Overview

Optical engineers use lasers, lenses, spectrometers, and other light-manipulating systems to design equipment for consumer products, manufacturing, medicine, communications, space exploration, and quantum engineering.

The University of Arizona Wyant College of Optical Sciences is one of the premier educational and research institutions in optics and photonics worldwide. The Optical Sciences and Engineering program from The University of Arizona focuses on educating outstanding students with a broad foundation in all areas of optics and on providing practical experience and highly competitive technical skills.

Career Paths

Graduates are ready to work in optical design, optical fabrication and testing, lasers, optical detectors, optical instrumentation, and optical fiber communications, to name only a few career opportunities. Graduates are also ready to pursue higher degrees and an academic or research career spanning opportunities in medical research to astronomy research.

Optical engineers do research and development in medicine and the military, develop new optics for space telescopes, improve fiber optic systems, and design metamaterials with unique optical properties. The opportunities and range of careers is expansive – if you can think of it, there is an opportunity! The US median salary (2022 report) is $145,000 (for-profit), $104,500 (academic), and $130,000 (all). Starting median salary in the US is over $70,000, over $90,000 by year five, and $120,000 after ten years.

Programme Structure

Focus Areas:

Optics: upper-division optics courses to accommodate your interests
Optoelectronics: integration of optics and electronics technologies
Optical materials: study of optical materials, such as glass and semiconductors
Optomechanics: manufacture and packaging of optical systems to very high standards
Biomedical Optics: connection of optics to medical and biological sciences

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 48 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-01-13 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-11-01 00:00:00 , International
- Apply before 2026-11-03 00:00:00 , National
Starting 2027-08-24 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-04-01 00:00:00

Language

English

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IELTS

6.5

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Credits

120 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Tucson, United States

Disciplines

Bio & Biomedical Engineering Optometry View 360 other Bachelors in Bio & Biomedical Engineering in United States

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Academic requirements

GPA

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

105

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

6.5

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

Assured Admission for Residents & Non-Residents:

Rank in the top 25% of your graduating class, OR

Have a 3.0 unweighted GPA through your sixth semester in the core competency requirements

The University of Arizona admissions team welcomes students who don’t meet assured admission requirements and who will bring unique life experiences and personal achievements to our campus community.

There are a few things the admissions team takes into consideration for admission, such as:

Class rank
Strength of curriculum
Performance in curriculum
Grade point average in required core coursework

Optional materials (SAT/ACT scores, resumé, and personal statement)

Extracurricular Factors:

Leadership, service, work experience and extracurricular activities
Personal characteristics, attributes, and talents

The ability to benefit from and contribute to a diverse and challenging learning environment
Personal Statement: optional

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

43100 USD / year

≈ 43100 USD / year
Out-of-State

43100 USD / year

≈ 43100 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

13900 USD / year

≈ 13900 USD / year

Living costs

Tucson

United States

830 - 1140 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Bachelor's scholarship opportunities for Optical Sciences and Engineering.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

About

Overview

Career Paths

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

Tucson

Funding

Need help with your student visa?

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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