Ph.D. Program Outline

Founded in 1929, The Institute of Optics offers extensive graduate coursework and research in a wide variety of areas of optical science and engineering.

For a complete list and description of our current course offerings, please click here.

Admission to the Ph.D. program is very competitive, with approximately 12 students admitted each year. The first-year coursework assumes no prior experience with Optics, but assumes a level of mathematical and scientific preparation consistent with a B.S. degree in Physics, Applied Physics, or Electrical Engineering. Brief descriptions of The Institute's faculty, their research interests, and their e-mail addresses can be found by selecting The Optics Faculty: Short Descriptions. The industrial job market is currently very strong. The academic job market is less strong, but still very good as many departments throughout the U.S. seek to add faculty with specialties in optics.

Graduate School Schedule of Charges

If interested in applying to the Optics Ph.D. Program, please click here.

Please contact us if you have questions regarding this information:

Graduate Admissions
The Institute of Optics
University of Rochester
Box 270186
Rochester, NY 14627-0186
Phone:+1 (585) 273-1155
Email: gradadmissions@optics.rochester.edu