LASER-TEC is the Center for Laser and Fiber Optics Education, founded in 2013 by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and headquartered at Indian River State College in Florida. It was established to help meet the goals of educating and sourcing domestic talent in the areas of optics and photonics. As a service to students, recent graduates, and prospective employers, Photonics Spectra runs a profile of one of the LASER-TEC colleges each month. Pasadena City College’s (PCC’s) curriculum in optical and laser technology (LaserTech) provides students with the applied skills required to work with precision optics, lasers, detectors, electronics, and nanotechnology. Local industrial partners and national laboratories have supported the creation of these courses to ensure that PCC LaserTech students learn relevant laboratory techniques and technologies. Companies interested in PCC LaserTech graduates develop and apply cutting-edge technologies and come from sectors such as aerospace, advanced manufacturing, biomedicine, entertainment, remote sensing, defense, and more. A LaserTech student mounts a photodiode to an optical breadboard as part of her studies on how to align a pinhole spatial filter to a focused beam of light. Courtesy of Pasadena City College. PCC offers programs of study in many fundamental and in-demand technical disciplines, including geographical information systems, computer and information technology, and biotechnology. By enrolling in the PCC LaserTech program, students learn skills via a comprehensive Associate of Science (AS) in Laser Technology, or via a Certificate of Achievement in Laser Technology that consists of four focused, hands-on courses. The AS program can be completed in as few as 21 months and has no prerequisites to begin studies. Its laboratory-oriented optics courses have been developed since 2007, with more than 150 student graduates working in the field to apply the hands-on skills they learned in the laboratory classroom. Program description The program focuses on the application, manufacture, inspection, and test of precision optical elements and systems to established standards. Courses are taught in a laboratory setting, where students are evaluated by their ability to document industry-quality laboratory reports that demonstrate their mastery of the techniques or instrumentation being studied, not by homework assignments. PCC LaserTech courses start with the fundamentals of light and progress to the use of optical devices, from lenses, mirrors, and prisms to lasers, fibers, and cameras. Further study instructs students on how these devices are fabricated and tested to the highest industrial standards. This includes essential topics such as maintaining cleanroom cleanliness, drafting and interpreting properly toleranced drawings, and inspecting hardware to specifications. Finally, advanced optical measurement technologies are covered so students can learn how to test and troubleshoot optical assemblies and instruments. Graduates of PCC’s AS degree in Laser Technology have the skills to: Demonstrate applied comprehension of basic optical physics, including imaging, refraction, polarization, interference, and diffraction. Maintain, clean, and safely handle optical components, such as lenses, mirrors, and diffraction gratings in a cleanroom environment. Trace the path of light through basic optical assemblies and systems, locating stops and pupils.. Understand the internal components and assembly of optical and electronic devices, including laser systems, detectors, and optical displays. Safely operate and maintain laser systems. Comfortably configure and articulate optomechanical and optical hardware in a safe manner on a laboratory breadboard or in a clean flow hood. Write and interpret optics drawings to the ISO 10110, 12123, 9211, and 9022 international standards and via various American military specification. Demonstrate a basic knowledge of electronics that includes both analog and digital components, as well as common circuit architectures. Communicate technical concepts and document procedures and measured results via written, oral, or electronic format. How to recruit from this college Companies interested in recruiting students from PCC should contact our laser technology professor to present your company and its employment opportunities. The next PCC student cohort is expected to graduate with AS degrees in Laser Technology in June 2025. Contact information Brian Monacelli, PhD bmonacelli@pasadena.edu 1570 E. Colorado Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91106 Program websites www.pasadena.edu/academics/divisions/natural-sciences/areas-of-study/laser-technology www.pasadena.edu/academics/degrees-and-certificates/certificates-of-achievement/laser-technology.php