Programs - Optical Engineering

   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 thier 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 students to look at options for 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, continuously improve 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

1. Exhibit strong skills in problem solving, leadership, teamwork, and communication.

2. Use these skills to contribute to their community and globally.

3. Make thoughtful, well-informed choices in their projects and career.

4. Demonstrate commitment to continuous education (life long learners) of themselves and of others.

Core Educational Objectives

5. Be effective multi-disciplinary optical engineers/researchers.

6. Be educated in the principles of optical science and engineering necessary to understand optical systems.

7. 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.

8. Be able to communicate effectively in oral, written, and graphical forms as needed in a multidisciplinary team.

9. 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, 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 of 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

SUMMARY OF GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS FOR OPTICAL ENGINEERING

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, McInerney and Syed

Required Courses

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, Granieri, Joenathan, Lepkowicz, Siahmakoun, Wagner, F. Berry, and Black.

Required Courses

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

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 Physics and Optical Engineering)
Advisors: Optical Engineering faculty and ECE faculty

*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 Electrical and Computer Engineering office.

Optical Communications Certificate

Faculty advisors: B. Black, R. M. Bunch and S. Granieri

Rose-Hulman has become a leader in providing opportunities for students to choose a great mainstream degree program with flexibility to specialize in other areas of interest. This leadership is in no way limited to only traditional areas of study. One of these new areas that had a high impact in technology is optical communications. It is a rapidly growing field requiring investment beyond the traditional program structure, and is well suited to the students at Rose-Hulman All these topics are closely related to well established disciplines as optics and electronics. Considerable R&D efforts are allocated in both university and industrial laboratories enhancing the demand for both researchers and engineers with expertise in the field.

We propose the creation of a new certificate program in Optical Communications to enhance the programs currently offered. Combining expertise in Optical and Electrical Engineering, this program requires an interdisciplinary emphasis that is beyond the traditional content of either of its parent programs. This program is more than just the creation of the certificate program Optical Communications. This program will be critical to help developing a more interdisciplinary interaction for students and faculty. The creation of a workgroup within the faculty of both departments will coordinate current courses and resources, create new courses of interest for the field, and develop a showcase testbed education and research laboratory. Primary objectives include the removal of redundancy from existing courses, increasing interaction between the PHOE and ECE Departments, and improving opportunities for students in the field.

This certificate is designed to give the student a firm theoretical and practical working knowledge in the area of fiber optic devices, optical communications, networks and its applications. The main purpose is to couch these fundamentals in a context that serves as the backbone for device, components and sub-system development for use in high-speed optical data and information links and networks. At the end of the program the student will be expected to:

1. Understand the fundamental operation characteristics of high speed optoelectronic components, such as laser transmitters, light modulators and receivers and passive fiber optic components as connectors, couplers, filters, and switches.
2. Understand the technology and performance of analog and digital fiber optic links, optical amplification and optical wavelength division multiplexing and optical time division multiplexing networks.
3. Have a hands-on working knowledge of the use of fiber optic test equipment and techniques used by industry and telecommunication companies to test the performance of optical fiber links and components, such as, optical time domain reflectometry, optical spectrum analyzers and optical bit error testing equipment.

The Certificate will consist of 20 credit hours of which 12 credit hours will be required courses. Students interested in pursuing this Certificate should contact an ECE/PHOE certificate advisor (Professors Black, Bunch, and Granieri)

Required Courses

ECE 310 Communication Systems
OE 393 Fiber Optics and Applications
OE 493 Fundamentals of Optical Fiber Communications

Elective Courses (two from the list)
Only courses not required for the student’s major will count for electives in the certificate.

ECE 380 Discrete Time & Continuous Systems
ECE 410 Communication Networks
ECE 414 Wireless Systems
OE 360 Optical Materials and Opto-mechanics
OE 435 Biomedical Optics
OE 450 Laser Systems and Applications
OE 485 Electro-Optics and Applications