A Welcome Message from Carl Maes

Welcome to the OSC — home of the world’s finest teaching programs in optics. Our B.S. in OSE, Graduate Certificate, M.S. in Optical Sciences and Ph.D. in Optical Sciences programs focus on providing students with a broad education in all areas of optics and on educating outstanding students with practical experience and highly competitive technical skills. We educate more students in optical sciences than any other institution in the U.S. Our graduates become professors, scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs; they work in academia, in government, in industry and in defense at national and international levels.

Dr. Carl Maes, Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Programs
Telephone: 520-626-8837 | E-mail: carl.maes@optics.arizona.edu

For Prospective Students

  • Admissions
    Application information for the Graduate Certificate, B.S. in OSE, M.S. in Optical Sciences, Ph.D. in Optical Sciences and Dual Degree programs
  • Scholarships
    Scholarships available at OSC
  • Classes
    A complete list of our optics classes
  • Students in the Spotlight
    A collection of recent accomplishments by our talented undergraduates and graduate students
  • Academic Programs Staff
    Meet the Academic Programs staff
  • Is Optics for Me?
    Information about the field of optics and the College of Optical Sciences

Academic Program Goals

Our students receive a broad education in the fundamentals of geometrical, physical, quantum and mathematical optics. Students can select from more than 90 specialized courses in optical sciences, including optical design, nonlinear optics, remote sensing, medical optics, image processing, integrated optics, optical data storage, optical detector systems and many others. Our very generous research budget enables students to do master's degree and doctoral research in a wide variety of subfields, ranging from basic optical physics to applied optical engineering. It also provides outstanding opportunities for baccalaureate degree students to gain practical experience by assisting with research projects and for graduate students to make meaningful contributions to cutting-edge research programs and gain valuable scientific and administrative experience while working toward their degrees.

Distance Learning

In addition to the Master of Science in Optical Sciences, Doctor of Philosophy in Optical Sciences and Master of Science in Optical Sciences and M.B.A. Dual Degree programs, our graduate offerings include two distance learning options. Our Professional Graduate Certificate in Optical Sciences program is a unique opportunity for post-baccalaureate students to earn professional certification and build a foundation toward a future M.S. in Optical Sciences degree. We continue to offer our very well-received M.S. distance learning program in which students can complete courses by video or satellite and, if they wish, transfer six or seven units from other institutions. The program is extremely flexible and can be completed entirely online.

Colloquium

Optics education is never confined to the classroom or research lab, and doesn't end at the Ph.D. Our alumni and all members of the optics and scientific communities are always welcome to join our students and faculty members at our Thursday afternoon Colloquium series. The series is a dynamic forum for the rapid and widespread interchange of ideas, techniques and research in all areas of optics. We schedule an impressive list of academic scholars and industry leaders to lead discussions and open the program to questions and comments. We also sponsor numerous seminars, special speakers and informal presentations open to the entire optics community as well as to colleagues and students on the University of Arizona campus.

K-12 Activities

Our pre-college outreach activities continue to bring the world of optics to youngsters of all ages and interests. Specially tailored programs include optics for nursery-schoolers, summer programs for grade-school and junior-high students, classes aimed at recruiting girls and young women into science and technology and guest lectures at grade schools, middle schools and high schools throughout Arizona.

Optics Professional Societies

Professional societies offer access to a variety of specialized resources including continuing education, publications, employment services and networking opportunities to individuals within the field. Optics professional societies actively recruit student members and may offer unique benefits to students in addition to the regular benefits accorded other members of the optics community.

The Optical Society (OSA) promotes the generation, application, archiving and worldwide dissemination of knowledge in optics and photonics.

SPIE serves the international technical community as the premier provider of education, information and resources covering optics, photonics and their applications.

It’s an exciting time for optics education at all levels. Please join us.