This minor provides students with the opportunity for additional study in optical sciences in order to build a secondary area of expertise in support of their major program. For example, the minor can be an important complement to studies in electrical and microelectronic engineering, the biological sciences, physics, chemistry, mathematics, technical photography, and various programs in the applied science and technology area. The department of physics and the Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science jointly offer the minor.

Optical science techniques are used in a variety of consumer products (e.g., digital cameras, CD players), communication technologies (optical fibers), medical imaging (infrared imaging), and the sciences (surveillance, remote sensing, and astronomical systems). There are many opportunities in industry and government laboratories for people with recognized expertise in optical science. To obtain a minor in optical sciences students must complete three core courses and two elective courses.

Core Courses—Students must complete one course in each of three fundamental areas of optical science:

Optical Principles—Choose one of the following:
1051-303 Geometrical Optics
1017-455 Physical Optics
0305-525 Optics for Microelectronic Engineering
1017-320 Principles of Optics

Sources of Electromagnetic Radiation—Choose one of the following:
1017-556 Laser Physics
0609-511 Laser Technology
1051-370 Radiometry

Detectors—Choose one of the following:
1051-465 Detectors
1051-528 Design and Fabrication of a Solid State Camera

Electives—Choose two of the following to provide specialization in any of the fundamental areas listed in the core*:
1017-455 Physical Optics
1017-314 Modern Physics I (or 1051-313 Interactions Between Light and Matter, or 1014-442 Quantum Chemistry)
1051-528 Design and Fabrication of a Solid State Camera†
1017-412 Electricity and Magnetism II (or 0301-474 Electromagnetic Fields II)
1017-555 Optical Physics II
1017-511 Experimental Optics (or 1008-311 Analytical Chemistry: Instrumental Analysis)
0305-564 Microlithography Systems (and 0305-574 Microlithography Systems Lab)
0301-625 Modern Photonic Devices and Systems (or 0609-554 Electronic Optical Devices)
0301-674 Fiber Optics: Theory and Coupling (or 0614-520 Fiber Optic Telecommunications Technology)

* Substitution of courses for both the required and elective selections is possible with the approval of the optical science minor adviser. Students considering this minor are strongly advised to discuss their plan of study with the minor adviser.

† Design and Fabrication of a Solid State Camera (1051-528) may be used as an elective if it has not been previously used as a core course.