2003-2005
Undergraduate Bulletin  

Introduction to the College

Calendar

Campus and Accreditation

Student Life

Student Services

Admission to College

Costs and Financial Aid

Special Programs

Academic Regulations

Graduate Program

Programs of Study

Course Descriptions

Minors

Home

   

Contact

Timothy Prickel
Registrar
(812) 877- 8438

 

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 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
 

Freshman Year
Fall Term

Credit

MA
PH
CLSK
RH
EM
OE
111
111
100
13
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
111
120
 
 Physics II...............................
 Calculus II.............................
Ge Chem I .............................
Fundamentals of
   Software Development I...
  4
  5
  4

  4
     


17

       
Spring Term

Credit

PH
MA
CHEM
OE
EM
113
113
113
172
103
Physics III ............................
Calculus III............................
Gen Chem II..........................
Optics in Tech ......................
Intro Eng. Design ..................
  4
  5
  4
  2
  2


15 or 17*

Sophomore Year
Fall Term

Credit


PH
MA
PH ECE

235
221
292
361
Elective..................................
Many-Part Physics................
Diff Eq. I ................................
Physical Optics.....................
Eng. Practice .........................
  4
  4
  4
  4
  2
     


18*

       
Winter Term

Credit

ES
PH
MA
OE
203
255
222
280
Electrical Systems ................
 Fnd. of Mod. Phys. ...............
 Diff Eq. II...............................
 Paraxial Optics .....................
  3
  4
  4
  4
     


15

       
Spring Term

Credit


OE
SL
ECE
HSS
295
151
200
 Elective..................................
Optical Systems....................
  Prin of Econ ..........................
 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

HSS
PH
393


406
Fiber Opt & App ...................
Elective..................................
Elective..................................
SC Mat & Dev II ....................
  4
  4
  4
  4
     


16

       
Spring Term

Credit

OE

RH
OE
415

330
450
Opt Eng Des I........................
Elective..................................
 Technical Comm...................
 Laser Systems .......................
  4
  4
  4
  4
     


16

 
       
       
 
Senior Year
Fall Term

Credit

OE
OE
HSS
480
495
 
Lens Des & Abb ....................
Optical Metrology.................
Elective..................................
Elective..................................
  4
  4
  4
  4
     


16

       
Winter Term

Credit

OE
HSS

 
485


 
Electro-Opt. & App. ..............
Elective..................................
Elective..................................
Elective..................................
  4
  4
  4
  4
     


16

       
Spring Term

Credit


HSS
OE
 


416
Elective..................................
Elective..................................
Opt Eng Des II......................
Elective..................................
  4
  4
  4
  4
     


16

       
   

Total credits required:  193

     
 
 

*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

38

  Physics Coursework*

24

  Freshmen Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics Coursework** 43
  Humanities and Social Science (Standard requirement) 36
  Free Electives (24 must be technical electives, cannot include ECE 340) 32
  Miscellaneous*** 20
  Total 193
     
  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
  CHEM111 Gen. Chemistry I 4
  CHEM112 Gen. Chemistry II 4
  Total   43
       
  Miscellaneous and Engineering Classes  
  Course    
       
       
       


 Description Hours
CLSK100 College and Life Skills 1
EM104 Graphical Communication 2
CSSE120 Fundamentals of Software Development I 4
EM103 Intro. Eng. Design 2
or
ECE361 Eng. Practice 2
ES203 Electrical Systems 3
ECE200 Cir. & Systems 4
ECE300 Signals & Systems 4
Total 20

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 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 Description Hours
OE 280 Paraxial Optics 4
PH 292 Physical Optics 4
OE 295 Optical Systems 4
Plus at least two* courses from one of the areas listed below:

Lens Design Area
Course Description Hours
OE 415 Optical Engineering Design I 4
OE 416 Optical Engineering Design II 4
OE 480 Lens Design and Aberrations 4
OE 490 Directed Research 4

Photonics/Electro-optics Area
Course Description Hours
OE 415 Optical Engineering Design I 4
OE 416 Optical Engineering Design II 4
OE 450 Laser Systems and Applications 4
OE 485 Electro-optics and Applications 4
OE 490 Directed Research 4
OE 493 Fiber Optics and Applications 4

Image Processing Area
Course Description Hours
OE 415 Optical Engineering Design I 4
OE 416 Optical Engineering Design II 4
OE 490 Directed Research 4
PH437/ECE480 Introduction to Image Processing 4
PH537/ECE582 Advanced Image Processing 4
   
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 Description Hours
ES 203* Electrical Systems 4
ECE 200* Circuits and Systems 4
ECE 300 Signals and Systems 4
ECE 380 Discrete Time and Continuous Systems 4
ECE 310 Communication Systems 4
ECE 314 Wireless Systems 4

*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.