Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology-Catalog

   The science of light, once confined to research labs and science fiction novels, has found its way into our everyday lives. The applications of optics can be seen everywhere. A list of more common examples of these applications include laser printers, fiber optic communication, internet switches, fiber optic telephone lines, compact disc players, credit cards bearing holograms, grocery checkout scanners, computers, and eye surgery. The field of optics is an enabling technology and is growing at a rapid pace. Optical techniques are found in a wide range of areas such as surveying and construction, measurements of material parameters and deformation, flow measurements, communications, machine vision, laser cutting, drilling and welding, data storage, internet switches, optical computers, and sensors etc. Surveys show that there is a growing demand for optical designers/scientists/ engineers every year. Opportunities for graduates in Optical Engineering are available in many industries, including automated inspection, consumer electronics, fiber optic communications, optical instrumentation, laser devices, radar systems, data storage etc.
   The Optical Engineering bachelor’s degree program is one of the few in the country. This program provides a firm foundation for those interested in continuing studies in optics at the graduate level, as well as for those going into industry. The curriculum was developed by the faculty with input from industrial representatives as well as from renowned national and international optics educators. Because of the diverse applications of optics, the curriculum contains a mix of courses in physics and mathematics as well as humanities and social sciences. The Optical Engineering program at Rose-Hulman stresses laboratory instruction. We also encourage that students look at options to do a double major, especially Optical Engineering with electrical, computer or mechanical engineering.
   Students majoring in degree programs other than Optical Engineering are eligible to obtain an area minor in Optical Engineering.
   The Department of Physics and Optical Engineering also offers an M.S. (Optical Engineering) degree. The masters level degree program complements the B.S. (Optical Engineering) degree program. Highly motivated students may obtain both a B.S. and an M.S. in Optical Engineering in a five-year period. A plan of study for this program must be approved by the end of the student’s junior year.

You may view all information regarding Physics and Optical Engineering at our web site: http://www.rose-hulman.edu/phoe

Optical Engineering Program Educational Objectives and Outcomes

Mission: To provide a coherent foundation of physics for all students and a strong foundation of physics, engineering physics and optical engineering for our majors so that all students can acquire education appropriate to their majors. In the engineering disciplines of optical engineering and engineering physics enable students to practice in their dynamic and progressive engineering professional careers with responsibility to society.

Vision: To cultivate a sense of responsibility, independence, and instill knowledge that allows the students to be fully engaged in all disciplines, improve continuously the curriculum through assessment, and be engaged in professional development.

The educational objectives of the optical engineering program are to prepare students to:

General Educational Objectives

Exhibit strong skills in problem solving, leadership, teamwork, and communication.
Use these skills to contribute to their community and globally.
Make thoughtful, well-informed choices in their projects and career.
Demonstrate commitment to continuous education (life long learners) of themselves and of others.

Core Educational Objectives

Be effective multi-disciplinary optical engineers/researchers.
Be educated in the principles of optical science and engineering necessary to understand optical systems.
Be able to use optical engineering and engineering tools that will allow them to design, build, and test systems that will incorporate optics as an enabling technology.
Be able to communicate effectively in oral, written, and graphical forms as needed in a multidisciplinary team.
Be aware of the impact of their work in local and global environment, society, and human heritage.

By the time students graduate with an optical engineering degree from Rose-Hulman, they will demonstrate:

Knowledge of the Fundamentals: An understanding of the fundamentals of science and engineering.
Interpreting Data: Ability to interpret graphical, numerical, and textual data.
System Level Modeling: Ability to model components and system optical engineering problems.
Experimentation: Ability to design and conduct experiments to understand the relationships between variables in a problem which may or may not have been mathematically modeled before.
Design: Ability to design a product or process to satisfy client's needs subject to constraints.
Team work and Deliverables: Ability to work in multi-disciplinary teams and understand the effective team dynamics and be able to deliver a product.
Problem Solving: Ability to apply relevant scientific and engineering principles to solve real world optical engineering problems.
Professional Practice and Ethics: A sound understanding what an optics professional is and have an awareness and understanding of professional ethics.
Communication: Ability to communicate effectively in oral, written and visual forms.
Contemporary issues, non-technical issues, global awareness: An awareness of contemporary and non-technical issues in engineering profession and the role of professionals in an interdependent global society.
Life Long Learning: A facility for independent learning and continued professional development.

