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Master’s Program

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  • Graduate Programs
  • Admission Requirements
  • Graduate Certificate Programs
  • Master’s Program
  • PhD Program
  • Fellowships
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Forms
  • Courses

Related Links:
  Graduate Catalog
  MS Student Handbook
  PhD Student Handbook

Checklists:
  Final Thesis Defense
  Research Report Defense

Degree Requirements

The MS degree offers 3 options: the Photonics track, the Optics track, and the general MS degree in Optics and Photonics. All options require 30 graduate credit hours as described in the table below. Detailed requirements are given in the Graduate Catalog.

Accelerated Program

The MS degree can be completed in 12 months by pursuing an accelerated schedule that involves taking 12 credit hours (4 courses) in fall, 12 in spring and 6 (two courses) in summer. Due to the accelerated schedule, it is recommended that students carry out a 3-credit hour research report in lieu of a thesis. Students must complete the same program requirements as listed for the Masters and/or Track programs.

Graduate Catalog

The Current Graduate Catalog contains all degree requirements and university policies regarding graduate education.
See Previous Years Graduate Catalogs.

MS Handbook

The MS handbook provides most details that students need to know to create their program of study and complete all requirements for the MS degree. If you do not find what you need in the handbook, please contact:

Office of Academic Programs
Tel: 407-823-6986
Email: gradprog@creol.ucf.edu

Previous Years Handbooks

Optics and Photonics - No Track

The Optics and Photonics MS program (No Track) requires a minimum of 30 credit hours. The program offers a thesis, nonthesis, and research report option. 18 credit hours must be formal optics (OSE prefix) courses.

Nonthesis Option

Core Courses: 9 Credit Hours

  • OSE 5115-Interference & Diffractions
  • OSE 6111-Optical Wave Propagation
  • OSE 5525-Laser Engineering OR OSE 6536 Semiconductor Lasers

Elective Courses: 21 Credit Hours 

A listing and description of courses offered by the College of Optics and Photonics is found in the Courses section.

Other courses with significant optics content may be accepted towards the Optics (OSE) course work requirement, upon approval by the Associate Dean.

Thesis Option

Core Courses: 9 Credit Hours

  • OSE 5115-Interference & Diffractions
  • OSE 6111-Optical Wave Propagation
  • OSE 5525-Laser Engineering OR OSE 6536 Semiconductor Lasers

Elective Courses: 15 Credit Hours 

A listing and description of courses offered by the College of Optics and Photonics is found in the Courses section.

Other courses with significant optics content may be accepted towards the Optics (OSE) course work requirement, upon approval by the Associate Dean.

Thesis Research Hours: 6 Credit Hours

  • OSE 6971-Master’s Thesis

An approved thesis committee must be on file PRIOR to enrolling in thesis hours.

Research Report Option

Core Courses: 9 Credit Hours

  • OSE 5115-Interference & Diffractions
  • OSE 6111-Optical Wave Propagation
  • OSE 5525-Laser Engineering OR OSE 6536 Semiconductor Lasers

Elective Courses: 18 Credit Hours 

A listing and description of courses offered by the College of Optics and Photonics is found in the Courses section.

Other courses with significant optics content may be accepted towards the Optics (OSE) course work requirement, upon approval by the Associate Dean.

Thesis Research Hours: 3 Credit Hours

  • OSE 6909-Research Report

An approved research report committee must be on file PRIOR to enrolling in research report hours.

Optics & Photonics-Optics Track

The Optics and Photonics MS program-Optics Track requires a minimum of 30 credit hours. This track offers a thesis and research report option. 18 credit hours must be formal optics (OSE prefix) courses.

Thesis Option

Core Courses: 18 Credit Hours

  • OSE 5115-Interference & Diffractions
  • OSE 6111-Optical Wave Propagation
  • OSE 5525-Laser Engineering
  • OSE 5203-Geometric Optics & Imaging Systems
  • OSE 6211-Imaging & Optical Systems
  • OSE 6265-Optical Systems Design

Elective Courses: 6 Credit Hours 

A listing and description of courses offered by the College of Optics and Photonics is found in the Courses section.

Other courses with significant optics content may be accepted towards the Optics (OSE) course work requirement, upon approval by the Associate Dean.

Thesis Research Hours: 6 Credit Hours

  • OSE 6971-Master’s Thesis

An approved thesis committee must be on file PRIOR to enrolling in thesis hours.

