Master’s Program in Optics and Photonics
Orlando, USA
DURATION
1350 up to 1500 Hours
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Aug 2025
TUITION FEES
USD 370 / per credit *
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning, On-Campus
* in State - out of State: $ 1,194.05
Introduction
The MS degree offers 3 options: the Photonics concentration, the Optics concentration, and the general Optics and Photonics degree. All options require 30 graduate credit hours as described in the table below. Detailed requirements are given in the Graduate Catalog.
With a fully online option now available, our M.S. in Optics and Photonics is a flexible degree designed for students with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, physics, mechanical engineering or related fields. Taught by world-renowned experts at UCF’s College of Optics and Photonics, the program offers students an in-depth curriculum that covers topics including electromagnetics, physical optics, lasers, optoelectronics, fiber optics, imaging, and more.
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Admissions
Curriculum
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.
Optics and Photonics - General Track
The Optics and Photonics MS program (General Track) requires a minimum of 30 credit hours. The program offers a thesis, nonthesis, and optional research report. 18 credit hours must be formal optics (OSE prefix) courses.
For nonthesis options, an oral master’s comprehensive examination based on the core courses (OSE 5115 Interference, Diffraction & Coherence, OSE 6111 Optical Wave Propagation, and OSE 5525 Laser Engineering) must be passed as a graduation requirement for the MS degree in Optics and Photonics. Students will be required to take this exam within one semester after completing the core courses.
Optics & Photonics - Optics Concentration
The Optics and Photonics MS program-Optics Track requires a minimum of 30 credit hours. This track offers a nonthesis, thesis, and optional research report option. 18 credit hours must be formal optics (OSE prefix) courses.
For nonthesis options, an oral master’s comprehensive examination based on the core courses (OSE 5115 Interference, Diffraction & Coherence, OSE 6111 Optical Wave Propagation, and OSE 5525 Laser Engineering) must be passed as a graduation requirement for the MS degree in Optics and Photonics. Students will be required to take this exam within one semester after completing the core courses.
Optics & Photonics - Photonics Concentration
The Optics and Photonics MS program-Photonics Track requires a minimum of 30 credit hours. This track offers a nonthesis, thesis, and optional research report option. 18 credit hours must be formal optics (OSE prefix) courses.
For nonthesis options, an oral master’s comprehensive examination based on the core courses (OSE 5115 Interference, Diffraction & Coherence, OSE 6111 Optical Wave Propagation, and OSE 5525 Laser Engineering) must be passed as a graduation requirement for the MS degree in Optics and Photonics. Students will be required to take this exam within one semester after completing the core courses.
Comparisons
| Optics & Photonics Master's Program Requirements 30 credit hours overall (18 hours must be formal Optics coursework) | |||
| General | Optics Concentration | Photonics Concentration | |
| Core Courses | 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 | Nonthesis-21 hours Thesis-15 hours Research Report-18 hours | Nonthesis-12 hours Thesis-6 hours Research Report-9 hours | Nonthesis-12 hours Thesis-6 hours Research Report-9 hours |
| Thesis-6 hours Research Report-3 hours |
Rankings
US News and World Report Ranks CREOL / UCF at #20 in Best Global Universities for Optics (#7 in USA)
English Language Requirements
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