The field of printed electronics is drawing much attention from a range of disciplines, and universities and researchers are seeing opportunities to utilize their expertise in this area.

For example, Cal Poly State University’s Graphic Communication Department has been conducting much research in the field of printed and flexible electronics, and is now offering an online Printed Electronics and Functional Imaging Professional Certificate Program, which will start Sept. 22.

It is a natural fit for Cal Poly’s Graphic Communication Department. Dr. Malcolm Keif, professor and graduate coordinator, printed electronics and functional imaging, Cal Poly State University’s Graphic Communication Department, noted that Cal Poly has been researching and producing micron-scale printed electronics for more than five years.

“Flexible electronics is a complex field and we see a vacuum of knowledge accessible by working professionals,” Dr. Keif said. “Our goal is to take what we have learned, combine it with the latest research from others and then organize and deliver quality education through online delivery that helps move the industry forward. We have been leaders in graphic printing education in the U.S., and now we hope to be a leader in functional printing of electronics and make it accessible to the world.”

The program consists of five graduate-level, fully accredited courses to be offered in a sequence, although individuals can take singe courses depending on their interests once they complete the Survey class. The program can be completed in 12 months, with two courses offered in the fall and one each in the winter, spring and summer quarters.

Dr. Keif noted that Cal Poly’s Graphic Communication Department is offering five online instructor-led courses, one of which is a prerequisite to the other four.

The courses are:
• GrC 501: Survey of Functional Printing.
• GrC 510: Materials for Functional Printing.
• GrC 512: Printing and Coating Technologies.
• GrC 514: Optical and Electrical Patterning.
• GrC 520: Functional Printing Product and Business Development.

“Our first course is titled Survey of Functional Printing and focuses on providing a broad foundation for the other courses,” Dr. Keif said. “This course will be offered starting Sept. 22, 2014 for four weeks, and provides fundamentals for understanding flexible electronics, printing processes and functional printing markets. The course will be repeated in January 2015.

“The other four courses are eight weeks each and titled: 1) Materials for Functional Printing (fall 2014); 2) Printing and Coating Technologies (winter 2015); 3) Optical and Electrical Patterning (spring 2015); and 4) Functional Printing Product and Business Development (summer 2015),” Dr. Keif added. “Any or all of these courses can be taken once the Survey course is completed. Courses are available on a ‘piece-meal’ basis or as a complete certificate program.”

When all five courses are completed, Dr. Keif said the individual will receive a professional certificate from Cal Poly in Printed Electronics and Functional Imaging. All courses are graduate level courses and are fully accredited and transcribed through Cal Poly. These courses can also be matriculated into Cal Poly’s master of science degree in Printed Electronics and Functional Imaging, which is a resident program at Cal Poly.

Dr. Keif said that Cal Poly’s experience in the graphic arts, combined with the university’s other areas of expertise, provides an excellent backdrop for the program.

“Cal Poly is a public comprehensive polytechnic university that is well regarded for our learn-by-doing teaching strategies,” he said. “We have been active in graphic printing for more than 70 years. As a university committed to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics), we are well positioned with a variety of supporting departments.

“The Graphic Communication Department (GrC) is where the Printed Electronics and Functional Imaging program resides, but we draw on expertise from many disciplines,” Dr. Keif added. “While we work closely with electrical engineering, materials sciences, business and other programs, the primary focus will be on manufacturing and scalability, which is where our expertise lies in GrC. As a comprehensive university, we also explore how flexible electronics technologies and society interact. We think great design must accompany great technology. The program includes the scientific aspects of functional printing and also the creative components of innovative product design.”

Dr. Keif noted that the course has been under development for the past three years, and that Cal Poly has received a great deal of interest in the program.

“Going through all the steps required to introduce a new program in a public university requires a great deal of review and approvals,” he added. “It has been a long haul getting to this stage so we are excited now to actually get started. We are launching this September, and we hope to get a great response in this first course so that we can keep offering the program and grow with the industry on a long-term basis.”

For the most part, enrollment is available to individuals with a bachelor’s degree or equivalent; students fill out a brief online application and then contact Cal Poly’s extended education office to enroll in classes. There is no fee for the application, but courses range in price from $1,000 to $2,000 depending on the length of the course and the credit unit value. For more information, visit http://printedelectronics.calpoly.edu/certificate.