OPTICAL ENGINEERING

Freshman Year
Fall Term		Credit
MA PH CLSK RH EM OE	111 111 100 131 104 171	Calculus I .............................. Physics I................................ College and Life Skills ......... Rhetoric and Composition ... Graph Comm......................... Holography & Photog ........	5 4 1 4 2 2
16 or 18*

Winter Term		Credit
PH MA CHEM CSSE	112 112 201 120	Physics II............................... Calculus II............................. Engineering Chem I ........ Fundamentals of Software Development I...	4 5 4 4
			17

Spring Term		Credit
PH MA CHEM OE EM	113 113 202 172 103	Physics III ............................ Calculus III............................ Engineering Chem II........ Optics in Tech ...................... Intro Eng. Design ..................	4 5 4 2 2
15 or 17*

Sophomore Year
Fall Term		Credit
MA SL PH MA PH	223 151 235 221 292	Engineering Statistics or Principles of Economics....... Many-Part Physics................ Differential Equations I........ Physical Optics.....................	4 4 4 4
			16*

Winter Term		Credit
ES PH MA OE	203 255 222 280	Electrical Systems ................ Fnd. of Mod. Phys. .............. Differential Equations II....... Paraxial Optics ......................	4 4 4 4
			16

Spring Term		Credit
HSS OE SL MA ECE	295 151 223 200	Elective.................................. Optical Systems.................... Principles of Economics or Engineering Statistics........... Circ. & Systems.....................	4 4 4 4
			16

Junior Year
Fall Term		Credit
PH HSS PH ECE	316 405 300	Elec & Mag Fields................. Elective.................................. S.C. Mat & Dev I .................. Sig. & Systems ......................	4 4 4 4
			16

Winter Term		Credit
OE PH HSS RH	393 406 330	Fiber Opt & App ................... Free Elective............................ SC Mat & Dev II .................... Elective or Technical Communications..	4 4 4 4
			16

Spring Term		Credit
OE HSS RH OE	415 330 450	Opt Eng Des I........................ Technical Elective................ Elective or Technical Communications.. Laser Systems .......................	4 4 4 4
			16

Senior Year
Fall Term		Credit
OE OE HSS OE	480 495 416	Lens Des & Abb .................... Optical Metrology................. Elective................................... Opt Eng Des II........................	4 4 4 4
			16

Winter Term		Credit
OE HSS OE	485 417	Electro-Opt. & App. .............. Elective................................... Engineering Elective............. Opt Eng Des III.......................	4 4 4 4
			16

Spring Term		Credit
HSS		Engineering Elective............ Elective.................................. Technical Elective............... Free Elective.........................	4 4 4 4
			16

		Total credits required: 194

*Only one of OE171 or OE172 is required for graduation. If not taken during the freshman or sophomore year, the requirement must be replaced with a 300 or 400-level OE course of at least 2 credits. Students need to take either EM 103 or ECE 361.

