Whether You Start at Valencia College or the
University of Central Florida,
there is a Pathway for You in Photonics!
There are two ways to earn a Bachelor of Science in Photonic Science and Engineering.
Optical Engineers and Technicians are in demand and command high salaries.
Annual early career salaries for engineers typically start at $70K+, and Technicians at $47K+.
You have the choice! Start at UCF and complete the degree in 4 years, or attend Valencia College first and transfer to UCF later.
WHERE ARE YOU STARTING?
COMPLETE
Core Math, Physics, & Photonics Courses
+
General Education Courses
EARN
AS-STEM & AA Degrees
(64 credits)
TRANSFER
To UCF and CREOL
To Finish Advanced Courses
COMPLETE
Core Math, Physics, & Photonics Courses
+
General Education Courses
+
Advanced Photonics Courses
EARN
BS Degree in Photonic Science and Engineering
(128 credits including those from Valencia)
COURSES FOR THE 2024-2025 CATALOG YEAR
STARTING AT VALENCIA?
Earn an AS-STEM and AA-Degree with smaller classes and lower tuition. Transfer to UCF-CREOL to complete the Bachelor of Science in Photonic Science and Engineering. Spend 2 years at UCF, then complete the rest of the courses at UCF in an additional 3 years.
VALENCIA COLLEGE
ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE IN STEM (AS-STEM/AA) WITH PHOTONIC SCIENCE & ENGINEERING SPECIALIZATION
64 CREDITS / 2 YEARS
Complete the classes below plus 24 credits of General Education Courses (History, English, Humanities, etc.)
- CHM 1045C Chemistry w/ Qual. Anal. I (4)
- MAC 2311C Calculus w/ Anal. Geo. I (4)
- MAC 2312 Calculus w/ Anal. Geo. II (4)
- MAC 2313 Calculus w/ Anal. Geo. III (4)*
- MAP 2302 Differential Equations (3)
- PHY 2048C Physics w/ Calculus I with Lab (4)
- PHY 2049L Physics w/ Calculus II with Lab(4)
- EGS 2004C Linear Circuits (3)
- ETS 2215(L) Geometric Optics + Lab (4)
- ETS 2212(L) Found. of Photonics + Lab (4)
ELECTIVES: (Suggested to complete all of the following) (5 credits):
- EGS 1006C introduction to Engineering Profession (3)
- ETS 2210C Principles of Photonics (3)
- ETS 1211C Intro. to Photonics Engineering Design (1)
GENERAL EDUCATION PROGRAM (GEP) COURSES: (Suggestions) (24 credits):
Below is a sample set of courses that will satisfy all the GEP State and University Requirements like Gordon Rule, State Core, and Civic Literacy requirements. A complete set of courses can be found in the Valencia Catalog.
Area 1: Communications
- ENC 1101 English Composition I (GRW) (SC) (3)
- ENC 1102 English Comp. II (PR) (GRW) (3)
- SPC 1608 Fundamentals of Speech (3)
- SLS 1122 New Student Experience (3)
Area 2: Humanities
- HUM 1020 Encountering the Humanities (SC) (3)
- MUL 1010 Enjoyment of Music (GRW) (SC) (3)
Area 3: Mathematics
- Satisfied with MAC 1105C, MAC 1114, MAC 1140, or MAC 2311C
- Satisfied with unduplicated MAC 1105C, MAC 1114, MAC 1140, MAC 2311C, MAC 2312
Area 4: Science
- Satisfied with PHY 2048C above
- Satisfied with CHM 1045C above
Area 5: Social Sciences
- PSY 2012 General Psychology (SC) (3)
- AMH 2020 U.S. History: 1877-Present (GRW) (SC) (CL) (3)
TRANSFER TO UCF: (Add 64 credits and earn BSPSE Degree)
Earning the AS-STEM and AA degree at Valencia also satisfies GEP Requirements at UCF. If you started in Calculus I, you have the potential to transfer 67 credits from Valencia to UCF. Calculus prerequisite courses such as MAC 1140 Pre-Calculus, MAC 1114 Trigonometry, or MAC 1105C College Algebra are not counted toward the degree.
*At Valencia, 1 credit of MAC 2313 is used for the AS-STEM Specialization, and the remaining 3 credits will tranfer to UCF to be used in the BSPSE Degree.
