光学和光子学博士学位课程提供光学科学和工程学的最高质量的教育，使学生能够进行学术，基础和应用研究，同时帮助佛罗里达州和美国以技术为基础的产业发展。研究活动涵盖光学，光子学和激光的各个方面，光学和激光研究和教育中心（CREOL），佛罗里达光子学卓越中心（FPCE）和Townes激光研究所（TLI）是光学与光子学院。当前的研究领域包括：线性和非线性导波光学器件和器件，高速光子通信，光纤制造，光纤通信，固态激光器开发，非线性光学，激光引起的损伤，量子阱光电，量子光学，光子信息处理，红外系统，光学诊断，光学系统设
The Optics and Photonics PhD program provides the highest-quality education in optical science and engineering, allowing students to conduct scholarly, fundamental, and applied research, while aiding in the development of Florida's and the nation's technology-based industries.<br><br>Research activities cover all aspects of optics, photonics, and lasers, and the Center for Research and Education in Optics and Lasers (CREOL), the Florida Photonics Center of Excellence (FPCE), and the Townes Laser Institute (TLI) are integral parts of the College of Optics and Photonics. Current research areas include: linear and nonlinear guided-wave optics and devices, high speed photonic telecommunications, fiber optic fabrication, fiber optic communications, solid state laser development, nonlinear optics, laser-induced damage, quantum-well optoelectronics, quantum optics, photonic information processing, infrared systems, optical diagnostics, optical system design, image analysis, virtual reality, medical imaging, diffractive optics, optical crystal growth and characterization, high intensity lasers, x-ray optics, EUV sources, optical glasses, laser materials processing, free-electron lasers, and light matter interaction.<br><br>The College of Optics and Photonics (COP) was the first program to be offered the distinction of a college devoted to Optics in the United States. The College of Optics and Photonics has grown rapidly and now has 55 faculty members and faculty with joint appointments, 41 research scientists and 148 graduate students with research activities covering all aspects of optics, photonics, and lasers. Research expenditures are over 10 million annually, with more than 20 percent of the funding coming from industrial partners, illustrating the effectiveness of the commitment to partnerships that is a foundational value of the COP.