Doctor of Philosophy  in Optical Sciences

The number of units of graduate credit required for the PhD is not specified explicitly; the requirement is for the equivalent of six semesters of full-time study. The normal rule of thumb is that 72 units of graduate credit beyond the BS is required; of these 72 units, a minimum of 18 units of dissertation and 54 units of coursework with grades of B or higher is required. Of the 54 units of coursework, up to six units may be independent study.

All students must include at least two optics laboratory courses (defined as Optical Sciences courses with an “L” suffix) as part of their plan. At least one of the two labs must be a hands-on optics lab. 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 54 units. Students requesting a lab waiver must meet with the  Associate Dean during their first semester.

All PhD students must take at least one graduate course in each of eight topic areas.  The Comprehensive Examination will be based on the material in six of those core courses.

There is no specified maximum number of units a student may transfer; it depends on one’s background and chosen study program. Subject to department approval, as many as 12 to 18 units may be transferred (usually from math, physics, or engineering), but it may be more for some individuals and fewer for others.

Working together with their major professor, each student develops a written study plan. This plan must be filed with the department at the time the written portion of the comprehensive  examination is taken. Approved transfer courses are entered in the transfer section on the Plan of Study.

A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher is required for funding and to be eligible to graduate.

This exam is administered in the form of an interview with a faculty member during the student's first semester in residence.

Students may both major and minor in Optical Sciences, and they can save themselves a lot of trouble by doing so. This is not to say that they shouldn't take courses outside Optical Sciences; however, we are flexible enough that virtually all of the courses in an outside minor field (related to Optical Sciences) may be taken without formally selecting it as a minor. Consequently, students can effectively minor in an area without the pain and suffering that goes with it. The Associate Dean of Academic Programs can advise you if there is any question about whether a specific course is suitable for your degree program.

There is no language requirement for Optical Sciences students.

The comprehensive examination consists of a written examination followed by an oral examination. The written portion is administered near the beginning of the fall and spring semesters, and consists of two 3.5 hour exams covering material in the core courses. Upon passing the written examination, an oral examination is given later in the same semester. The examining committee consists of the student's dissertation advisor plus three or four additional professors chosen from other areas of optics. The comprehensive examination may only be taken by students in the PhD program who have passed a minimum of 32 units of graduate coursework (including transfer units from other institutions, but not including dissertation units).  Most students take this exam during their fifth or sixth semester in residence, although it may be taken earlier or later, depending on the circumstances. See the appropriate Optical Sciences and Graduate College documents for more details.

The dissertation examination is an oral examination administered by the student’s dissertation committee. This committee consists of the student's dissertation advisor plus two additional members nominated by the student in consultation with his or her advisor and approved by the Associate Dean of Academic Programs. Its purpose is to determine if the coursework and other studies undertaken by the student in their area of specialization has adequately prepared them for their proposed dissertation research. This examination is taken after the student has passed the written and oral comprehensive examinations and substantially completed their coursework. It typically lasts one to two hours. For most students, this will be near the end of their third year of full-time study, but it may not be later than one year prior to the completion of the dissertation and/or the student’s final oral dissertation defense. It is preferable that this examination be taken as near to the beginning of a student’s dissertation research as possible.

The “Advancement to Candidacy” form must be approved by the Graduate Degree Certification Office before scheduling the Final Oral Defense Examination. It may be submitted only after completion of the Oral Dissertation Examination, and the University requires that it not be submitted later than six months prior to the oral defense examination.

This examination is commonly referred to as a defense of the dissertation, although general questioning related to the field of optical sciences may naturally develop during the course of the exam. It is administered by the student’s dissertation committee. The dissertation committee is comprised of at least 3 tenure or tenure track faculty. If appropriate to the student’s dissertation research, one non tenure or tenure track faculty can be approved by Degree Certification. The time and place must be scheduled about two weeks in advance. It is open to the public. See the appropriate Optical Sciences and Graduate College documents for more details.

Degrees must be completed within five years of the student’s completion of his/her Oral Comprehensive Examination. The Graduate College will grant extensions to complete degrees only in exceptional circumstances and may require students to retake the Comprehensive Examination.

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 must complete An Evaluation of Transfer Credit for approval by the Associate Dean in their first semester.

PhD Student Reference Manual

The student reference manual conveys Optical Sciences practices and procedures in addition to degree completion requirements, deadlines and policies.