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Optical Sciences (MS)

As 1 of only 3 graduate programs in Optical Sciences in the U.S., the Wyant College of Optical Sciences can help you get on the path to an exciting, fulfilling career in Optical Engineering, Image Science, Photonics, Optical Physics or Optomechanical Engineering. A Master of Science in Optical Sciences prepares students to enter exciting and challenging careers in industry or to continue their educations in the Ph.D. program. Graduates become engineers, designers and technical managers. They work in hardware design, medical and biomedical technology, lasers and electro-optical systems, fiber optics and communications, measurements, manufacturing, and consumer technology. They work for large corporations, small companies, government agencies, universities, hospitals and research centers. Many even work for themselves, having started successful businesses or gone into consulting.

Generally, the average time to M.S. degree for full-time students is 2.5 years. Per Graduate College policy, the maximum amount of time for the completion of an M.S. 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), faculty research spanning everything from medical technologies, to communications, to space exploration, and over 50% of our courses offered as Online/Distance Learning courses, our Master of Science in Optical Sciences program offer students maximum flexibility in pursuing their goals:

Take classes part-time or full-time.
Enroll online or in-person, with the option to switch campus from semester to semester.
Complete a Master’s with 32-35 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;
Technical Writing track, with 35 units of coursework and a final oral exam over coursework.
Students currently employed in the Optics industry can complete a thesis working on a project with their company, through the Optical Sciences MS – Industrial Track program. This track is available to students who are interested in pursuing research toward an M.S. in collaboration with their company. under the supervision of an Optical Sciences faculty member.

Campus Information

Main/Tucson

Intakes

Application Processing Time in Days: 20

Minimum English Language Requirements

English Level Description	IELTS (1.0 -9.0)	TOEFL IBT (0-120)	TOEFL CBT (0-300)	PTE (10-90)
Expert	9	120	297-300	86-90
Very Good	8.5	115-119	280-293	83-86
Very Good	8	110-114	270-280	79-83
Good	7.5	102-109	253-267	73-79
Good	7	94-101	240-253	65-73
Competent	6.5	79-93	213-233	58-65
Competent	6	60-78	170-210	50-58
Modest	5.5	46-59	133-210	43-50
Modest	5	35-45	107-133	36-43
Limited	4	32-34	97-103	30-36
Extremely Limited	< 4	< 31	< 93	< 30

Job Opportunity Potential

Our mission at Student Engagement & Career Development (SECD) is to support you in your career journey. Your circumstances might require knowledge on specific programs and processes so make sure you meet with your coordinator in International Student Services as well as the International Student Career Coach.

Searching for employment in the United States can be especially challenging for international students, but developing a plan for your search can lead to success. Here are some tips and resources to help you along the way.

Start your career exploration and development early. LifeLab offers activities and trained staff to help you explore options. There are also opportunities for skill- building, and leadership development through our Design Thinking Challenge, Build the Skill, and Bluechip programs.
Use Handshake to find employment, events, and networking opportunities.
Recognize that networking will be very important to your search. Utilize your University of Arizona network through Handshake, Bear Down Network, and the alumni tool on LinkedIn.
Be prepared with professional looking documents. LifeLab is a great drop-in resource to get your resume started or reviewed. We can also help you with other career-related skills such as interviewing, job searching, online profiles and networking.
Look for internship opportunities early in your academic career. Not only will this help you build skills, but you’ll network in the process. Our Job Shadow Program is another great way to try out a career and network with a one-day job shadow.
The job or internship search is a process and takes time, planning, and the right information. The following resources provide information on potential sponsoring employers, occupational outlooks, and job opportunities. Plan out a strategy for your search and utilize as many resources as possible to create a list of employers to target in your search.

List of H1B Visa Reports – This list shows the top visa sponsors which can help you identify organizations that may be open to sponsorships. There is a job board as well as explanation of different types of work authorization & visas.

GoinGlobal – This site has career guides as well as job and internship postings all over the world. There is also an H1B database providing information on American employers interested in hiring international talent.

Inside Higher Ed – Job Tips for International Students – Article outlining advice for international students in the United States.

International Student – A variety of information from international student financial aid, visas & immigration, working in the U.S., international student blogs with discussion from other universities across the U.S, and more.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services – Site has a H-1B employer data hub listing employers who have employed temporary foreign workers.

Dreambridge Partners – Information on adapting to the U.S., job searching, academics and socializing as well as many links to professional and cultural associations, job websites, and networking.

United States Department of Labor – Answers to questions for workers & employers regarding certification and the Visa process.

Foreignborn – Overview of US Visa & Immigration including information on financial aid, how to send money abroad, work authorization and US Visa wait times and USCIS immigration processing times.

PSW Opportunity

3 years PSW

Admission Requirement / Eligibility Criteria

Proof of English proficiency is required for international applicants who hold citizenship from a country where English is not the official language.

Please check our English Requirement list to verify your need to submit an English proficiency test.

Individual departments may require higher scores than the Graduate College and all tests must be dated within 2 years of the enrollment term to be considered valid. The University of Arizona's institution code for sending official electronic score reports from ETS is 4832.

Acceptable English Proficiency Credentials:
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.

Special Requirements for Graduate Teaching Assistants
In order to be hired as a Graduate Teaching Assistant or Associate, an admitted student must meet a higher level of English proficiency than the minimum required for admission. International GTAs must meet at least the following requirements in order to serve in this capacity:

TOEFL IBT Speaking Section – score of 24
TOEFL PBT - those who took the revised test after 2017 will be asked to take a UA CESL test of speaking skills.
TOEFL Essentials Test Speaking Section - score of 11
IELTS -Speaking Section 7.5
CEPT - Speaking Section 44

The University of Arizona

Tucson , Arizona ,United States