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Program Details

Graduate Program: Optical Sciences (MS) – Quantum Information Science and Engineering

General Information

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Program/Degree
Optical Sciences (MS) – Quantum Information Science and Engineering  
Program Description

The Optical Sciences MS - Quantum Information Science and Engineering (QISE) subplan is a national model in QISE education, designed to train a transdisciplinary workforce -- spanning Engineering, Computer Science, Physics and Math -- while exposing students to the social, ethical, and legal implications of QI technology. The goal of the QISE emphasis is to develop an interdisciplinary quantum education plan for this growing area of study, to build up the quantum workforce. The curriculum will combine tailored courses in quantum mechanics, information theory, computer science, optics and materials, algorithms, and communications system engineering with experiential courses in law and social sciences, and laboratory courses.

The skills associated with the QISE program are in high demand with industry partners. Unique to the program is a balance across theoretical and hands-on experience, with opportunities to work with an array of quantum equipment. The emphasis includes a set of required courses, a set of elective courses (to include cross-listed clinical and experiential courses in law and social sciences) and laboratory courses.  Electives can be chosen in discussion with academic or research advisors, from courses not listed formally as part of this sub plan, as long as the student’s course plan adheres to the program objectives.

The MS in Optical Sciences – QISE subplan differs from our Optical Sciences MS program in that it requires 12 units of core courses, as well as 11-14 units of approved elective courses.  

Per Graduate College policy, the maximum amount of time for the completion of an MS in Optical Sciences is 6 years, however, extensions of time to degree beyond the 6 year limit are available to students who are enrolled part-time, or who must extend their graduation term beyond the 6-year limit for other reasons. 

With over 80 courses taught by faculty who are leaders in the field (see our full course list), and faculty research spanning everything from medical technologies, to communications, to space exploration, our Master of Science in Optical Sciences programs, including the QISE subplan, offer students the flexibility to

  • Take classes part-time or full-time.
  • Complete a Master’s with 32 units of enrollment, with thesis and non-thesis options:
    • Thesis track, with a research project, thesis and final defense;
    • MS Report track, with a smaller scope project, report and final defense.
 
Department/Academic Unit(s)

College of Optical Sciences

As the largest optical sciences program in the United States, the Wyant College of Optical Sciences is the world’s premier optical institute, with outstanding faculty members, an international student body, a challenging curriculum, pioneering research programs and close relationships with the optics industry. The research programs at OSC span the breadth of the optical sciences, from the big — polishing the telescope mirrors that explore the stars — to the small — applying optical nanotechnologies in quantum information, agriculture, energy generation, medicine and more. We encourage you to review the exciting research being conducted by our students and faculty.

We are unique in that nearly all research is sponsored: funded by contracts from industry and governmental agencies. Faculty members and their graduate students partner with scientists, researchers, engineers and administrators from industry, government and academia to conduct the cutting-edge research that powers the future of the world’s high-technology industries.  Read more about the work we do here in Dean Thomas L. Koch's welcome message.

 
College

James C. Wyant College of Optical Sciences

 
Campuses where offered

University of Arizona - Main - Tucson

Arizona Online - Online

 
Contacts
Admissions Contact
Jini M Kandyil
520-621-8418
Graduate Program Coordinator
Jini M Kandyil
520-621-8418
Director of Graduate Studies
Brian P Anderson
520-626-5825
Graduate College Degree Counselor
Kristi Davenport
520-626-1930
 
Tuition and Fees
Please refer to the UA Bursar's Office Tuition and Fees Calculator for up-to-date information about tuition and fees. 
Please refer to the UA Registrar's's Office Special Course Fees for up-to-date information about special course fees. 

Admissions Information

Admissions Requirements
  • 3.0 GPA
  • English Proficiency test scores for international students (see below for details)
  • 3 letters of recommendation
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Updated CV
  • Unofficial transcripts can be submitted with admission application, with official transcripts required upon admission.

Please visit our Admissions page for more information.

 
Standardized Tests

For International Students, acceptable English Proficiency credentials include:

  • Test of English as a Foreign Language(link is external) (TOEFL) - minimum score of 79 iBT (or 60 on the revised PBT with no section score lower than 15).  Individual MyBest scores must also be dated within 2 years of the enrollment term to be considered valid.
    • Note, for Master's programs, we also accept the TOEFL Essentials test with a minimum band score of 9.5. Individual programs may set higher English proficiency requirements, please contact your Graduate Program Coordinator if you have questions. The TOEFL Essentials Test is not an accepted test of English proficiency for doctoral programs. 
  • International English Language Testing System(link is external) (IELTS) - minimum composite score of 7, with no subject area below a 6
  • Pearson PTE Academic(link is external) - minimum score of 60
  • Graduate English Language Endorsement(link is external) from the Center for English as a Second Language (CESL)
  • CEPT Full Academic test (link is external)- offered by our Center for English as a Second Language (CESL), minimum Total score of 110.
 
