MS Application Deadlines

Application deadlines for Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 MS programs are as follows:

Fall 2024:
Domestic Students:  August 1, 2024 (On-Campus & Online)
International Students: July 1, 2024 (On-Campus) / August 1, 2024 (Online)

Spring 2025:
Domestic Students:  December 10, 2024 (On-Campus & Online)
International Students: October 15, 2024 (On-Campus) / December 10, 2024 (Online)

Additional information about applying to our MS program can be found on our College website.  

MS Programs F.A.Q. 

What is the difference between the thesis, report and technical writing options?

• Thesis option: Students completing a thesis must complete a total of 32 units, including 24 units of coursework (including 2  labs), plus 8 units of OPTI 910: Thesis.  Students must complete a defense/final oral exam based primarily on the content of the thesis.    However, the QISE subplan requires 26 units of coursework and 6 units of thesis credits.

• Master’s Report option: Students completing an MS Report must complete 35 units, including 32 units of coursework (including 2 labs), plus 3 units of OPTI 909: Masters Report.  Students must complete a defense/final oral exam that typically covers the content of the report.   However, the QISE subplan requires 29 units of coursework and 3 units of report credits.

• Technical Writing MS option: Students completing a coursework-only MS must complete 35 units, including 32 units of coursework (including 2 labs), plus 3 units of OPTI 597B: Technical Writing and Communication.  Students must complete a final oral exam over the subject matter of their OPTI courses.  This option is not available with the QISE or Optomechanical Engineering subplans.

What are the funding options for MS students?

• Master's students are not guaranteed funding, however, MS students are welcome to apply for funding/ Graduate Assistantship opportunities in the college once they are in the MS program. Note that these positions are very competitive and limited.  For Research Assistant (RA) positions, students must contact professors individually to see if they have any openings for an RA position, but should only do so after formally accepting admission.  For more information about our college's research specialties and related faculty, visit https://www.optics.arizona.edu/research/research-specialties.   Optical Sciences also maintains a small number of internal scholarships that are awarded annually to on campus students.  Application takes place each spring semester for the next academic year.   These and additional funding sources are identified on our Scholarships webpage. 

Is it possible for MS students to transfer into the PhD program?

• MS students may apply to the PhD program, although admission is highly competitive and there is no guarantee of admission to the PhD program upon completion of an MS. 

Is it possible to get an MS degree through the Distance Learning program, taking all courses online?

• It is possible to get an MS degree by completing all courses online.  A list of all Optical Sciences courses that are available online is given on our College website.  We currently offer 5 courses online that will satisfy lab requirements.   Students also have the option to submit a Lab Waiver request to waive one lab course based on prior or current equivalent hands-on laboratory experience, such as working an an optics company. 

What are the course requirements for MS students?

• The M.S. in Optical Sciences program has no required core curriculum.  Available coursework that can be used  toward the completion of an MS can be found on our College website.    but students are not required to strictly follow this list. If a student has been approved for a sub-plan (e.g. Optomechanical Engineering or QISE), specific coursework must be completed to fulfill sub-plan curriculum requirements.

What are the costs for being in the MS program on campus or through Distance Learning?

• The cost of attendance differs for Main Campus and Online programs, and depends on the number of units of enrollment.  An estimated cost of attendance for full-time graduate students in Main Campus programs can be found at https://financialaid.arizona.edu/cost/graduate-professional; however, students who intend to pursue part-time enrollment can calculate costs based on enrollment for Online programs at https://online.arizona.edu/cost-and-aid/tuition and Main Campus programs at https://tuitioncalculator.fso.arizona.edu/#/. 

• Tuition rates for on-campus students depend on residency.   Tuition is lowest for Arizona residents and residents of UA western states through the Western Regional Graduate Program: https://grad.arizona.edu/funding/opportunities/western-regional-graduate-program.  

Is there an option to apply to and join the Optomechanical Engineering or Quantum Information MS sublans as a Distance Learning/Online student?

• Yes.  You can also apply to the general MS as an online student, and easily switch into one of the subplans anytime.  We will soon open up applications for an online option for the QISE subplan, and an online application for the Optomechanical Engineering MS subplan is  already available.  

Can I switch from Online to Main Campus courses (or vice versa) or enroll in a combination of Online and Main Campus courses?

• Students can switch from the Online Campus to Main Campus, or vice versa, from semester to semester, but may not enroll in a combination of Online or Main Campus courses within the same semester.  MS students seeking to change campus can do so at the beginning of the semester by requesting the change through the Graduate Coordinator (Jini Kandyil, jini@optics.arizona.edu), who will submit a Change of Campus Request.  Once the Change of Campus Request is approved, students may enroll in courses appropriate to that campus.

What is the industrial-track MS (iMS) program?

• In the iMS program, a distance-learning MS student, working at a company on an optics-related project, can utilize work done for the company as the thesis project.  In all cases, the student and company must each agree to work with each other under terms that must be negotiated between them, and not all iMS requests can be accommodated.  Various options are available.  

MS via Distance Learning / Arizona Online F.A.Q.

I haven't completed the prerequisites listed on the syllabus. Can I still enroll in the course?

