Master of Science - Optics and Photonics

The M.S. Degree in Optics and Photonics is an interdisciplinary, cooperative program managed by the Optics Program Committee on behalf of the three participating departments: Physics, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Chemistry and Biochemistry. Students apply directly to the Optics and Photonics Graduate Program and are admitted through one of the participating departments, selected based on advisor affiliation and student interest.

The Optics and Photonics degree is distinct from the other graduate degrees offered by the participating departments because it requires interdisciplinary coursework involving at least two of the departments. The interdisciplinary program of study allows students to emphasize optics theory and applications in more depth than is possible through degrees in the traditional disciplines. Each optics student will be mentored by a graduate advisor from the faculty of one of the three participating departments, and a graduate supervisory committee made up of faculty from at least two of the three departments in the cooperative program.

The M.S. Plan A requires completion of an acceptable research-based Thesis describing independent research performed by the student with guidance from the advisor and graduate supervisory committee.  The Thesis involves considerable effort on the part of the student, and must generate results that are of sufficient quality and significance to be reported in a national or international conference paper or presentation. The Master's Thesis often serves as the basis for a peer-reviewed manuscript for an archival journal or book chapter. 

The Plan B program emphasizes coursework, but also includes preparation of a required Professional Paper.  The paper, prepared under the guidance of the student's advisor, covers a focused aspect of research, design, or engineering education.  The Professional Paper is generally not as comprehensive as the research Thesis required for the M.S. Degree Plan A, but it is desirable that the Plan B Professional Paper be of sufficient quality and scope to serve as the basis for a conference paper or presentation.