Colleges and universities offer a variety of programs in optical engineering at the bachelor's, master's and Ph.D. degree levels. Some have a specific optical engineering degree, while others have related degrees in optics, engineering, photonics and physics with a concentration in optical engineering. As of January 2011, 308 academic institutions around the world offer degree programs in this field. Of those programs, 123 are located in the U.S.
One of the best sources for finding degree programs in optical engineering is the Optics and Photonics Education Directory (see References). The directory is sponsored by two leading, nonprofit organizations in the optical engineering field. The free, online directory can be searched by state, country, discipline, degrees offered and tuition cost.
Optical engineering has real-world applications in astronomy, communications, computers, entertainment, manufacturing, medicine, photography, physics and space. In early 2011, there are more positions in this growing field than there are qualified scientists and engineers, with high-paying salaries that match the demand.
Additional information about optical engineering, degree programs, careers and research opportunities is available from SPIE and The Optical Society (see Resources). These nonprofit organizations advance the study and application of optics, optical engineering and photonics, and are excellent resources for students and professionals.