Starting this fall, NC State University’s College of Engineering will offer a first-of-its-kind master’s degree in wide bandgap (WBG) semiconductors.

The M.S. in WBG semiconductors — jointly offered by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Department of Materials Science and Engineering — will be offered in a hybrid format, with in-person and online components.

Built on NC State’s national leadership in semiconductor research, the brand-new program will prepare students for careers in the rapidly expanding semiconductor, defense and advanced manufacturing sectors. Coursework will cover materials, processes and devices at the core of WBG technologies.

“Wide bandgap semiconductors are critical for our nation. Investments in WBG are driving state-of-the-art advances in semiconductor manufacturing, power electronics, RF systems, electric vehicles, renewable energy, aerospace systems, and resilient energy infrastructure,” said Veena Misra, head of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. “To continue this important trajectory, we need a workforce that understands wide bandgap semiconductors, and NC State is uniquely positioned to lead this effort.”  

NC State is not only the headquarters of PowerAmerica; the university is also home to the Commercial Leap Ahead for Wide bandgap Semiconductors (CLAWS) Hub as well as the Future Renewable Electric Energy Delivery and Management (FREEDM) Systems Center.

A master’s in wide bandgap semiconductors can lead to roles across semiconductor manufacturing, power electronics and applied engineering, such as:

• R&D engineer in semiconductor manufacturing
• Power electronics design engineer
• Wide bandgap device or module engineer
• Applications engineer in EVs, renewables or aerospace
• Technical roles in national labs or government agencies

“The wide bandgap power electronics industry is rapidly innovating to improve performance, efficiency and reliability as electrification spreads,” said Shane Stein, an NC State Ph.D. alum working at Wolfspeed — a longtime member of PowerAmerica. “There is currently a strong need for graduates with expertise in materials physics as well as device design.”

The new M.S. degree is designed to build both technical depth and applied experience — which matters, because employers want graduates who know more than just theory. They want candidates who can test, analyze and improve real systems, then communicate what the data means for design or production decisions.

Students will study semiconductor physics, device structures, microelectronic materials, semiconductor processing, modeling and manufacturing workflows — and then apply those skills in intensive two-week practicums.

Core skills include:

• Semiconductor physics and SiC/GaN foundations
• Device fabrication and performance testing
• Materials science and thin films
• Power electronics systems
• Manufacturing workflows, automation and yield analysis
• Characterization, simulation and modeling

Weekly information sessions for prospective applicants will be held next month, every Tuesday from June 2-23. All sessions will be held at 2 p.m. (EDT), except for the June 23 session, which will be held at 3 p.m. Complete this Google Form to register for any of the sessions.

The first cohort begins in fall 2026 — with an application deadline of June 25. To apply, visit go.ncsu.edu/ms-widebandgap.