Android/iOS development or just part of it?

Well... it's Android (or iOS) development, but it's different.

In that kind of situation, you usually own the whole device. You don't have to worry about being removed from memory because the user wanted to run some hotel's booking app or whatever - the user doesn't have the option of doing that.

You may have some additional hooks that give you some control of whatever custom hardware that comes with the device. You may or may not have to drop down into native code to access those hooks.

You can't develop against a standard phone or tablet. You have to have your hardware to develop against.

So, yeah. It's the same... but it's different.

Re: Purdue Starts Comprehensive Semiconductor Degree Programs in U.S.

#59

Post by goodpoint »

Datenstrom wrote: post #27
hardware2win wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I switched from web dev to semico this year and the amount of things i dont understand is huge Majority of ppl here are after electrical eng. Cs seems to be easy in compare

Web development usually involves very little CS it is much closer to Software Engineering. Computer Science about solving problems with math, science, and computation theory and just happens to use computers as tools. Software Engineering is about building complete and useful programs.

> Web development ... is much closer to Software Engineering

Is what?!

Re: Purdue Starts Comprehensive Semiconductor Degree Programs in U.S.

#60

Post by plonk »

bushbaba wrote: post #48
jjoonathan wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Warning: nerd trap. Low wages, horrendous deadlines (tapeout), hard work. Perhaps this has changed, given that we're in a semiconductor boom cycle now, but I have my doubts. When SMIC started trying to poach TSMC talent, the response was not to make pay competitive (or even half decent), let alone in line with the massive geopolitically-relevant value being created. No, the response was a mask-off legislative crackdo…

When in University, Intel gave a presentation. They stated the same facts that the Semi industry will be low waged, hard work, and require MULTIPLE PHDs. That presentation gave me enough information to recognize that I really didn't want to be in the semi-industry.

> require MULTIPLE PHDs

Was that a joke? What's the point of doing two PhDs in the same field? That's like 12 years wasted. 1/8th of your life.

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