OPTIMS - Optical Sciences
College
James C. Wyant College of Optical Sciences
Career
Graduate
Program Description
As 1 of only 3 graduate programs in Optical Sciences in the U.S., the Wyant College of Optical Sciences can help you get on the path to an exciting, fulfilling career in Optical Engineering, Image Science, Photonics, Optical Physics or Optomechanical Engineering. A Master of Science in Optical Sciences prepares students to enter exciting and challenging careers in industry or to continue their educations in the Ph.D. program. Graduates become engineers, designers and technical managers. They work in hardware design, medical and biomedical technology, lasers and electro-optical systems, fiber optics and communications, measurements, manufacturing, and consumer technology. They work for large corporations, small companies, government agencies, universities, hospitals and research centers. Many even work for themselves, having started successful businesses or gone into consulting.
Generally, the average time to M.S. degree for full-time students is 2.5 years. Per Graduate College policy, the maximum amount of time for the completion of an M.S. in Optical Sciences is 6 years, however, extensions of time to degree beyond the 6 year limit are available to students who are enrolled part-time, or who must extend their graduation term beyond the 6-year limit for other reasons.
With over 80 courses taught by faculty who are leaders in the field (see our full course list), faculty research spanning everything from medical technologies, to communications, to space exploration, and over 50% of our courses offered as Online/Distance Learning courses, our Master of Science in Optical Sciences program offer students maximum flexibility in pursuing their goals:
- Take classes part-time or full-time.
- Enroll online or in-person, with the option to switch campus from semester to semester.
-
Complete a Master's with 32-35 units of enrollment, with thesis and non-thesis options:
- Thesis track, with a research project, thesis and final defense;
- MS Report track, with a smaller scope project, report and final defense;
- Technical Writing track, with 35 units of coursework and a final oral exam over coursework.
- Students currently employed in the Optics industry can complete a thesis working on a project with their company, through the Optical Sciences MS - Industrial Track program. This track is available to students who are interested in pursuing research toward an M.S. in collaboration with their company. under the supervision of an Optical Sciences faculty member.
Generally, the average time to M.S. degree for full-time students is 2.5 years. Per Graduate College policy, the maximum amount of time for the completion of an M.S. in Optical Sciences is 6 years, however, extensions of time to degree beyond the 6 year limit are available to students who are enrolled part-time, or who must extend their graduation term beyond the 6-year limit for other reasons.
With over 80 courses taught by faculty who are leaders in the field (see our full course list), faculty research spanning everything from medical technologies, to communications, to space exploration, and over 50% of our courses offered as Online/Distance Learning courses, our Master of Science in Optical Sciences program offer students maximum flexibility in pursuing their goals:
- Take classes part-time or full-time.
- Enroll online or in-person, with the option to switch campus from semester to semester.
-
Complete a Master's with 32-35 units of enrollment, with thesis and non-thesis options:
- Thesis track, with a research project, thesis and final defense;
- MS Report track, with a smaller scope project, report and final defense;
- Technical Writing track, with 35 units of coursework and a final oral exam over coursework.
- Students currently employed in the Optics industry can complete a thesis working on a project with their company, through the Optical Sciences MS - Industrial Track program. This track is available to students who are interested in pursuing research toward an M.S. in collaboration with their company. under the supervision of an Optical Sciences faculty member.