MS in Optical Sciences

Course Requirements:

There is no core curriculum for the MS degree and students are allowed considerable freedom in planning their study programs. The PhD core courses may form the nucleus of an MS program, but there is no requirement to take any of them. The MS 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 MS 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 MS 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. To be granted a waiver of one lab requirement students meet with the Associate Dean during their first semester.

Plan of Study:

The plan of study must be filed by the end of the second semester in residence. Transfer courses approved in advance by the Associate Dean are entered in the transfer section of the Plan of Study. Students must complete an Evaluation of Transfer Courses to be approved by the Associate Dean during 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.

Distance Classes

It is possible to complete a large portion of the MS requirements through distance learning. For more information about this option, please visit our Distance Classes web page.

Student Reference Manual for MS Program

The reference manual includes additional information, procedures, practices, and policies of both the College of Optical Sciences and the Graduate College.

Questions?

Please contact Gail Varin, Academic Advisor, at gail@optics.arizona.edu Ms. Varin's telephone number is 520-626-0888. Or, for calls inside the U.S. only, call our toll-free number 1-888-285-3415.