Technically, yes, in most cases. While the prerequisites are strongly recommended, nothing in the system prevents you from enrolling in most courses, and you may have industry or previous course work to satisfy the prerequisite. If you have any uncertainty whether or not your previous experience or coursework has prepared you to take the course, you are urged to communicate with the professor about your experience and background and ask for their opinion about your enrollment in the course.   It is ultimately the complete responsibility of the student to ensure that they have the appropriate background for every course taken.

Does distance learning mean I will not interact with other students or faculty?

No. Students talk to and develop rapport with instructors and even fellow classmates through email, D2L discussion boards, chatrooms and telephone calls. Recently, the Discord app has been frequently used by OSC graduate students (local and remote) to discuss coursework.  You may also communicate with your teaching assistant. Some courses have live recitation sessions that encourage your participation, and these may involve using Zoom for instance. You will also be given the choice to share your email address with other distance students that are taking the same course.

How are distance classes delivered?

The lectures will be available electronically, and are posted to UA’s D2L web site using the Panopto tool. You will use your UA Net ID to access the D2L site. The lectures are posted to the Web immediately after they are taught, and will be available to view anytime throughout the entire semester.   Videos cannot be downloaded, and D2L course access is removed once the semester is over.

If the syllabus includes giving a presentation, how do distance students meet this requirement?

It depends on the course. Sometimes distance students give the presentation to peers, who return an evaluation form to the professor. Some use Windows Live and give their presentation as a PowerPoint. In certain circumstances, a distance student is assigned to a group of on-campus students and will be responsible for research instead of giving a presentation.  The course instructor will let you know what is needed for a given course.

What academic advising is available for students taking distance classes?

Through email and telephone communication, distance students will communicate with the graduate student academic adviser for most questions, particularly involving academic requirements.  For questions regarding course suggestions, the Associate Dean for Graduate Academic Affairs may be consulted.

I registered for an optics distance class. Now what do I do?

After you have enrolled in a distance learning course and about a week prior to the start of the semester, you will be sent an email welcoming you to the distance learning program. The email will include all the information you need to complete your course.

Do I need to purchase textbooks?

You are responsible for purchasing any textbooks and class notes the professor requires for the course. The professor will let you know where to purchase notes should that be a requirement. Textbooks can be purchased through a variety of sources, including the UA BookStore.

Are there special software/hardware requirements to take optics distance classes? Do I need to download a special program?

Some courses do require special software, but you will be given access and will not have to purchase software.

How do I submit assignments/homework?

After your registration is complete and before classes begin, you will receive an email with detailed information about homework submission.

How do I complete exams?

For most courses, students need to choose a proctor for exams. Exams will be emailed to the proctor with all instructions included. The exam proctor could be an HR person or supervisor at your company, or a local librarian, but the proctor may not be a co-worker or subordinate.

How long does it take to complete a master's degree by distance?

The M.S. in Optical Sciences degree program is limited by UA to six years. It takes approximately two years to obtain a master's degree classes are taken full-time, but at the rate of one course per semester, it is going to take much longer. If you have previous graduate level course approved to count toward your M.S. degree, the actual start date begins with the semester of approved transfer courses. If you near the six-year time limit, you can submit a petition to the UA Graduate College for an extension of time to complete your degree. Speak with the graduate academic advisor for more information and details.  The time limit is typically not a problem for most students. 

Given the distance, how do remote students find a faculty advisor or know which faculty to contact?

Distance students are encouraged to review the faculty areas of research expertise and propose a thesis or report topic to a particular faculty member, and ask if the faculty member would be willing to supervise the thesis or report work and serve as the chair of the MS committee.

What are the different tracks for completing the general MS?

There are 3 tracks to complete the general MS, and each track is available to distance students:

- MS Thesis: Total 32 units, which consists of 24 units coursework + 8 units OPTI 910: Thesis, with thesis defense and thesis submission to the Graduate College.  A Master’s Thesis is a summary of an original research project that the student has conducted during the graduate program, and that necessarily involves an original contribution to the field of optics.  The written thesis will discuss the research along with the results of the study. Research may be conducted in a UA lab or externally.  Working professionals may want to consider completing the Optical Sciences MS Thesis-Industrial Track MS (iMS) program.  This track is available to students who are employed with optics-related companies and are interested in pursuing research toward an MS in collaboration with their company. In this program, you can complete a thesis while working on a project with your company under the supervision of a company employee, along with an Optical Sciences faculty member who will guide you on academic requirements as well as thesis completion.

- MS Report: Total 35 units, which consists of 32 units coursework + 3 units OPTI 909: Master's Report, with report defense and submission of report to College of Optical Sciences.  A  Master’s Report is typically  a literature review in which the student selects a topic in optics, collects data from scholarly papers, and summarizes the collected information into a final report. The report does not require the student to conduct their own research and report final results, though some MS Reports will incorporate some work or original research that a student has done.

- Technical Writing: Total 35 units, which consists of 35 units coursework, including 3 units of OPTI 597B, with final oral exam over coursework.  A student must select the MS committee chair, who will typically help the student select two additional committee members.  All three committee members are typically Optical Sciences faculty members. 

