Guidelines for the M.S. Program
Department of Optics and Photonics National Central University
Implemented since the academic year of 2023
Article 1: The requirements and regulations stated below are established based on National Central University (NCU) Academic Guidelines, and Ph.D. and Master’s Degree Requirements.
Article 2: Coursework
A. Course Selection
Students shall plan the coursework with the assistance from their advisors. Those who have not identified their advisors shall be assisted by the Chairman in this matter.
B. Course Taking
1. Required courses for DOP’s M.S. students* are Crystal Optics, Fourier Optics, and Geometrical Optics offered by the Department. Those who have taken these three courses offered by the Department and scored 70 or above are eligible to file a course waiver request form to the Department within the designated period during the first semester of their enrollment. The DOP Curriculum Committee will review whether the exemption is granted. (This regulation applies retroactively to students enrolled from the 110 Academic Year onwards.)
2. Dual-degree students must complete Semiconductor Physics and Devices offered by this Department; as well as one of the following five department-offered courses: Fourier Optics, Geometrical Optics, Crystal Optics, Radiometry and Detection, or Color Optics.
3. Taking Seminar courses is required for graduation. Related regulations are described below:
a. Students matriculating into the M.S. program for less than two years shall complete the DOP seminar in each semester during their enrollment. Those who plan to complete the thesis defense and leave NCU before the official deadline to withdraw with or without a W standing may apply for exemption from taking the DOP seminar for that semester at least five working days before the deadline; with the approval of the DOP Curriculum Committee, students can withdraw from the DOP seminar.
b. Students matriculating into the M.S. program for two years or above shall complete the DOP seminar for at least four semesters before requesting their thesis defense.
c. Students who have previously completed the DOP seminar and scored 70 or above are eligible to apply for exemption from taking this course in the first semester of their enrollment. The application must be submitted before the deadline announced by the DOP Curriculum Committee at the beginning of an academic year. Courses used for graduation from the previous degree program cannot be used towards the coursework requirements stated above.
d. Subject to the approval of the Department, students who failed the DOP seminar are permitted to take seminar courses offered by other graduate schools at NCU.
4. International students in dual-degree programs are not subject to the restrictions of the aforementioned third item.
C. Course Credits
A minimum of 24-course credits must be taken in the M.S. program; among which 18-course credits must be earned from DOP’s courses, while the other 6 credits can be taken, with advisor’s consent, in other graduate institutes at National Central University. Any course to be taken at a graduate institute at other universities must be approved by the Department.
Article 3: Thesis Advisor
A. Students must select an advisor from the full-time DOP faculty and are allowed to take Special Topic Research courses after their advisor selection.
B. Students must select an advisor at least six months prior to their graduation and submit the Academic Advisor registration form to the department office for record.
Article 4: Graduation
A. After completing all coursework and the M.S. thesis, students are allowed to have the M.S. thesis defense be held with the advisor’s consent. The advisor has to sign the “Recommendation for Thesis Defense Form” and “Thesis Similarity Anti-Plagiarism Report” as part of the student’s request for M.S. thesis defense. The M.S. degree will be issued after the completion of thesis defense and other graduation procedures.
B. Other matters regarding the thesis defense and graduation are subject to related regulations set by NCU Ph.D. and Master’s Degree Requirements.
Article 5: DOP will follow the related regulations and guidelines set by the Ministry of Education and/or NCU for situations outside of the scope as listed in this document.
Article 6: The requirements/regulations have been approved by the DOP department meeting and verified by the NCU academic affairs meeting upon their implementation. Any amendments to them will be processed with the same procedure as stated.
*The seminar is the only required course reported to the Office of Academic Affairs by the Department of Optics and Photonics; however, the required courses in the M.S. program set by the Department include the following three courses: Crystal Optics, Fourier Optics, and Geometrical Optics.