Timeline – Fall Start
| Course | Title | Credits | Counts As |
| OPTI 8101 | Mathematical Methods of Optical Science & Engineering | 3 | Core |
| OPTI 8102 | Principles of Geometrical Optics | 3 | Core |
| OPTI 8102L | Geometrical Optics Lab | 1 | Core |
| OPTI 8105 | Optical Properties of Materials | 3 | Core |
| OPTI 8610 | Seminar | 1 | Program Requirement |
| GRAD 8990 | Academic Integrity | 0 | Grad School Requirement |
| 11 | Total Credits |
| Course | Title | Credits | Counts As |
| OPTI 8103 | Light Sources and Detectors | 3 | Core |
| OPTI 8104 | Electromagnetic Waves | 3 | Core |
| OPTI 8106 | Principles of Physical Optics | 3 | Core |
| OPTI 8106L | Physical Optics Lab | 2 | Core |
| OPTI 8611 | Graduate Colloquium | 1 | Yearly Requirement |
| | | 12 | Total Credits |
| Course | Title | Credits | Counts As |
| OPTI 8107 | Responsible Conduct of Research | 2 | Grad School Requirement/OPTI Elective |
| OPTI 8241 | Optical System Function and Design | 3 | OPTI Elective |
| OPTI 8611 | Graduate Colloquium | 1 | Yearly Requirement |
| Elective | 3 | Additional Elective | |
| | | 9 | Total Credits |
| Milestones |
| Take the Qualifying Exam |
| Select a Dissertation Advisor and complete the Dissertation Advisor form |
| Complete the Plan of Study form |
| Course | Title | Credits | Counts As |
| OPTI 8206 | Physical Optics Design and Simulation | 3 | OPTI Elective |
| OPTI 8371 | Solid State Materials | 3 | Additional Elective |
| | Elective/Dissertation Research | 3 | Additional Elective |
| | | 9 | Total Credits |
| Milestones |
| Retake the Qualifying Exam if necessary |
| Course | Title | Credits | Counts As |
| Elective/Dissertation Research | 3 | Additional Elective | |
| Elective/Dissertation Research | 3 | Additional Elective | |
| Dissertation Research | 1 | Additional Elective | |
| | Dissertation Research | 2 | Dissertation Credit |
| | | 9 | Total Credits |
| Milestones |
| Form Dissertation Committee and complete the form |
| Write Dissertation Proposal |
| Course | Title | Credits | Counts As |
| OPTI 8991 | Dissertation Research | 3 | Dissertation Credits |
| OPTI 8991 | Dissertation Research | 3 | Dissertation Credits |
| OPTI 8991 | Dissertation Research | 2 | Dissertation Credits |
| OPTI 8611 | Graduate Colloquium | 1 | Yearly Requirement/OPTI Elective |
| | | 9 | Total Credits |
| Milestones |
| Dissertation Proposal Defense |
| Fill out the Defense Report form |
| Course | Title | Credits | Counts As |
| OPTI 8991 | Dissertation Research | 3 | Dissertation Credits |
| OPTI 8991 | Dissertation Research | 3 | Dissertation Credits |
| OPTI 8991 | Dissertation Research | 3 | Dissertation Credits |
| | | 9 | Total Credits |
| Course | Title | Credits | Counts As |
| OPTI 8991 | Dissertation Research | 3 | Dissertation Credits |
| OPTI 8991 | Dissertation Research | 3 | Dissertation Credits |
| OPTI 8991 | Dissertation Research | 2 | Dissertation Credits |
| OPTI 8611 | Graduate Colloquium | 1 | Yearly Requirement/OPTI Elective |
| | | 9 | Total Credits |
| Course | Title | Credits | Counts As |
| GRAD 9800 | Full Time Enrollment Credit | 3 | Counts as 9 credits |
| | | 3 | Total Credits |
| Milestones |
| Submit an Academic Petition to enroll in GRAD 9800 |
| Finalize Dissertation |
| Course | Title | Credits | Counts As |
| GRAD 9800 | Full Time Enrollment Credit | 3 | Counts as 9 credits |
| | | 3 | Total Credits |
| Milestones |
| Submit an Academic Petition to enroll in GRAD 9800 |
| Defend Dissertation |
| Fill out the Final Defense Report form |
| Submit thesis to the Graduate School, fill out the submission form, and pay the submission fee through the Payment Portal |
| Apply to Graduate |