Graduate Program

Degrees Offered

• Master of Science in Optical Science and Engineering (M.S.)
  Concentrations: Imaging Science; Optical Science; Photonics.
  
  
• Doctor of Philosophy in Optical Science and Engineering (Ph.D.)
  Concentrations: Imaging Science; Optical Science; Photonics.

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Master of Science in Optical Science and Engineering

• Concentrations: Imaging Science; Optical Science; Photonics.

Current research areas: Advanced materials, atom optics, biomedical optics, fiber optics, laser physics, lithography, nanostructures, nonlinear optics, optical imaging, optical sensors, optoelectronics, photonic integrated circuits, quantum optics, spectroscopy, and ultrafast phenomena.

The M.S. in Optical Science and Engineering degree program is designed with two distinct objectives: to prepare a student for the industrial workforce engaged in any area of optics and photonics, and to prepare a student to meet the challenges of a more advanced research career in these areas. The program has three alternate plans under which a student can begin to fulfill his or her career goals within a flexible curriculum. Plan I and Plan II-b are designed to launch the student on an industrial R&D career path. In particular, through its internship, Plan II-b allows for private companies, national/federal laboratories, and their contractors to partner with UNM in content areas in mutually beneficial ways by means of either a first look at potential recruits or a more interactive career advancement of their current employees. Plan II-a is a purely course-based option.

The Optical Science and Engineering (OSE) Program is jointly administered by the Department of Physics and Astronomy (PandA) and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE). This program features an internship option under which a student can apply qualified industrial/government laboratory research along with successfully completed course work toward the degree. Under Plan I (thesis based), a minimum of 24 credit hours of course work and 6 hours of thesis credit is required. Under Plan II-a (non-thesis, course-based), a minimum of 33 credit hours of course work, including 3 credit hours of research seminar (PHYC 500/501), at least 2 of which must be in Optics – or individual research/problems (PHYC 552/650, or ECE 551/651) is required. Under Plan II-b (internship-based), a minimum of 33 credit hours of course work - including 3-6 credit hours of internship (PHYC/ECE 559) - is required. Successful completion of an oral M.S. comprehensive examination is required under Plans II-a and II-b.

Under all plans the graduate course work offered for the degree must include Advanced Optics I (PHYC *463 or ECE *463), Experimental Techniques of Optics (PHYC *476L or *477L), Electrodynamics (PHYC 511 or the Foundations of Engineering Electromagnetics ECE 555/Engineering Electrodynamics *ECE 561 sequence). A concentration is required for the degree. All details must be discussed with a graduate advisor each semester.

Required Courses

Core Courses common to all Concentrations:

• PHYC *463 or ECE *463 - Advanced Optics I
• PHYC *476L or *477L - Experimental Techniques of Optics
• PHYC 511 - Electrodynamics or (ECE 555 - Foundations of Engineering Electromagnetics and ECE 561 - Engineering Electrodynamics)

Concentrations

Plus the following core courses depending on concentration:

• Imaging Science
  ECE 541 - Probability Theory and Stochastic Processes
  ECE 533 - Digital Image Processing

• Optical Science
  PHYC 554 or ECE 554 - Advanced Optics II
  PHYC *464 or ECE *464 - Laser Physics I

• Photonics
  ECE 570 - Optoelectronic Semiconductor Materials and Devices
  ECE *471 - Materials and Devices and ECE 572 - Semiconductor Physics

General Electives

More information, including possible choices of elective courses, is available at the Optical Science and Engineering program Web site.

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Doctor of Philosophy in Optical Science and Engineering

• Concentrations: Imaging Science; Optical Science; Photonics. 

Current research areas: Ultrafast optics and photonics, laser physics and engineering, optical imaging, quantum optics, optoelectronic devices, fiber lasers and amplifiers, optical communication, optical materials, optical lithography, nonlinear optics, integrated optics, quantum computing, bio-optics, nano-photonics, and laser cooling.

An extensive selection of optics courses is available to the student considering graduate studies in Optical Science and Engineering. Considerable interaction occurs with the Center for High Technology Materials and the optical research groups at the Air Force Research Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory and other organizations in Albuquerque. These facilities offer extensive opportunities for research work toward both the M.S. and the Ph.D. degrees.

The Doctor of Philosophy in Optical Science and Engineering requires a minimum of 52 credit hours of graduate work, exclusive of dissertation. Important: the total credit hours taken from Required courses and Elective courses should be 30 credit hours. A concentration is required for the degree.

Required Courses

Core Courses common to all Concentrations:

• PHYC *463 or ECE * 463 - Advanced Optics I
• PHYC *476L or *PHYC *477L - Experimental Techniques of Optics
• PHYC 511 - Electrodynamics or (ECE 555 - Foundations of Engineering Electromagnetics ECE 555 and ECE 561 - Engineering Electrodynamics)

Concentrations

Plus the following core courses depending on concentration:

• Imaging Science
  ECE 541 - Probability Theory and Stochastic Processes
  ECE 533 - Digital Image Processing
  3 credit hours of seminar, including one Optics seminar

• Optical Science
  PHYC 554 or ECE 554 - Advanced Optics II
  PHYC *464 or ECE *464 - Laser Physics I
  PHYC *466 or MATH *466 - Mathematical Methods in Science and Engineering
  PHYC 521 - Graduate Quantum Mechanics I
  PHYC 568 - Nonlinear Optics
  3 credit hours of seminar, including one Optics seminar

• Photonics
  ECE 570 - Optoelectronic Semiconductor Materials and Devices
  ECE *471 - Materials and Devices and ECE 572 - Semiconductor Physics
  3 credit hours of seminar, including one Optics seminar

General Electives

More information, including possible choices of elective courses, is available at the Optical Science and Engineering program Web site.

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