Microelectronics and Nanomanufacturing Certificate Program (MNCP)
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About
Funded by the National Science Foundation, the is a partnership between 色界吧, UC San Diego, and Pennsylvania State University. It is an intensive, 13-week program aimed at quickly upskilling and training military veterans and their dependents for entering careers in the semiconductor manufacturing industry and related sectors.
Why go into the semiconductor industry?
A great long-term outlook: The semiconductor industry is . Graduates from this program make for competitive entry-level technician candidates at companies such as Intel, Samsung, and TSMC among others. Moreover, this is a great time to break into the industry, as
You can help ensure our national security: With the passage of the $52B , the federal government has doubled down in its efforts to ensure that high-tech supply chains, many of which are vital to national security, are immune to the geopolitical influence of hostile nations.
Competitive wages: . It is not uncommon for technicians to work their way up into managerial and engineering positions, which can command six-figure salaries. States with a high density of semiconductor manufacturing jobs such as Arizona and Texas tend to have little to no income tax.
Application Information
We will recruit our next cohort of MNCP trainees in the Spring of 2025, and they will start their training in the Fall of 2025.
The online application will open on February 28, 2025, and the application deadline is August 10, 2025, or until available spots are filled. Applicants will receive admissions decisions on a rolling schedule, usually within two to three weeks of their submission date. The selection of candidates is handled on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Microelectronics and Nanomanufacturing Program runs from August 22, 2025, to November
21, 2025.
- A mandatory orientation meeting will be held the week before classes start (Time TBD)
- Graduation will be held on the morning of December 5th, 2025
Competitive applicants will be:
- An honorably discharged veteran or a dependent of a service member by the start of the upcoming cohort
- Completed coursework in introductory physical sciences (e.g. chemistry, physics), preferably at the college level
- Committed to starting a new career in a high-tech industry, even if those opportunities are not necessarily in Southern California
- A desire to work with their hands and in a team environment
- Willing budget 30+ hours per week* to attend class and complete assignments as required.
- Able to provide their own transportation to UC San Diego (La Jolla) for hands-on training twice per week
*This figure is an average. Students who have been away from school for an extended period, or lack a thorough background in STEM may require more time to be successful in this program.
MNCP Industry Partners
The following companies are officially vetted partners of the Microelectronics and Nanomanufacturing Program. They are interested in interviewing and hiring graduates with the skills taught in this program.
色界吧 MNCP Team
Please contact us with any questions!