Graduates of the program are recruited by companies like IBM Corp., Hewlett Packard Company, Nortel Networks and Raytheon Missile Systems, and succeed in a variety of careers, such as teaching, research and engineering. The OSC prepares students to enter these expanding fields by providing them with a strong educational program, a chance to participate in research activities, and an aggressive project internship and placement program. The OSC is home to more than 30 modern laboratories, encompassing all aspects of optical sciences, including optical data storage, lasers and advanced optical materials, fabrication and design, imaging and remote sensing, nanotechnology, semiconductor physics, quantum optics, medical optics, telecommunication, and optical engineering. The Center has engaged in many collaborative research projects, such as those involving adaptive optics and ophthalmic optics, with other University of Arizona departments and with industry. Research performed by the OSC faculty is documented by a variety of sources, including journal articles, books, conference proceedings and the department s quarterly publication, Oscillations.
Students learn at their own pace by scheduling video classes around family and work obligations.
The classes are taught by the same world-class faculty, which instructs the rest of the Center s students. Students can begin taking courses at their job site and maintain direct contact with their professors. As many as 15 units of Optical Sciences courses can be completed through the NTU program, and a degree may be completed with either a thesis or non-thesis option. The student must attend the University of Arizona for at least one semester after taking these courses in order to complete a residency requirement. For students or community members interested in learning more about the modern uses of optical sciences, the OSC offers a weekly colloquium series, hosted by University staff and regional professionals.