A National Model for Photonics Proficiency in Undergraduate Electrical Engineering

光子学正在成为一项无处不在的技术，应用范围从消费品(CD播放机和激光打印机)到社会基础设施和国防(智能高速公路和光控雷达)。因此，光子学被认为是电气工程(EE)课程不可或缺的一部分。由于到目前为止还没有在本科电子工程课程中开设光子学课程，大多数大学仍然将光子学教育视为课程的丰富。因此，不同的大学强调光子学的不同方面，主要是根据教职员工的专业知识或研究兴趣，这种情况可能无法有效地满足学生的长期职业能力和工业需求。光子学技术日益增长的重要性及其在工业中的需求决定了每个本科生都应该具备最低标准的光子学熟练程度。在这种背景下，这个项目正在改变EE本科生光子学教育的范式。光子学将作为必修课来教授，而不是作为一种丰富的东西来对待。正在确定光子学熟练程度标准--知识和技术基础的集合--并将其纳入光子学的必修课，包括课堂教学和实验室经验。初步的光子学熟练程度标准包括实验室安全、几何和物理光学、激光和探测器、光波调制和光通信。正在开发一系列的10个实验室，每个实验室都与光子学应用的特定领域相关联，以补充课堂教学，并进一步与课堂教学协同。在该项目的过程中，正在细化光子学熟练程度标准和课程设置，以期成为全国电子工程光子学教育的典范。最后，可以出版一本本科教科书和一本配套的实验室手册，以便分发。

Photonics is becoming a pervasive technology, with applications ranging from consumer products (CD players and laser printers) to social infrastructure and defense (intelligent highways and optically controlled radars). As a result, photonics is being recognized as an integral part of the electrical engineering (EE) curriculum. Because it has not been traditionally offered in undergraduate EE to date, most universities still regard photonics education as curriculum enrichment. As such, different aspects of photonics are emphasized in different universities, largely following the expertise or research interests of the faculty members, a situation that may not address effectively students' long-term career abilities and industrial needs. The growing importance of photonics technology and its needs in industry dictate that every undergraduate EE student should acquire a minimum standard proficiency in photonics. In this vein, this project is shifting the paradigm in undergraduate photonics education in EE. Instead of treating it as an enrichment, photonics will be taught as a requirement. A photonics proficiency standard_a collection of knowledge and technology base_is being identified and incorporated into a required course in photonics involving both classroom instruction and laboratory experience. The preliminary photonics proficiency standard includes laboratory safety, geometrical and physical optics, lasers and detectors, lightwave modulation, and optical communications. A series of 10 labs, each associated with particular areas of photonics applications, is being developed to complement and, moreover, synergize with classroom instructions. The photonics proficiency standard and the curriculum are being refined in the course of this project so as to serve as a national model for photonics education in EE. Finally, an undergraduate textbook with a companion laboratory manual can be published for dissemination.