Master of Science in Sensor Science and Technology
This Master of Science in Sensor Science program is tailored for full-time or part-time students who can complete the Program either on campus or online. Since current and future sensor systems have to be smart, scientific and engineering innovations with interdisciplinary approaches that utilize advanced sensing methods and data analysis to intuitively and intelligently collect, connect, analyze and interpret data from individuals, devices, and systems are expected to enable discovery and optimize health and environment. This program provides its graduates with advanced and specialized training in sensor science and technology, from a multidisciplinary perspective, covering aspects of principles, methods, techniques and technologies that underpin a large range of needs in applications spanning from research to industry, with an emphasis of targeting problems in health and environment. With the skills and knowledge in the specialty area, this program prepares its graduates to be more competitive in pursuing advanced PhD training and in pursuing careers in academia, government, and the many companies developing sensors and sensor-based solutions.
A minimum of 32 credit hours is required for the Master of Science (M.S.) in Sensor Science degree. Two options are available: a thesis option, and a non-thesis option. A maximum of 12 credits of 400-level coursework may be used to fulfill graduate study requirements.
Thesis Option
Students seeking the thesis option must register for 6-8 credit hours of research coursework numbered 591, write a thesis based on original research, and defend it before his or her M.S. thesis committee. The thesis and oral defense should be completed before the end of the third year of academic study. M.S. Chemistry students fulfill their comprehensive examination requirement with their thesis defense.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required courses | 6 | |
| Sensor Science and Technology | 3 | |
| Project in Sensor Science and Technology 1, 2 | 3 | |
| Select a minimum of 12 credits from the following courses. | 12 | |
| Survey of Analytical Chemistry | 3 | |
| Environmental Chemistry | 3 | |
| Computational Biochemistry and Drug Design | 3 | |
| Physical Biochemistry | 3 | |
| Fundamentals of Food Science | 3 | |
| Advanced Nutritional Biochemistry | 3 | |
| Machine Learning | 3 | |
| Introduction to Medical Devices, BioMEMS and Microfluidics | 3 | |
| Fundamentals of Semiconductor Devices | 3 | |
| Select one focus with a minimum of 9 credits from the following electives. | 9 | |
| Focus 1: Sensing Modality (Choose three courses) | ||
| Biochemistry | 3 | |
| Process Analytical Technology | 3 | |
| Physical Methods of Characterization | 3 | |
| Electronics and Interfacing | 2 | |
| Electrochemical Methods | 3 | |
| Food Microbiology | 3 | |
| Food Analysis | 3 | |
| Focus 2: Sensor Materials (Choose three courses) | ||
| Biomaterials | 3 | |
| Advanced Organic Chemistry | 3 | |
| Structural Inorganic and Materials Chemistry | 3 | |
| Polymer Characterization and Analysis | 3 | |
| Nanodevices and Technology | 3 | |
| Electrical, Magnetic and Optical Properties of Materials | 3 | |
| Focus 3: Smart sensor devices (choose three course) | ||
| Deep Learning | 3 | |
| Analysis and Design of Integrated Circuits | 3 | |
| Nanodevices and Technology | 3 | |
| Open Source Programming | 3 | |
| Embedded Systems | 3 | |
| Select a minimum of 3 credit hours from the Program Electives 3 | 3 | |
| Industrial Leadership | 3 | |
| Managing the Creative Process | 3 | |
| Project Management | 3 | |
| US Food Safety Regulatory Systems | 3 | |
| Free Electives | 2 | |
Minimum degree credits required 32
- 1
CHEM 546 can be replaced by BME 594 or CS 594 or ECE 594 or FDSN 594 or ITM 594 when a sensor research project course is offered by faculty from respective departments.
- 2
For thesis option, CHEM 546 is replaced by CHEM 591 or BME 591 or CS 591 or ECE 591 or FDSN 591 or ITM 591.
- 3
For thesis option, it can be replaced by CHEM 591 or BME 591 or CS 591 or ECE 591 or FDSN 591 or ITM 591.
Non-Thesis Option
Students seeking the non-thesis degree are required to complete a project course to gain hands-on sensor research experience. This project course is offered by faculty and industrial researchers of the Sensor Center (https://cos.iit.edu/icsse/). The non-thesis option is made available for online students, with the project course to be completed at local industrial setting. Students must pass an oral comprehensive examination by the end of the fourth semester in the program.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required courses | 6 | |
| Sensor Science and Technology | 3 | |
| Project in Sensor Science and Technology 1, 2 | 3 | |
| Select a minimum of 12 credits from the following courses. | 12 | |
| Survey of Analytical Chemistry | 3 | |
| Environmental Chemistry | 3 | |
| Computational Biochemistry and Drug Design | 3 | |
| Physical Biochemistry | 3 | |
| Fundamentals of Food Science | 3 | |
| Advanced Nutritional Biochemistry | 3 | |
| Machine Learning | 3 | |
| Introduction to Medical Devices, BioMEMS and Microfluidics | 3 | |
| Fundamentals of Semiconductor Devices | 3 | |
| Select one focus with a minimum of 9 credits from the following electives. | 9 | |
| Focus 1: Sensing Modality (Choose three courses) | ||
| Biochemistry | 3 | |
| Process Analytical Technology | 3 | |
| Physical Methods of Characterization | 3 | |
| Electronics and Interfacing | 2 | |
| Electrochemical Methods | 3 | |
| Food Microbiology | 3 | |
| Food Analysis | 3 | |
| Focus 2: Sensor Materials (Choose three courses) | ||
| Biomaterials | 3 | |
| Advanced Organic Chemistry | 3 | |
| Structural Inorganic and Materials Chemistry | 3 | |
| Polymer Characterization and Analysis | 3 | |
| Nanodevices and Technology | 3 | |
| Electrical, Magnetic and Optical Properties of Materials | 3 | |
| Focus 3: Smart sensor devices (choose three course) | ||
| Deep Learning | 3 | |
| Analysis and Design of Integrated Circuits | 3 | |
| Nanodevices and Technology | 3 | |
| Open Source Programming | 3 | |
| Embedded Systems | 3 | |
| Select a minimum of 3 credit hours from the Program Electives 3 | 3 | |
| Industrial Leadership | 3 | |
| Managing the Creative Process | 3 | |
| Project Management | 3 | |
| US Food Safety Regulatory Systems | 3 | |
| Free Electives | 2 | |
Minimum degree credits required 32
- 1
CHEM 546 can be replaced by BME 594 or CS 594 or ECE 594 or FDSN 594 or ITM 594 when a sensor research project course is offered by faculty from respective departments.
- 2
For thesis option, CHEM 546 is replaced by CHEM 591 or BME 591 or CS 591 or ECE 591 or FDSN 591 or ITM 591.
- 3
For thesis option, it can be replaced by CHEM 591 or BME 591 or CS 591 or ECE 591 or FDSN 591 or ITM 591.
