2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog
Nanotechnology Concentration Physics/Materials Emphasis
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Return to: Swanson School of Engineering
Requirements
All first-year engineering students follow a common academic program and select a major at the end of the year. The curriculum includes two specially designed engineering courses, two engineering-specific English Composition courses, and a two-term First-Year Engineering Seminar led by academic advisors and Engineering Peer Leaders. Together, these experiences introduce major engineering fields, foundational skills and tools, and the engineering problem-solving process, while supporting students’ technical skills, communication skills, transition to college, and study skill development. Students also have opportunities to visit engineering departments, speak with faculty, and learn about major requirements before declaring their engineering major at the end of the first year. In the spring term, all first-year students participate in the First-Year Student Engineering Conference. More information is available at: https://www.engineering.pitt.edu/firstyear.
The first-year curriculum includes Calculus, Chemistry, Physics, English Composition for Engineering, Engineering Analysis and Computing courses, and an elective. Students begin their first term with either Chemistry or Physics (depending on their intended major), continue that subject in the second term, and add the other science. As a result, the first-term curriculum has two options, outlined below.
First Term (Students choose one of the following sets of courses)
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Option 1:
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Option 2:
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MATH 0220 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1
CHEM 0410 General Chemistry 1
ENGR 0011 Introduction to Engineering Analysis
ENGCMP 0210 Seminar in Composition-Engr
Humanities/Social Science Elective
ENGR 0081 First-Year Engineering Seminar 1
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MATH 0220 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1
PHYS 0174 Basic physics, Science and Engr 1
ENGR 0011 Introduction to Engineering Analysis
ENGCMP 0210 Seminar in Composition-Engr
Humanities/Social Science Elective
ENGR 0081 First Year Engineering Seminar 1
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Credits: 16*
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Credits: 17*
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*A 1-credit science lab is required for graduation in all engineering degrees. Students taking CHEM 0410 in the fall may add a Chemistry lab (CHEM 0430) to their first term courses or take the lab later.
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Second Term (Students choose one of the following sets of courses)
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Option 1 (for students who took Chem 1 in the fall):
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Option 2 (for students who took Phys 1 in the fall):
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MATH 0230 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 2
CHEM 0420 General Chemistry 2
PHYS 0174 Basic Physics, Science and Engr 1
ENGR 0012 Intro to Engineering Computing
ENGCMP 0412 Engr Communication in Prof Context
ENGR 0082 First-Year Engineering Seminar 2
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MATH 0230 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 2
PHYS 0175 Basic Physics, Science and Engr 2
CHEM 0410 General Chemistry 1
ENGR 0012 Intro to Engineering Computing
ENGCMP 0412 Engr Communication in Prof Context
ENGR 0082 First-Year Engineering Seminar 2
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Credits: 17*
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Credits: 17*
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*A 1-credit science lab is required for graduation in all engineering degrees. Students taking CHEM 0410 or 0420 in the spring term may add a Chemistry lab to their second term courses (CHEM 0430 or CHEM 0440) if they did not do so in the fall.
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Entering first-year students admitted to the David C. Frederick Honors College (and those given permission from an Academic Advisor after a discussion about their interest) may take honors courses. Students participating in the David C. Frederick Honors College may take honors courses that substitute for regular required course offerings in their first two terms. For more information on the David C. Frederick Honors College, visit www.honorscollege.pitt.edu
A first-year curriculum comprising honors college courses appears below:
First Term (Students choose one of the following sets of courses)
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Option 1:
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Option 2:
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MATH 0235 Honors Calculus**
CHEM 0710 Honors General Chemistry 1
ENGR 0711 Honors Engineering Analysis & Computing
ENGCMP 0210 Seminar in Composition-Engr
Humanities/Social Science Elective
ENGR 0081 First-Year Engineering Seminar 1
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MATH 0235 Honors Calculus**
PHYS 0475 Honors Physics, Science and Engr 1
ENGR 0711 Honors Engineering Analysis & Computing
ENGCMP 0210 Seminar in Composition-Engr
Humanities/Social Science Elective
ENGR 0081 First Year Engineering Seminar 1
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Credits: 17*
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Credits: 17*
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*A 1-credit science lab is required in all engineering degrees. Students taking CHEM 0710 will have a Chemistry lab as part of their course.
**Students who receive a C or higher in MATH 0235 will be awarded advanced standing credit for MATH 0220.
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Second Term (Students choose one of the following sets of courses)
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Option 1 (for students who took Chem 1 in the fall):
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Option 2 (for students who took Phys 1 in the fall):
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MATH 0240 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 3
CHEM 0780 Honors General Chemistry 2
PHYS 0174 Basic Physics, Science and Engr 1**
ENGR 0712 Advanced Engr Applications for Freshmen
or ENGR 0717 Foundations of Engineering Design
ENGCMP 0412 Engr Communication in Prof Context
ENGR 0082 First-Year Engineering Seminar 2
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MATH 0240 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 3
PHYS 0476 Honors Physics, Science and Engr 2
CHEM 0410 General Chemistry 1**
ENGR 0712 Advanced Engr Applications for Freshmen
or ENGR 0717 Foundations of Engineering Design
ENGCMP 0412 Engr Communication in Prof Context
ENGR 0082 First-Year Engineering Seminar 2
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Credits: 17*
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Credits: 17*
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*A 1-credit science lab is required in all engineering degrees. Students taking CHEM 0410 in the spring term may add a Chemistry lab to their second term courses (CHEM 0430). They may also take their science lab in a future term.
**Honors Physics 1 and Honors Chemistry 1 are only offered in fall terms.
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