Nanoscale, or atomic-level, studies currently dominate the future interests of national governments, financial institutions, multinational corporations, and leading academic institutions around the globe. A new Nanoscale Studies Initiative (NSI) at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University was created in part to connect its seven University academic units by means of an upper-level interdisciplinary elective course, Chemical Engineering (CHEN) 505 - Nanoscale Studies : The Societal Implication of Invention. This senior-level course was open to all Senior-level students at the University was first offered in the Spring 2006 Semester. This course exposed students from two academic disciplines, engineering and technology, in the interdisciplinary field of nanoscale studies. The course provided an overview of topics ranging from the technical to the philosophical in such fields as nanomedicine, nanoethics and public policy, nanobiotechnology, nanobusiness, nanomanufacturing and nanoeletronics.

CHEN 505 provided students a brief overview of technical topics in the pure and applied nanosciences. CHEN 505 students later explored how future inventions and economic opportunities at the nanoscale impacted the greater society in such fields as the social sciences, business, ethics, medicine, education and religion. Topics covered in this course included: Public Policy & Educational Implications of Nanotechnology; Ethical Issues & Unintended Consequences for Nanotechnology; Strategic Impacts on the Future of Nanobusiness & Economics; Challenges & Vision for Nanomedicine and Pharmaceutics; Social Acceptance & Socio-Economic Impacts of Nanotechnology; and Legal Implications & National Security Aspects. This paper will discuss the development and implementation of this new course.