Funding Opportunities

Students admitted to our Main Campus MS programs, who are residents of Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, or the Federal States of Micronesia, qualify for in-state tuition through the WRGP (Western Regional Graduate Program). 

Masters students have the opportunity to apply to open Research Assistantships and Teaching Assistantships. No funding is guaranteed for MS students. Please note that RA and TA positions are competitive and limited. M.S. students may also apply for optics scholarships for which they qualify.

For more information on tuition, funding, and scholarships, please visit our website: http://www.optics.arizona.edu/academics/funding.

 

 
Admissions Deadlines

At this time, the QISE subplan is offered only as a Main Campus program.  Admissions deadlines are as follows:

Domestic Applicants:

  • Fall: August 1
  • Spring: December 10

International Applicants:

  • Fall: July 1
  • Spring: October 15
 
International Conditional Admission

International applicants will not be considered for conditional admission by this program.

Other Information
The GRE Institution Code for The University of Arizona is 4832

Completion Requirements

Minimum Credit Units

32 

Core Coursework Requirements

The MS in Optical Sciences – QISE subplan can be completed with the completion of a Master's Thesis or Master's Report. Total units of coursework required (including required labs) for completion of the MS are as follows:

-      Master's Thesis: Total 32 units (26 units coursework + 6 units OPTI 910: Thesis), with thesis defense and submission of final approved thesis to the Graduate College. 

-      Master's Report: Total 32 units (29 units coursework + 3 units OPTI 909: Master's Report), with report defense and submission of final MS report to College of Optical Science. 

CORE COURSES - 12 UNITS, REQUIRED OF ALL QISE SUB-PLAN STUDENTS

  • OPTI 570: Quantum Mechanics (3)
  • OPTI 544: Foundations of Quantum Optics (3)
  • OPTI 646: Introduction to Quantum Information and Computation (3)
  • OPTI 560: Quantum Nanophotonics (3)
 
Elective Coursework

EMPHASIS ELECTIVES – 11 - 14 UNITS REQUIRED.  Thesis students must complete 11 units of elective courses, including a minimum of 2 units of lab courses.  Master’s Report students must complete 14 units of elective courses, including a minimum of 2 units of lab courses.  Approved elective courses include:

  • OPTI 501: Electromagnetic Waves (3)
  • OPTI 507: Solid State Optics (3)
  • OPTI 508: Probability and Statistics (3)
  • OPTI 509: Statistical Optics (3)
  • OPTI 510R: Photonics (3)
  • OPTI 511R: Optical Physics and Lasers (3)
  • OPTI 539A: From Photonics Innovation to Marketplace (3)
  • OPTI 553: Nonlinear Photonics (3)
  • OPTI 595B: Information in a Photon (3)
  • OPTI 600G: Laser Beams and Resonators (1)
  • OPTI 600K: Cavity Optomechanics I (1)
  • OPTI 600L: Cavity Optomechanics II (1)
  • ECE/OPTI 632: Advanced Optical Communication Systems (3)
  • OPTI 647: Photonic Quantum Information Processing (3)
  • ECE 501B: Linear Systems Theory (3)
  • ECE 503: Probability and Random Processes (3)
  • ECE 534: Advanced Topics in Optical and Electronic Materials (3)
  • ECE 535A: Digital Communications Systems I (3)
  • ECE 536A: Free-space Opt. Comm. Systems (3)
  • ECE 537: Digital Communications Systems II (3)
  • ECE 571L Fundamentals of Information and Network Security (3)
  • ECE 633: Q. Inf. Processing and Q. Error Correction (3)
  • ECE 635: Error Correction (3)
  • ECE 639: Detection and Estimation in Engineering Systems (3)
  • INFO 520: Ethical Issues in Information (3)
  • LAW 695: Special topics in the Law: The Past and Future Internet (3)

ELECTIVE LAB COURSES - AT LEAST TWO ELECTIVES MUST BE LAB COURSES. One lab can be waived for relevant industry experience (with approval by Assoc. Dean):

  • OPTI 511L: Lasers and Solid-State Devices (1)
  • OPTI 587L: Photonics Communications (1)
  • OPTI 571L: Optical Physics Computational (1)

 

 
Additional Requirements

Additional course units may include any technical OPTI course not listed above (up to 3 units allowed) or an OPTI 599: Independent Study enrollment (up to 3 units allowed).

 
Student Handbook

Please refer to the Graduate Student Handbook for students who are pursuing this program of study.

 

Persistent link: https://grad.arizona.edu/catalog/programinfo/OPTIMSQISE
Last revised 06 Jan 2023
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