Overview

Current Montana State University undergraduate students can simultaneously work toward their bachelor's degree and an accelerated version of the Master of Science in Optics and Photonics (MSOP). Thisis accelerated master's degree allows undergraduate students to make simultaneous progress toward bachelor's and master's degrees to prepare for high-demand jobs in laser engineering, remote sensing, and more. 

Benefits of the Accelerated MSOP Degree Route

  • Reduced Time: Allows MSU students to earn both a bachelor's and master’s degree in 5 years. Students reserve graduate-level courses during their junior and senior years.
  • Possible Lower Cost per Credit: Reaching full-time enrollment allows additional credits to be taken without increasing tuition, making accelerated progress more cost-effective.
  • Earlier Career Entry: The accelerated pathway enables students to transition into the workforce and start earning income sooner.

About the MSOP Degree

The MSOP degree is an interdisciplinary degree managed by the Optics and Photonics Degree Program Committee on behalf of the:

  • Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Physics
  • Chemistry & Biochemistry

Students apply directly to the Optics and Photonics Master's Program and are admitted through one of the participating departments, chosen by the applicant based on their areas of interest and department affiliation of faculty working in those areas.

Degree Requirements

Students apply directly to the MSOP program and are admitted through one of the participating departments, chosen by the applicant based on their areas of interest and department affiliation of faculty working in those areas.

The Master of Science in Optics and Photonics can be earned with a thesis or project (professional paper) option:

For applicants interested in earning an MSOP degree en route to a PhD, options are available in Electrical & Computer Engineering, Physics, or Chemistry & Biochemistry.

 

Accelerated MSOP Preparation

Applicants are highly encouraged to discuss research and funding opportunities with faculty and arrange a commitment before applying to the A-MSOP program. For information on research opportunities in optics and photonics, visit the Optical Technology Center faculty webpage and the following research web pages for participating departments:

Sophomore year, second semester

Discuss and arrange a research opportunity with a faculty member. A list of faculty doing research in optics and photonics is here: https://optics.montana.edu/faculty-staff.html

 

Junior year, first semester

Complete the Planning Tool and Pre-Application. Detailed application instructions are below.

 

How to Apply

Applicants are encouraged to contact faculty to discuss research and funding opportunities prior to submitting their application. For information on research opportunities in optics and photonics, visit the Optical Technology Center faculty webpage and the following research web pages for participating departments:

Students must meet all three:

  • Current MSU undergraduate students
  • STEM students with at least 3.25 cumulative grade-point average 
  • Students with at least 83 credits earned or in progress by the time they apply (typically junior standing)

Students typically apply in the fall semester of their junior year.

Step 1: Complete the Planning Tool & Pre-Application

Step 2: Talk with Financial Aid

  • Financial aid can only be used for the degree the student is seeking.
  • Due to many subtleties, students are requested to talk with the Office of Financial Aid Services.
  • If there are questions on Financial Aid, please reach out directly through their website or via email: Financial Aid. (This information/statements approved by the Office of Financial Aid Services, December 2020)

Step 3:  Apply to The Graduate School

  • After all parties have signed the Planning Tool & Pre-Application, apply to The Graduate School for the Master’s in Optics and Photonics degree. There is no application deadline—submissions are welcome year-round.
  • Email optics@montana.edu to let them know you are submitting your Graduate School application. They will request that the Graduate School open the term after you finish your undergraduate degree to accept applications.
  • In the application, select the term after you finish your undergraduate degree for admission.
  • The graduate application will provide the mechanism for taking graduate-level courses since the application system (CollegeNet) connects to other university systems.
  • Once the graduate application is approved and processed, you will receive an offer letter from the Graduate School.

Step 4: Reserve Courses (and Registration Information)

  • Courses you are earning towards your Master’s degree need to be reserved.
  • Request that your advisor place a note in DegreeWorks by choosing the “Accelerated student - Approved Courses” from the pre-defined list. Then list the department codes and course numbers for the current semester. This note must be completed each semester for the classes you want to reserve. For example, “Accelerated student - Approved Courses: EELE 581.”
  • Using the note in DegreeWorks, the Registrar’s Office will register all accelerated students for classes at one time during the last week of priority registration.
  • If you want to reserve credits before applying to the Accelerated program, then submit the Petition to Reserve/Register for Credits form. 

 

 

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