Optical System Engineering

In a variety of industrial branches, optics is considered an important crossover technology. Stellar qualifications in this field of competence are a near-instant guarantee for a job. To that effect, expectations are running high on the new master degree course “Optical System Engineering” at the University of Applied Sciences for Central Hessen (THM). There is a great demand for it as well as a lot of interest in it. The first year of students has taken up their studies at the winter semester of 2022.

A thorough comprehension of optical systems

The consecutive master degree course (M.Sc.) builds on a completed Bachelor’s degree with focus on physics, engineering sciences, or mathematics. It aims at providing thorough comprehension of optical systems containing light source, optics, sensor and, if applicable, back-end data processing. For this purpose, it is fundamental to acquire a profound knowledge of the setup, functional principle and interaction of the individual components in a system. From that, in turn, results the competence to assess the quality or performance capacity of optical systems and to design optical applications and manufacturing processes.

The master degree course consists of three semesters with one semester designated to drawing up the master’s thesis. The module guidebook lists obligatory courses such as Optics Design and Tolerances, Surface Physics and Optical Materials, Special Optics and Laser Technology, Numerical Simulation Methods and Manufacturing Technologies in Optics. The great number and wide range of compulsory elective modules provide students with the means of choosing individual core themes – for example in the fields of digitization and Industry 4.0 or innovation management and technological impact assessment.

Bright prospects for the students and their future employers

“The contents are not just imparted to the students in the manner of good coursebooks”, Prof. Dr. Markus Degünther, head of the study program, explains, “but always in direct relation to professional practice.” For deepening the practical relevance even further, it is planned to involve lecturers from companies of the optical industry. In addition, the Optics Center Wetzlar will be increasingly used for teaching and training young scientific talents. “The ‘professional experience’ already obtained through the study course and the all-encompassing systematic overview will reduce the initial training phase at a future place of employment allowing the graduates to mature into valuable employees by a wide margin”, predicts Degünther. These are indeed bright prospects for the study program, but above all for the students and their future employers.

Information:

Optical System Engineering (M.Sc)
Technische Hochschule Mittehessen
go.thm.de/bewerbung

Contact:

Prof. Dr. Markus Degünther
markus.deguenther@mnd.thm.de
Tel: +49 641/309-6853