The following courses are being offered in the Electro-Optics Certificate Program. There are required courses which must be taken unless a student can show knowledge of similar material having been covered or taken elsewhere. The certificate is completed by taking additional electives from the lists below.

The required courses follow in sequence as indicated and are recommended as pre-requisites for later courses. This is flexible, however, and is at the discretion of the co-coordinator/instructor. There are two tracks, one providing a broad background in electro-optics while the other is focused more toward the fiber optics and communications disciplines and assumes a less mathematical background for incoming students.

Electro-Optics Track (Required Courses then 3 Electives):
17.200 Basic Geometrical Optics
17.300 Basic Physical Optics
17.376 Electromagnetic Theory I
17.479 Electro-Optics

Communications Track (Required Courses then 2 Electives):
17.201 Introduction to Fiber Optics
17.202 Introduction to Optical Systems
17.301 Math for Signal Processing
17.302 Wave Optics
17.479 Electro-Optics

Electives (Each course is 3 credits):
(* Indicates Recommended Electives)
17.415 Advanced Topics in Optical Engineering
17.447* Fiber Optic Networks
17.461 Lasers and Laser Systems
17.463 Biomedical Optics
17.464 Industrial Optics
17.465 Infrared Optical Systems
17.477 Electromagnetic Theory II
17.480 Electro-Optics Laboratory
17.481* Advanced Topics in Photonics

Course Descriptions

17.200 Basic Geometrical Optics
Geometrical imaging with optical elements, flux throughput, throughput relations, image quality considerations, applications of design concepts.
Prerequisite: Algebra and trigonometry background.
Credits: 3

17.201 Introduction to Fiber Optics
Advantages and disadvantages of fibers, fundamental properties and applications; types of fibers, optical properties of fibers; making fibers and special-purpose fibers, fiber lasers and amplifiers; cables, splices, connectors; light sources and transmitters, WDM and DWDM; receivers; repeaters, regenerators and optical amplifiers; passive and active optical components; fiber system measurements; fiber networks and standards; network design and power budgets; telecommunication networks; future trends.
Prerequisite: Algebra and trigonometry background.
Credits: 3

17.202 Introduction to Optical Systems
Introduction to basic optics and laser safety, Optical sources: black bodies, laser sources, brightness, bandwidth, LEDs, LDs, detectors, guiding, modulating and manipulating light.
Prerequisite: Algebra and trigonometry background.
Credits: 3

17.300 Basic Physical Optics
Diffraction optics, Gaussian beams, crystals and thin films, scanning systems, optical design practices.
Prerequisite: Assumes some calculus and 17.200 or instructor permission.
Credits: 3

17.301 Math for Signal Processing
This is an overview course on many topics in mathematics and does not attempt to cover the breadth and depth of each topic but rather attempts to cover pertinent aspects of each topic that should be familiar or at least learnable. Class goals: to serve as a refresher course on materials that students may have seen before, but have either forgotten or didn’t understand the first time around; to pique the student’s interest in taking a more formal mathematics course on subjects covered iin this course; to ascertain, in a physical sense, some understanding and justification on the material covered in this course; to find applications on the material covered specific to signal processing and photonics.
Prerequisite:
Credits: 3

17.302 Wave Optics
Beam focusing, imaging and wave optics, interference, filters, etalons, diffraction, scattering and coherence, polarization, reflections, index ellipsoid, anisotropic media, propagation in crystals, electro-optic effects. Material from 17.200 and 17.300.
Prerequisite: 17.301.
Credits: 3

17.376 Electromagnetic Theory I
This course examines waves and phasors, transmission lines as distributed circuits, Smith chart calculations, impedance matching, transients on transmission lines, vector analysis, electrostatics and capacitance, steady current flow in conductors and resistance, magnetostatics and inductance.
Prerequisite: 17.213, 17.214, 92.236.
Credits: 3

17.415 Advanced Topics in Optical Engineering
Examples include nonlinear optical devices and integrated optical circuitry.
Prerequisite:
Credits: 3

17.447 Fiber Optic Networks
Losses and dispersion in fibers, links, power budgets, dynamic range, optical amplifiers, single wavelength networks and standards, detectors, PIN, APD, performance, semiconductor lasers, modulation and stabilization, temperature effects, reliability, laser drivers, noise analysis, linearity, BER, eye pattern analysis.
Prerequisite: 17.301, 17.302, 17.479.
Credits: 3

17.461 Lasers and Laser Systems
Quantum concepts, resonator design, theory of lasers, power levels, Q switching and mode-locking, operation and performance of commonly used lasers, semiconductor lasers, applications.
Prerequisite: 17.479 or permission of instructor.
Credits: 3

17.463 Biomedical Optics
Interaction of laser radiation with tissue, laser safety and hazards, fiber delivery systems, laser catheters and endoscopes, optical biopsy, imaging through tissue, medical thermal imaging, optical fiber sensors, angioplasty, photochemotherapy, ophthalmology.
Prerequisite: 17.479 or permission of instructor.
Credits: 3

17.464 Industrial Optics
Optical inspection, interferometry, laser inspection, thermal inspection, acoustic inspection, X-ray inspection, image processing, automated inspection processes; theme running through course could be device and board level inspection.
Prerequisite: 17.479 or permission of instructor.
Credits: 3

