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SUMMARY OF REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MS PROGRAM
IN OPTICAL SCIENCES
Course Requirements:
There is no core curriculum for the M.S. degree, and students are allowed considerable freedom in planning their study programs. The Ph.D. core courses may form the nucleus of an M.S. program, but there is no requirement to take any of them. The M.S. student may limit his/her coursework to only one area if he/she so chooses. Either of two options may be selected:
Thesis option. A minimum of 32 units of University of Arizona graduate credit with grades of B or better in optics or optics-related courses, including 8 units of 910 (thesis) and at least 2 units of optics laboratory courses (see below). Most graduate courses are 3 unit courses, so a typical student would take 8 or 9 academic courses and enroll for an additional 8 units of M.S. thesis credit. Up to 6 units of credit for appropriate graduate courses may be transferred from other universities with approval from the department. The 32 unit requirement may include up to 3 units of independent study.
Non-thesis option. A minimum of 35 units of University of Arizona graduate credit with grades of B or better in optics or optics-related courses is required, including at least 2 units of optics laboratory courses (see below). Up to 7 units of credit for appropriate graduate courses may be transferred from other universities with approval from the college. The student must demonstrate competence in written communication by successfully completing an appropriate graduate course in technical writing or by writing an acceptable Master's Report (for which 3 units of credit are received.) The 35 unit requirement may include up to 3 units of independent study.
All M.S. students must include at least two optics laboratory courses (defined as Optical Sciences courses with an “L” suffix) as part of their program of study. At least one of the two labs must be a hands-on optics laboratory course. Students who can demonstrate that they have previously had equivalent hands-on laboratory experience may request a waiver reducing the requirement to one optics laboratory course. Waiver of a lab requirement does not waive a unit requirement toward the total required units. Students requesting a lab waiver should obtain the Associate Dean’s approval during their first semester.
Plan of Study:
The plan of study must be filed by the end of the second semester in residence. Approved transfer courses are entered in the transfer section of the Plan of Study.
Transfer Courses:
With approval of the Associate Dean graduate work completed at another graduate-accredited institution may be transferred, provided these courses received a grade of A or B, are comparable to a UA course and were not used toward an undergraduate degree. Students should complete an Evaluation of Transfer Credit and meet with the Associate Dean before the end of their first semester.
Final Examination:
For students who select the thesis option, final examination is an oral exam based primarily on the content of the thesis. For those selecting the non-thesis option, this oral exam is normally based primarily on the subject matter of the courses taken; however, by mutual agreement between the student and the examination committee, the Master's Report can serve as the focus of the exam.
Time Limit:
Six years. Extensions of time to complete degrees will be granted by the Graduate College only in exceptional circumstances. If you are transferring units/credits, be aware that the 6 year time limit begins with the semester/year of your transfer units.