Program Overview

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Optics and Photonics (MS)

The Master of Science in Optics and Photonics program is intended for students with a bachelor's degree in optics, electrical engineering, physics, or closely related fields. The program is interdisciplinary and combines optical science and engineering.

Program Overview

The College of Optics and Photonics offers an interdisciplinary graduate program in optical science and engineering leading to a Master of Science in Optics and Photonics. The college has grown rapidly and now has 55 faculty members and faculty with joint appointments, 41 research scientists, and 148 graduate students with research activities covering all aspects of optics, photonics, and lasers. Research expenditures are over $10 million annually, with over 20 percent of the funding coming from industrial partners, illustrating the effectiveness of the commitment to partnerships that is a foundational value of the COP.

Research Areas

Research activities cover all aspects of optics, photonics, and lasers, and the Center for Research and Education in Optics and Lasers (CREOL), the Florida Photonics Center of Excellence (FPCE), and the Townes Laser Institute (TLI) are integral parts of the College. Current research areas include:

• Linear and nonlinear guided-wave optics and devices
• High-speed photonic telecommunications
• Fiber optic fabrication
• Fiber optic communications
• Solid-state laser development
• Nonlinear optics
• Laser-induced damage
• Quantum-well optoelectronics
• Quantum optics
• Photonic information processing
• Infrared systems
• Optical diagnostics
• Optical system design
• Image analysis
• Virtual reality
• Medical imaging
• Diffractive optics
• Optical crystal growth and characterization
• High-intensity lasers
• X-ray optics
• EUV sources
• Optical glasses
• Laser materials processing
• Free-electron lasers
• Light matter interaction

Program Mission

The MS program is intended for students with a bachelor's degree in optics, electrical engineering, physics, or closely related fields. The program's mission is to:

• Provide the highest-quality education in optical science and engineering
• Conduct scholarly, fundamental, and applied research
• Aid in the development of Florida's and the nation's technology-based industries

Program Details

The Optics and Photonics MS may be completed fully online, although not all elective options or program prerequisites may be offered online. Newly admitted students choosing to complete this program exclusively via online classes may enroll with a reduction in campus-based fees.

Tuition Fees

• In-state tuition: $369.65 per credit hour
• Out-of-state tuition: $1,276.48 per credit hour

Program Tracks/Options

The program offers the following tracks/options:

• Masters Along the Way Track
• International Track
• Photonics
• Optics

Application Deadlines

The application deadlines are as follows:

• Spring: December 1 (Domestic), July 1 (International)
• Summer: April 1 (Domestic), November 1 (International)
• Fall: July 1 (Domestic), January 15 (International)

Program Prerequisites

A bachelor's degree in Optics, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or closely related fields is required. Students with degrees in related fields may be required to take undergraduate articulation courses determined by the program director on a case-by-case basis.

Degree Requirements

The degree requirements are as follows:

Required Core Courses

9 total credits, including:

• OSE6111 - Optical Wave Propagation (3 credits)
• At least one of the following:
  • OSE5041 - Introduction to Wave Optics (3 credits)
  • OSE6115 - Interference and Diffraction (3 credits)
• At least one of the following:
  • OSE6536 - Semiconductor Lasers (3 credits)
  • OSE5525 - Laser Engineering (3 credits)

Elective Courses

15 total credits from the following types of courses, with a listing and description of courses offered by the College of Optics and Photonics found in the "Courses" section.

Thesis/Nonthesis Option

6 total credits, with options for:

• Thesis: at least 6 credits of thesis research, with an oral exam based primarily on the topics of the thesis and course work.
• Nonthesis: an additional 6 credit hours of electives, with up to 3 credit hours of directed research or research report.

Independent Learning

0 total credits, with nonthesis students engaging in directed research or research report, and thesis students enrolling in 6 hours of thesis credits.

Comprehensive Examination

0 total credits, with an oral master's comprehensive examination based on the core courses, required as a graduation requirement for the MS degree in Optics and Photonics.

Grand Total Credits: 30

Financial Information

Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see the College of Graduate Studies Funding website.

Fellowship Information

Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students, with descriptions of university fellowships and application instructions found on the UCF Graduate Fellowships website.