17.465 Infrared Optical Systems
Sources, backgrounds, and detector types, IR signature calibration procedures, signature characterization and camouflage, optical design for the infrared and IR imaging, performance and components of IR systems, testing of IR detectors and subsystems; infrared imaging system testing; minimum resolvable and detectable temperatures, infrared focal plan arrays, performance analysis, infrared transmitting fiber optics.
Prerequisite:
Credits: 3

17.477 Electromagnetic Theory II
Review of Maxwell's equations. The wave equation for free space propagation. Concept of a time varying electromagnetic field. Sinusoidal plane waves. Plane waves in dielectric and conductive media. Poynting's vector, depth and penetration, force and radiation pressure, reflection of EM waves from perfect conductors, dielectrics, and multiple dielectrics. Quarter wave and half-wave matching, polarization, Brewster's angle, and surface waves. Introductory concepts in guided electromagnetic waves including transmission lines, waveguides, and antennas from the viewpoint of Maxwell's equations.
Prerequisite: 17.376 and 92.234.
Credits: 3

17.479 Electro-Optics
Optical radiation, lasers, light modulators, detectors, fiber optic elements and systems.
Prerequisite: 17.300 or permission of instructor.
Credits: 3

17.480 Electro-Optics Laboratory
Basic imaging experiments, diffraction experiments, introduction to use of lasers, modulators and detectors, optical systems design using Lens Design software, optical fibers.
Prerequisite: 17.479 or instructor permission.
Credits: 2
Special Notes: Confers 3.0 contact hours

17.481 Advanced Topics in Photonics
Nonlinear effects in fibers, fiber gratings, dispersion and soliton links, SHG and frequency mixing, optical mixing, parametric amplification and stimulated Brillouin scattering, WDM, multiplexers, nonlinear effects and passive optical networks, RF photonics and electroabsorption modulators, micro-optical electromechanical machines (e.g. Lucent Lambdo router)
Prerequisite: 17.479.
Credits: 3

Certificate Requirements

Students enrolled in UMass Lowell certificate programs must complete the indicated series of certificate program courses, generally consisting of both required courses and electives. Students may complete the certificate programs at their own pace, enrolling in one or two courses per semester (which is the average recommended course load). Students should anticipate at least two hours of preparation for every hour of classroom instruction and they are required to maintain a grade point average of 2.0 or better to receive the certificate.

Courses held on campus typically meet one night per week, three hours each night, for 14 weeks during the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters (Summer courses are also offered over two 6-week condensed sessions). Call for a course bulletin or check our website course listings for specific course scheduling information.

Application into the Program
Those who wish to enroll in a certificate program should submit a completed application form and arrange to have their official high school transcript or GED sent to Continuing Studies and Corporate Education. Applications, transcripts, and other correspondence should be sent to: University of Massachusetts Lowell, Admissions/Continuing Studies and Corporate Education, Dugan Hall, Room 110, 883 Broadway Street, Lowell, MA 01854-5104. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and there is no fee to apply. Upon acceptance, notification will be sent to students.

Registering for Courses
Continuing Studies and Corporate Education offers courses during the Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer. Information about current course offerings, schedules, and registration procedures is published regularly on our website at http://continuinged.uml.edu. If you would like to receive a printed Course Bulletin, please contact our Faculty and Student Support Center at (978) 934-2474.

You may take courses without being officially enrolled in a certificate or degree program, but you must meet the particular course prerequisites. Registrations are accepted on a first come, first served basis. Class size is limited. We recommend that you register early to reserve your place in class.

Transfer Policy
With the program coordinator's approval, one course may be transferred from another accredited institution to satisfy certificate program requirements. The course should be equivalent to UMass Lowell instruction, applicable to the intended program, and the student must have received a grade equivalent to a C- (1.70 on a 4.00 scale) or better.

Academic Advising
Program coordinators and general Faculty and Student Support Specialists are available by appointment to help students determine appropriate course loads, discuss admission requirements, and review the transferability of courses. To schedule an appointment with a program coordinator or Faculty and Student Support Specialist, please call Continuing Studies and Corporate Education at (978) 934-2480 or (978) 934-2474. General walk-in advising is available Monday through Thursday from 8:30am-8:00pm and Friday from 8:30am-5:00pm at the Continuing Studies Faculty and Student Support Center located in Southwick Hall, Room 202 on North Campus. For online advising, email our Faculty and Student Support Specialists at Continuing_Education@uml.edu.

Awarding of Certificates
Upon successful completion of the certificate program, students must submit a completed Certificate Petition Form to Continuing Studies and Corporate Education. Upon verification, students will be mailed their certificates. Receipt of the certificate will be noted formally on the student's transcript with an award date of October, February, or June.

Tuition
Please refer to our website course listings or our current printed course bulletin for the latest information on tuition and fees.

For More Information
For additional information on any of our programs, call Continuing Studies and Corporate Education at (978) 934-2480 or email Continuing_Education@uml.edu.

For information on Financial Aid, call the University's Financial Aid Office at (978) 934-4220.