CONTINUE WITH THESE CLASSES AT UCF: (51 credits)
- PHY 3101 Physics for Eng III (3)
- STA 3032 Prob. and Stat. for Eng. (3)
- EEL 3123C Linear Circuits II (3)
- EEL 3350 Semiconductor Devices I (3)
- EEE 3307C Electronics 1 (4)
- EEL 3552C Signal Analysis and Comm. (4)
- OSE 4830(L) Imaging & Display + Lab (4)
- PHZ 3150 Intro. to Numerical Comp. (3)
- OSE 4410(L) Optoelectronics + Lab (4)
- OSE 3053 EM Waves for Photonics (3)
- OSE 4520(L) Laser Engineering + Lab (4)
- OSE 4470(L) Fiber Optic Comm. + Lab (4)
- OSE 4930 Frontiers of Photonics (3)
- OSE 4951 Senior Design I (3)
- OSE 4952 Senior Design II (3)
ELECTIVES (In addition to the 5 credits earned at Valencia) (10 credits):
- 10 more elective credits in classes like Biophotonics, Introduction to Optical Design, Quantum Information Processing and much more.
STARTING AT UCF-CREOL?
If you are ready for Calculus I in your first semester, you can complete the degree in 4 years by starting at UCF. All credits earned Valencia toward the AS-STEM degree will count toward this major. After graduation you can start your career as a Photonics or Optical Engineer, or go to graduate school.
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN
PHOTONIC SCIENCE & ENGINEERING (BS-PSE)
128 CREDITS /4 YEARS
Complete the classes below plus 27 credits of General Education Courses (History, English, Humanities, etc.)
- CHM 2045C Chemistry w/ Qual. Anal. I or CHS 1440 Principles of Chemistry (4)
- MAC 2311C Calculus w/ Anal. Geo. I (4)
- MAC 2312 Calculus w/ Anal. Geo. II (4)
- MAC 2313 Calculus w/ Anal. Geo. III (4)
- MAP 2302 Differential Equations (3)
- PHY 2048(L) Physics w/ Calculus I + Lab (4)
- PHY 2049L Physics w/ Calculus II + Lab(4)
- EEL 3004C Linear Circuits (3)
- OSE 3200(L) Geometric Optics + Lab (4)
- OSE 3052(L) Found. of Photonics + Lab (4)
ADVANCED COURSEWORK (Complete all of the following) (51 credits):
- PHY 3101 Physics for Eng III (3)
- STA 3032 Prob. and Stat. for Eng. (3)
- EEL 3123C Linear Circuits II (3)
- EEL 3350 Semiconductor Devices I (3)
- EEE 3307C Electronics 1 (4)
- EEL 3552C Signal Analysis and Comm. (4)
- OSE 4830(L) Imaging & Display + Lab (4)
- PHZ 3150 Intro. to Numerical Comp. (3)
- OSE 4410(L) Optoelectronics + Lab (4)
- OSE 3053 EM Waves for Photonics (3)
- OSE 4520(L) Laser Engineering + Lab (4)
- OSE 4470(L) Fiber Optic Comm. + Lab (4)
- OSE 4930 Frontiers of Photonics (3)
- OSE 4951 Senior Design I (3)
- OSE 4952 Senior Design II (3)
ELECTIVES (12 credits):
- EGS 1006C Introduction to Engineering (1)(+)
- EGN 1007C Engineering Concepts and Methods (1)(+)
- OSE 2050 Intro. to Photonics Engineering Design (1)
- +9 more elective credits in classes like Biophotonics, Introduction to Optical Design, Quantum Information Processing and much more.
(+) Only students in first year can take these courses.
GENERAL EDUCATION PROGRAM (GEP) COURSES: (Suggestions) (27 credits):
Below is a sample set of courses that will satisfy all the GEP State and University Requirements like Gordon Rule, State Core, and Civic Literacy requirements. A complete set of courses can be found in the UCF Catalog.
Communication Foundation
- GEP 1: ENC 1101 English Composition I (GRW) (SC) (3)
- GEP 2: ENC 1102 English Comp. II (PR) (GRW) (3)
- GEP 3: COM 1000 Introduction to Communication (3)
Historical and Cultural Foundation
- GEP 4: HUM 2020 Encountering the Humanities (SC) (3)
- GEP 5: MUL 2010 Enjoyment of Music (GRW) (SC) (3)
- GEP 6: FIL 1000 Cinema Survey (3)
Mathematical Foundation
- GEP 7: Satisfied with MAC 2311C above
- GEP 8: Satisfied with STA 3032 above
Social Foundation
- GEP 9: PSY 2012 General Psychology (SC) (3)
- GEP 10: AMH 2020 U.S. History: 1877-Present (GRW) (SC) (CL) (3)
Science Foundation
- GEP 11: Satisfied with PHY 2048 above
- GEP 12: BSC 1005 Biological Principles (SC) (3)
Legend:
PR – course has prerequisites that must be completed.
GRW – Gordon Rule Writing Course (must complete 4)
GRM – Gordon Rule Math Course (must complete 2)
SC – State Course (must complete 5, with 1 from each Foundation)
CL – Civic Literacy (must also complete literacy exam)
(#) – Number of Credit Hours