Rio Salado College will launch a program to prepare students for entry-level employment in the field of optical systems technology. The Certificate of Completion (CCL) and Micro Credential Pathway in Precision Optics Level I includes introductory coursework in optical applications and the machinery, tools and systems used for manufacturing processes.
Precision optics can be found in everything from night vision goggles and military equipment to video games and robotics.
In the nine-credit certificate program, students will learn:
- Effective communication and collaboration skills in a precision optics setting.
- Basic manufacturing techniques to assemble and fabricate optical components.
- Optics applications in a real-world setting.
- Mathematical equations and expressions used in optical fabrication.
Students can enroll now in:
- GBS 120: Workplace Communication Skills (Reviews planning, organization, development, and evaluation of written and oral communication in business settings, including informative and persuasive messages.)
- OTP 105: Introduction to Precision Optics (Covers optics application and the manufacturing process including machinery, tools, and systems. Examines fundamental principles, characteristics and design of optical components including geometrical optics, wave optics, metrology, fiber optics, photonics, aberration theory, optical phenomena, and optical illusions.)
- OTP 107: Precision Optics & Mathematical Concepts (Covers basic algebraic operations, problem solving involving metric measurement, gears, pulleys, simple mechanism problems. Areas and volume calculations of geometric figures. Essentials of trigonometry for solving right and oblique triangles.)
The program is optimized for students who want to understand precision optics in order to work in this sector or who may want upskill to understand optical devices such as lasers, lens and infrared sensors.
The Arizona Technology Council published a white paper in 2022, “Spotlight on Arizona’s Optics Industry,” that points to the $282 billion in revenue globally attributed to the production of optics and photonics core components in 2018. Optics can be used in areas of industry prevalent all over Arizona, including traffic and transportation, machines and tools, aerospace and defense, biotechnology and healthcare, entertainment, infrastructure, and more, the report states. The SPIE International Society for Optics and Photonics reported the global revenues for photonics-enabled products grew to more than $2.1 trillion in 2021, with the inductor generating more than five million jobs worldwide.
Rio Salado is already providing training to students around the Valley in semiconductor manufacturing, said Faculty Chair of STEM Rick Vaughn. It only made sense to keep moving along the path with the growing manufacturing business in Arizona, he said.
“Precision optics are the hidden architects of innovation, shaping the world we see and the technologies we rely on,” Vaughn said. “With the launch of Rio Salado College's Precision Optics Level I program, we're not just preparing students for jobs; we're cultivating visionaries who will illuminate the path of progress.”
More information can be found on the Maricopa Community Colleges website.
About Rio Salado College
Rio Salado College is one of ten Maricopa Community Colleges and one of the largest online public community colleges in the nation, serving more than 35,000 students annually with more than 18,000 online in 50 states. Founded in 1978 and headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, Rio Salado College offers nearly 600 online classes, 135+ degree and certificate programs and general education courses. The college also provides support for dual enrollment, military and incarcerated students, and serves as the largest provider of adult education in Arizona.