About the Program
While our electro-optics program is in the School of Engineering, it lies at the intersection between science and engineering. We feature faculty contribution from the School of Engineering as well as the College of Arts and Sciences. And as a part of the University of Dayton's electro-optics program, you'll continue to shape the evolving face of technology.
UD's electro-optics graduate program began in 1983. We're one of only seven electro-optics programs in the U.S., and, by committing to electro-optics early, we've become a leader in this technology and closely collaborate with government and industry.
These professional partnerships ensure that facilities don't get any better than those available to our students. We have 20 dedicated, state-of-the-art electro-optics laboratories on campus. And our strong ties to the largest Air Force research and development facility and the University of Dayton Research Institute — which conducts over $70 million in annual sponsored research — give our students additional, unparalleled research opportunities to match the challenge of our courses. In 2007, UD worked with the U.S. Air Force and regional businesses to launch the Ladar and Optical Communications Institute on campus, believed to be the nation's first laser radar curriculum.
As a student in our 30 semester-hour master's degree program, you can expect hands-on training in three optics labs, a significant choice of electives that reflect the diverse backgrounds of our students, and the opportunity to compete for graduate co-op research jobs at the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, in addition to the opportunities with local companies or through the state of Ohio. Our master's degree candidates are encouraged to finish their programs with a thesis.
The typical Ph.D. program is 60 semester hours beyond the master's requirements. And as a Ph.D. candidate, you'll choose advanced electro-optics courses from a diverse menu of topics.
Research opportunities for both M.S. and Ph.D. candidates are available from individual faculty members, the University of Dayton Research Institute and the Air Force Research Laboratory. We have the full support of industry, the state of Ohio and the federal government in our mission to educate engineers and scientists for the optics industry, and we continually improve and add electro-optics courses in response to the needs of our optics community.
As a UD electro-optics graduate, you'll provide the leadership and expertise necessary to guide the future of the optics industry.
