SemiAcademy micro-credential
Semiconductors in 90 Minutes
A short, plain-language briefing on what semiconductors are, how chips are made, how big the industry is and why it matters to your organization.
At a glance
- Time needed
- About 90 minutes, at your own pace
- Level
- Introductory
- Who it is for
- Leaders and administrators in education, industry and government, no technical background needed
- Prerequisites
- None. No technical background is needed.
- Format and what you need
- Online and self-paced, in one sitting or several; a web browser.
- Badge
- Semiconductors in 90 Minutes digital badge
What you will be able to do
- 1. Explain in plain language what a chip is, the main families of chips, how big the industry is, and why shrinking transistors drives it.
- 2. Describe the semiconductor value chain and its four business models, and explain why fabs are so costly and slow to build.
- 3. Identify the main chokepoints and explain what export controls and new fabs can and cannot achieve.
- 4. Tell apart authorized, obligated and disbursed funding, and announced, measured and projected jobs.
- 5. Ask the questions that matter before your organization commits money, programs or partnerships.
How the course is organized
- Start Here — Survey and Orientation
- Lesson 1 — What a Chip Is, and Why Everything Depends on One
- Lesson 2 — Who Makes Chips, and Why a Fab Costs $30 Billion
- Lesson 3 — Chokepoints, Geography and Export Controls
- Lesson 4 — Money, Cycles and People: What It Means for Your Organization
- Final Quiz
- Finish — Exit Survey and Your Badge
How to earn the badge
- Score at least 18 of 20 (90%) on the Final Quiz . Unlimited attempts; your highest score counts.
- Complete the exit survey .
- The four lesson checks open each next lesson. They are practice and do not count toward the standard.