Summer Institutes

The following snapshot highlights key differences between the two Summer Institutes.

Participants in Kent State University’s Semiconductor and Advanced Manufacturing Summer Institutes develop both technical knowledge and professional skills aligned with the semiconductor and advanced manufacturing workforce.

Through coursework, applied learning activities, and engagement with faculty and industry professionals, participants gain exposure to the technologies, tools, and collaborative environments used across modern semiconductor manufacturing and related technology industries.

Participants develop knowledge and experience in areas such as:

• Semiconductor manufacturing fundamentals, including how semiconductor devices are designed, fabricated, and manufactured using the materials, processes, and systems used in modern semiconductor production.

• Cleanroom environments and manufacturing practices, gaining exposure to the controlled environments, equipment, and operational procedures used in semiconductor fabrication facilities.

• Vacuum systems and supporting technologies, which play a critical role in semiconductor manufacturing and are widely used across advanced manufacturing, electronics, and high-technology industries.

• Applied technical problem solving, working collaboratively on projects that mirror the kinds of challenges encountered in semiconductor manufacturing, engineering, and advanced technology environments.

• Understanding the semiconductor ecosystem, including how semiconductor manufacturing technicians, equipment specialists, engineers, materials scientists, and researchers work together across the semiconductor supply chain.

• Professional communication, teamwork, and collaboration, skills that are essential for working effectively in engineering, manufacturing, and technology-driven organizations.

Participants also gain insight into the range of career pathways across the semiconductor workforce, including roles such as semiconductor manufacturing technicians, process technicians, equipment technicians, engineers, materials scientists, and researchers.

These experiences help participants understand how interdisciplinary teams work together to design, manufacture, test, and improve semiconductor devices used in technologies that power modern society.

Transferable Skills Across Technology Industries

While the institutes focus on semiconductor technologies, the knowledge and skills participants develop are highly transferable across many engineering and advanced technology fields.

Semiconductor manufacturing environments require strong capabilities in critical thinking, systems analysis, technical communication, problem solving, and teamwork. These competencies are widely valued across modern manufacturing, engineering, and research environments.

Participants gain exposure to concepts and practices that are relevant across a range of industries, including:

• advanced manufacturing and industrial production
• aerospace and defense technologies
• robotics and automation systems
• electronics and photonics manufacturing
• energy and clean technology industries
• automotive and electric vehicle technologies
• biomedical and medical device manufacturing
• research laboratories and technology development environments

Even participants who ultimately pursue careers outside the semiconductor industry leave the institutes with technical knowledge, analytical skills, and professional experience that translate across many engineering, technology, and manufacturing pathways.

A central feature of Kent State University’s Semiconductor and Advanced Manufacturing Summer Institutes is the opportunity for participants to engage in applied learning experiences that mirror real semiconductor manufacturing environments.

Rather than learning about semiconductor manufacturing only through lectures, participants engage with the technologies, tools, and environments used across the semiconductor ecosystem through a combination of hands-on activities, industry engagement, and immersive learning experiences.

Layered Semiconductor Learning Environments

Participants experience semiconductor manufacturing concepts through a layered learning model that exposes them to multiple types of semiconductor manufacturing environments.

This includes learning experiences connected to:

• Kent State University’s Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute (AMLCI), where participants gain exposure to cleanroom environments and research facilities used in semiconductor and advanced materials development.

• Partner cleanroom facilities, including visits to the Lorain County Community College (LCCC) cleanroom, where participants can observe semiconductor fabrication environments and learn how academic training connects to workforce development.

• Simulated cleanroom environments, where participants engage in guided activities that illustrate key steps involved in semiconductor device fabrication.

• Virtual reality cleanroom environments, which allow participants to explore semiconductor fabrication facilities and processes in immersive digital environments.

Together, these environments provide participants with a deeper understanding of how semiconductor devices are designed, manufactured, and tested across different stages of the semiconductor ecosystem.

Industry Engagement and Professional Exposure

Participants also have opportunities to interact directly with professionals working across the semiconductor and advanced manufacturing industries.

These experiences may include:

• Guest speakers from industry and research organizations who share insights about semiconductor technologies, career pathways, and emerging innovations.

• Industry site visits, where participants observe advanced manufacturing environments and learn how semiconductor technologies are developed and produced in real-world settings.

