Bachelor of Science in Optical Engineering

Our Optical Engineering program is one of the few undergraduate programs of its kind in the country. This degree will open the door to careers in many industries, including automated inspection, consumer electronics, fiber optic communications, optical instrumentation, laser devices, radar systems, and data storage.
The science of light, once confined to research labs and science fiction novels, has found its way into our everyday lives. The applications of optics can be seen everywhere. A list of more common examples of these applications include laser printers, fiber optic communication, internet switches, fiber optic telephone lines, compact disc players, credit cards bearing holograms, grocery checkout scanners, computers and eye surgery. The field of optics is an enabling technology and is growing at a rapid pace. Optical techniques are found in a wide range of areas such as surveying and construction, measurements of material parameters and deformation, flow measurements, communications, machine vision, laser cutting, drilling and welding, data storage, internet switches, optical computers and sensors etc. Surveys show that there is a growing demand for optical designers/scientists/ engineers every year. Opportunities for graduates in Optical Engineering are available in many industries, including automated inspection, consumer electronics, fiber optic communications, optical instrumentation, laser devices, radar systems, data storage etc.
The Optical Engineering bachelor's degree program is one of the few in the country. This program provides a firm foundation for those interested in continuing thier studies in optics at the graduate level, as well as for those going into industry. The curriculum was developed by the faculty with input from industrial representatives as well as from renowned national and international optics educators. Because of the diverse applications of optics, the curriculum contains a mix of courses in physics and mathematics as well as humanities and social sciences. The Optical Engineering program at Rose-Hulman stresses laboratory instruction. We also encourage students to look at options for a double major, especially Optical Engineering with electrical, computer or mechanical engineering.

Submitted application with essay
High school transcript
Letter of recommendation from a teacher, counselor or principal (homeschooled students must have a recommendation from someone other than the parent)
The International Student Application
A letter of recommendation
An official copy of the secondary school record
Exemption from the TOEFL/IELTS requirement is provided to students who score highly enough on the SAT or ACT standardized test. This exemption will be provided to students who have achieved one of the following score(s):

500 or higher on the SAT Evidence-based Reading and Writing section
21 or higher on the ACT English section
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), IELTS (International English Language Testing System), or Duolingo scores
If English is not your native language:

TOEFL Minimums - 88 Internet Based with a minimum of 20 in each area.
IELTS Minimums - 6.5 or above with a minimum of 6.0 in each area.
Duolingo Minimums - score of 110 or above.