SUMMARY OF GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS FOR OPTICAL ENGINEERING

1.	All the courses listed above by the number.
2.	The program must be approved by the advisor.
3.	A technical elective is any RHIT course in chemistry, computer science, engineering, life sciences, mathematics, or physics

	Classes by subjects		Hours
	Optics Coursework		42
	Physics Coursework*		24
	Freshmen Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics Coursework**		47
	Humanities and Social Science (Standard requirement)		36
	Electives (8 credits must be technical electives, 8 credits engineering electives, and 8 credits of free electives; cannot include ECE 340)		24
	Miscellaneous***		21
	Total		194

	Physics Classes
	Course	Description	Hours
	PH235	Many particle physics	4
	PH255	Foundations of Modern Physics	4
	PH292	Physical Optics	4
	PH316	Elec & Mag Fields	4
	PH405	Semiconductor Materials & Devices I	4
	PH406	Semiconductor Materials & Devices II	4
	Total		24

	Freshman Physics, Math and Chemistry Classes
	Course	Description	Hours
	PH111	Physics I	4
	PH112	Physics II	4
	PH113	Physics III	4
	MA111	Calculus I	5
	MA112	Calculus II	5
	MA113	Calculus III	5
	MA221	Diff. Eq. I	4
	MA222	Diff, Eq. II	4
	MA223	Engineering Statistics	4
	CHEM201	Engineering Chemistry I	4
	CHEM202	Engineering Chemistry II	4
	Total		47

	Miscellaneous and Engineering Classes
	Course	Description	Hours
	CLSK 100	College and Life Skills	1
	EM 104	Graphical Communication	2
	CSSE 120	Fundamentals of Software Development I	4
	EM 103 or ECE 361	Introduction to Design or Engineering Practice	2
	ES 203	Electrical Systems	4
	ECE 200	Circuits & Systems	4
	ECE 300	Signals & Systems	4
	Total		21

Area Minor
The course requirements and advisors for Area Minors in Optical Engineering, Solid State Physics/Materials Science, and Electronics are listed below. Successful completion of an Area Minor is indicated on the student’s grade transcript. A student interested in pursuing an Area Minor should consult with the appropriate advisor.

Area Minor in Astronomy
(Eligibility: students in any major degree program)
Advisors: Drs. Ditteon, Duree, Kirkpatrick, and Syed

Required Courses

Course	Hours	Course Description
PH 230	4	Introduction to Astronomy and Astrophysics
PH 240	4	Planetary Science and Cosmology
PH 310	2	Introduction to Relativity
PH 322	4	Celestial Mechanics
Plus four hours of:
PH 270	2	Special Topics in Physics
PH 290	2	Directed Research
PH 460	4	Directed Study
PH 470	4	Special Topics in Physics
PH 490	4	Directed Research

The optional courses must be on a topic approved by one of the astronomy advisors.

Area Minor in Optical Engineering
(Eligibility: students in any degree program, except programs where Optical Engineering is designated as one of the majors.)
Advisors: Drs. Bunch, Ditteon, Duree, Joenathan, Siahmakoun, Wagner, Berry, and Ferguson.

Required Courses

Course	Hours	Course Description
OE 280	4	Paraxial Optics
PH 292	4	Physical Optics
OE 295	4	Optical Systems

Plus at least two courses from one of the areas listed below:

Course	Hours	Course Description
PH 437/ECE 480	4	Introduction to Image Processing
OE 393	4	Fiber Optics and Applications
OE 450	4	Laser Systems and Applications
OE 480	4	Lens Design and Aberrations
OE 485	4	Electro-optics and Applications
OE 490	4	Directed Research (4 credits only)
OE 495	4	Optical Metrology

In order to have the area minor posted to your transcripts you must submit an area-minor completion form to the registrar. Forms are available in the Physics and Optical Engineering department office.

Also see Certificate Program in Semiconductor Materials and Devices

Area Minor in ECE: (Eligibility: Only students in Optical Engineering)
Advisors: Optical Engineering faculty and ECE faculty

Course	Hours	Course Description
ES 203*	4	Electrical Systems
ECE 200*	4	Circuits and Systems
ECE 300	4	Signals and Systems
ECE 310	4	Communication Systems
ECE 314	4	Wireless Systems
ECE 380	4	Discrete Time and Continuous Systems

*required courses

In order to have the area minor posted to your transcript you must submit an area-minor completion form to the registrar. Forms are available in the Physics and Optical Engineering office.