2025-2026 Academic Catalog
Welcome to Virginia Tech! We are excited that you are here planning your time as a Hokie.
Welcome to Virginia Tech! We are excited that you are here planning your time as a Hokie.
The Nanoscience (NANO) program is a joint effort of the departments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Geosciences, and Physics. It resides in, and is organized as a division of, the College of Science's Academy of Integrated Science.
Nanoscience, the fundamental study of materials and structures whose size is on the nanometer scale, lies at the very foundation of our world. A nanometer is simply a billionth of a meter, and a typical atom is about 1/10th of a nanometer in size. At this length scale, atoms and molecules follow the laws of quantum physics, and the processes of life (for example, DNA and proteins are naturally-occurring nanoscale materials) and the properties of materials emerge from them. Due to a combination of profound theoretical insights, advances in scientific instrumentation, and massive computing power, we are now capable of imaging and steering single atoms with unprecedented precision, opening a window toward a world in which materials, chemical compounds, devices, and even small organisms can be built atom by atom and molecule by molecule, tailored toward desired properties and applications. At present, we are only at the dawn of this nanoscience revolution.
Nanoscience courses prepare undergraduates for productive, exciting careers in emerging nanoscale industries. Degree recipients from this program will be ready to contribute to and lead cutting-edge corporate research and development in some of the most important and profitable industries in the world, including information technology, communications, drug development, imaging, and environmental technology.
University policy requires that students who are making satisfactory progress toward a degree meet minimum criteria toward the General Education (Curriculum for Liberal Education or Pathways to General Education) (see "Academic Policies") and toward the degree.
Satisfactory progress requirements toward the B.S. in Nanoscience can be found on the major checksheet by visiting the University Registrar website at https://www.registrar.vt.edu/graduation-multi-brief/checksheets.html.
Please visit the University Registrar website at https://www.registrar.vt.edu/graduation-multi-brief/checksheets.html for requirements toward a minor in Nanoscience.
Division Leader: F. M. Michel
Program Manager: C. Conley
Principle Faculty: D. Capelluto, H. Dorn, S. Emori, A. Esker, C. Finkielstein, R. Heflin, M. Hull, G. Khodaparast, G. Liu, B. Magill, J. Matson, A. Morris, V. Nguyen, K. Park, H. Robinson, and C. Tian
Print this page.
The PDF will include all information unique to this page.