Can I switch from the Certificate to MS program, or complete both?

Students who are currently earning or have completed a Graduate Certificate and then wish to pursue the MS degree may apply graduate credits earned toward a Certificate to the MS degree program.  Admission to the MS program will require the submission of a new application for admission.  You may choose to complete both the Certificate and MS, or discontinue the Certificate and complete the MS, upon admission to the MS program.

What courses should I take?

The MS and Certificate programs do not have a set curriculum (outside of the 2 lab course requirement for the MS program), so you may choose any of the OPTI 500-level or above classes that interest you from the list of Distance Learning courses.  However, please note that there are some restrictions on coursework that can be applied towards your degree.

How do I complete the lab requirement (2 lab courses) as a distance MS student?  Which lab courses are available to me?

Two lab enrollments are required for the MS degree.  We currently have 5 online lab offerings (OPTI 586L, OPTI 512L, OPTI 569L, OPTI 571L, and a new lab focused on COMSOL training to be offered in Spring 2034).  Students can also request to waive one of the lab requirements on the basis of optics lab experience at work or elsewhere.  Only one lab course may be waived.  Please note that waiver of a lab course does not reduce the overall number of coursework units required for your MS, and that the waived lab unit must be replaced by other coursework.

What courses would you recommend to students who are concerned about prerequisites?

Some Distance Learning courses that are good options for students concerned about prerequisites are:

-        OPTI 501: Electromagnetic Waves (Fall).  Particularly good for students interested in photonics, optical physics and light-matter interaction, polarization, optics of materials.  This course very mathematically challenging and is not normally taken by, nor recommended for, students focusing on the optical engineering side of optics, particularly as a first course.  

-        OPTI 502: Optical Design and Instrumentation (Fall).  Particularly good for students interested in optical engineering, optical system design.  This is a prereq for many other optical engineering courses.

-        OPTI 503A: Mathematical Methods for Optics and Photonics (Spring).  Particularly good for students interested in photonics, optical physics and light-matter interaction, math methods.

-        OPTI 506: Radiometry, Sources, & Detectors (Fall)

-        OPTI 508: Probability and Statistics in Optics (Spring)

-        OPTI 511R: Optical Physics & Lasers (Spring).  Particularly good for students who are interested in optical physics and lasers, quantum information (for students who have not had any prior quantum mechanics experience), physics of materials and semiconductors.

-        OPTI 512R: Linear Systems, Fourier Transforms (Fall).  Particularly good for students interested in diffraction and interferometry, holography, and the treatment of light as a wave as it propagates through optical systems.  Prereq to various courses, including OPTI 505R and OPTI 512L (co-req).

-        OPTI 539A: From Photonics Innovation to the Marketplace (Spring)

-        OPTI 570: Quantum Mechanics (Fall).  Suitable for students who have had a prior course in quantum mechanics.  Particularly good for students interested in optical physics, quantum information, quantum optics.  This course very mathematically challenging and is not normally taken by, nor recommended for, students without prior quantum mechanics experience.

-        OPTI 595A: Current Subjects in Optics (Fall and Spring).  Colloquium-based course.

-        OPTI 595B: Information in a Photon (Spring).  Particularly good for students who are interested in quantum information and who have some introductory understanding of quantum mechanics.

-        OPTI 604: Advanced Mathematical Methods for Optics (Fall).  (not currentely offered.)  Particularly good for students interested in image sciences, medical imaging, mathematical methods, diffraction and interferometry, holography, and the treatment of light as a wave as it propagates through optical systems.  Serves as an alternative prereq to OPTI 505R and OPTI 512L.

Can I apply non-Optical Sciences or non-UA courses toward my degree/certificate?

Up to 6 units of non-Optical Sciences or non-UA courses can be applied toward the MS, and up to 3 units of non-Optical Sciences or non-UA courses can be applied toward the Certificate, upon approval of these courses for inclusion by the Associate Dean for Graduate Academic Affairs.  Please forward the course information to the Graduate Academic Advisor for preapproval prior to enrollment.  Please note that no undergraduate level courses can be counted toward your MS/Certificate.

What funding is available to me as a distance student?

University funding for Online students is limited.  Teaching Assistantships are not available to Online students, and although Research Assistantships are possible, they are often difficult to secure.  Many of our Online students are able to obtain tuition assistance from their employers or through scholarships.  You may want to check out the Resources for Finding Funding at the Office of Fellowships and Community Engagement website at https://grad.arizona.edu/ofce/resources-finding-funding to help identify scholarship opportunities available to Online students, should you choose that option.

Is it possible for me to take some in-person courses during my program?

You can switch between main and online campus for any given semester, although you cannot mix Main Campus and Online Campus courses within a semester.  If you are interested in switching to or from Main Campus for a semester (or longer), please contact the Graduate Academic Advisor, who can submit a Campus Change Request for you.  Please note that applicants who are residents of Alaska, Arizona, California , Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming may qualify for WICHE/WRGP instate tuition rate upon their first semester of switching to Main Campus.