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. |