Research Report Options

Core Courses: 18 Credit Hours

  • OSE 5115-Interference & Diffractions
  • OSE 6111-Optical Wave Propagation
  • OSE 5525-Laser Engineering
  • OSE 5203-Geometric Optics & Imaging Systems
  • OSE 6211-Imaging & Optical Systems
  • OSE 6265-Optical Systems Design

Elective Courses: 9 Credit Hours 

A listing and description of courses offered by the College of Optics and Photonics is found in the Courses section.

Other courses with significant optics content may be accepted towards the Optics (OSE) course work requirement, upon approval by the Associate Dean.

Research Report Hours: 3 Credit Hours

  • OSE 6909-Research Report

An approved research report committee must be on file PRIOR to enrolling in research report hours.

Optics & Photonics-Photonics Track

The Optics and Photonics MS program-Photonics Track requires a minimum of 30 credit hours. This track offers a thesis and research report option. 18 credit hours must be formal optics (OSE prefix) courses.

Thesis Option

Core Courses: 18 Credit Hours

  • OSE 5115-Interference & Diffractions
  • OSE 6111-Optical Wave Propagation
  • OSE 5525-Laser Engineering OR OSE 6536 Semiconductor Lasers
  • OSE 5414-Fundamentals of Optoelectronic Devices
  • OSE 6474-Optical Communication Systems
  • OSE 6421-Integrated Photonics

Elective Courses: 6 Credit Hours 

A listing and description of courses offered by the College of Optics and Photonics is found in the Courses section.

Other courses with significant optics content may be accepted towards the Optics (OSE) course work requirement, upon approval by the Associate Dean.

Thesis Research Hours: 6 Credit Hours

  • OSE 6971-Master’s Thesis

An approved thesis committee must be on file PRIOR to enrolling in thesis hours.

Research Report Option

Core Courses: 18 Credit Hours

  • OSE 5115-Interference & Diffractions
  • OSE 6111-Optical Wave Propagation
  • OSE 5525-Laser Engineering OR OSE 6536 Semiconductor Lasers
  • OSE 5414-Fundamentals of Optoelectronic Devices
  • OSE 6474-Optical Communication Systems
  • OSE 6421-Integrated Photonics

Elective Courses: 9 Credit Hours 

A listing and description of courses offered by the College of Optics and Photonics is found in the Courses section.

Other courses with significant optics content may be accepted towards the Optics (OSE) course work requirement, upon approval by the Associate Dean.

Research Report Hours: 3 Credit Hours

  • OSE 6909-Research Report

An approved research report committee must be on file PRIOR to enrolling in research report hours.

Comparisons

Requirements
30 credit hours overall
(18 hours must be formal Optics coursework)
Optics & Photonics-No Track Optics Track Photonics Track
Core Courses OSE 6111 Optical Wave Propagation
OSE 5115 Interference & Diffraction
OSE 5525 Laser Engineering OR OSE 6536 Semiconductor Lasers
OSE 6111 Optical Wave Propagation
OSE 5115 Interference & Diffraction
OSE 5525 Laser Engineering
OSE 6111 Optical Wave Propagation
OSE 5115 Interference & Diffraction
OSE 5525 Laser Engineering OR OSE 6536 Semiconductor Lasers
Track Courses None Required OSE 5203 Geometrical Optics
OSE 6211 Imaging & Optical Systems
OSE 6265 Optical Systems Design
OSE 5414 Fundamentals of Optoelectronic Devices
OSE 6474 Fundamentals of Optical Fiber Communications
OSE 6421 Integrated Photonics
Electives Nonnthesis-21 hours
Thesis-15 hours
Research Report-18 hours
Nonthesis-18 hours
Thesis-6 hours
Research Report-9 hours
Nonthesis-18 hours
Thesis-6 hours
Research Report-9 hours
A listing and description of courses offered by the College of Optics and Photonics is found in the Courses section.
Research Hours Nonthesis-0 hours
Thesis-6 hours
Research Report-3 hours
Thesis-6 hours
Research Report-3 hours
Thesis-6 hours
Research Report-3 hours

CREOL, The College of Optics and Photonics

University of Central Florida
4304 Scorpius St.
P.O. Box 162700
Orlando, FL 32816-2700
(407)823-6800
creol@ucf.edu