• Networking opportunities with engineers, technicians, researchers, and industry professionals, providing participants with insight into the diverse roles that support the semiconductor workforce.

Career Academy and Professional Development

Participants also take part in the program’s Career Academy, which provides structured opportunities to develop professional skills and explore career pathways.

Career Academy activities may include:

• resume and professional profile development
• LinkedIn profile building and networking preparation
• discussions with professionals from semiconductor and related industries
• exploration of career pathways across engineering, manufacturing, and technology fields

Collaborative Projects and Capstone Experience

Throughout the institutes, participants work collaboratively on applied technical activities and projects that connect course concepts with real semiconductor manufacturing systems.

The experience culminates in a capstone project, where participants work in teams to apply semiconductor manufacturing concepts and present their work to peers, faculty, and industry professionals.

These activities help participants understand how interdisciplinary teams of technicians, engineers, and scientists work together to develop, manufacture, and improve semiconductor technologies.

Each Summer Institute combines academic coursework with applied learning experiences to provide participants with both technical knowledge and hands-on exposure to semiconductor manufacturing environments.

Participants complete two Kent State courses aligned with the focus and academic level of their selected institute.

Semiconductor Technology and Advanced Manufacturing Summer Institute

Participants complete the following courses offered through Kent State University at Trumbull:

• EERT 11000 – Introduction to Semiconductor Devices and Cleanroom (4 credits)
• ATS 11001 – Introduction to Vacuum Systems (3 credits)

These courses introduce foundational concepts in semiconductor manufacturing, device fabrication, vacuum technologies, and cleanroom environments.

The courses are designed to be stackable within Kent State academic pathways. For students pursuing related programs, the courses may apply toward the Semiconductor Technician certificate programs as well as Engineering Technology associate degree programs, helping students build academic progress while exploring semiconductor technologies.

The institute is delivered in a hybrid format, with lectures conducted online and in-person laboratory sessions held on Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Kent State Trumbull.

The program begins with a virtual orientation week, followed by several weeks of integrated coursework and applied learning activities.

Semiconductor Fabrication and Manufacturing Summer Institute

Participants in the advanced fabrication institute complete two co-scheduled courses aligned with their academic level.

Undergraduate pathway

• CAE 35095 – Fundamentals of Semiconductor Manufacturing Engineering (3 credits)
• CAE 35095 – Microelectronics Fabrication and Cleanroom Practice (3 credits)

Graduate pathway

• ENGR 61095 / 81095 – Advanced Semiconductor Fabrication Practices (3 credits)
• ENGR 61095 / 81095 – Advanced Semiconductor Process Engineering (3 credits)

Undergraduate and graduate students participate together in a shared cohort, collaborating in laboratory activities and project work while completing assignments and capstone requirements appropriate to their academic level.

The fabrication institute is delivered in person at Kent State University’s Kent Campus, providing participants with immersive exposure to semiconductor fabrication concepts and laboratory environments.

Academic Advising Note

Students interested in applying Summer Institute coursework toward a degree or certificate program should consult with their academic advisor or academic department to confirm how these courses may apply to their specific program requirements.

Cost and Scholarships

Participants in the Summer Institutes enroll in Kent State credit courses associated with their selected institute, and tuition is based on the applicable Kent State tuition rates for those courses.

Because the institutes are designed to support workforce development in semiconductor and advanced manufacturing fields, scholarship support is available for eligible participants and is expected to support most admitted students, helping to significantly reduce or fully cover the cost of participation.

For many students, scholarship support may include:

• coverage of course tuition and fees
• support for required books and course materials
• cost-of-participation support intended to help offset expenses associated with participating in the institute

Cost-of-participation support is calculated using a standard program formula and is designed to help offset common participation expenses such as:

• meals and on-campus housing (if applicable) during program activities
• transportation, gas, and parking
• local travel related to the institute
• incidental expenses or materials needed for program projects or capstone activities

Scholarship Eligibility

Scholarship eligibility depends on academic level and citizenship status.

For undergraduate students and other non-graduate participants, scholarship support is available to individuals who are U.S. citizens or who have legal authorization to work in the United States.

Graduate students are eligible for scholarship support regardless of citizenship status.

Additional information about scholarship availability, eligibility requirements, and participation costs will be provided during the application and enrollment process.

Participants with questions about costs or financial support are encouraged to contact the program team for guidance.