Skip to main content

Transfer Pathway Guides

This Advising Guide is under review by the partner school. Changes TBA if needed.

University of Arizona: DRAFT

2025-2026

Optical Sciences & Engineering - B.S. (OT40)

College Web Site: https://www.arizona.edu/

MCC Degree Awarded:

Optical Systems Technology A.A.S.

Please note that some courses required in a Transfer Pathway may not be required for the MCC program. This could have financial aid implications. Students should meet with their advisor or with a transfer representative to discuss an academic plan and recommended sequence of courses.
Transfer Guide


Students interested in this Competitive Transfer Pathway must complete an MCC program change request and meet specific entrance requirements to be formally accepted.

For those accepted (as indicated by their MCC major): continuous, full-time enrollment (12 or more credit hours each semester) is required. Enrollment in this Competitive Transfer Pathway, along with closely following the guide, significantly increases the likelihood of acceptance by the 4-year institution. Please note that student contact information will be shared with the 4-year institution. Students will need to complete a transfer application, typically done prior to the start of their last semester at MCC.

If not accepted into the MCC Competitive Transfer Pathway, students can still follow this advising guide and apply to the transfer university. All students are encouraged to meet with transfer services staff at MCC and at the transfer institution, as well as the MCC Optics department.

Important:

This Competitive Transfer Pathway requires students to take courses at the University of Rochester (UR) while attending MCC. This is called Cross Registration. This is needed to transfer in at junior standing to the University of Arizona. Students need to be registered for at least 12 credits at MCC during the semester they take cross-registered courses. See the Cross Registration Form (RAC Form) at the bottom of this page for instructions.

Read all notes on the bottom of this page for U of A specific information.

Course substitutions are needed as this transfer pathway does not directly follow the MCC Degree Works worksheet. See the Optics Department Chair for course substitutions.


MCC Credit Hours
Transferability to U of A
FIRST SEMESTER:
OPT 110  Introduction to Optical Technology
3
OPT 213  Optical Fabrication and Metrology
4
MTH 210  Calculus I
4
ENG 200 Advanced Composition
3
SUNY Gen Ed - WHGA or WLANG: Take ENG 230, GEG 102, HIS 110/153/154, PHL 108/109 or SPA 101
3
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
17
SECOND SEMESTER:
OPT 235 Advanced Optical Fabrication and Metrology
4
MTH 211 Calculus II
4
PHY 161 University Physics I
4
CROSS REGISTER at UR: OPT 211 Matlab I
Click here for Cross-registration information. See form below. Offered in Spring only.
2
                                                                                                                                                                                                               
14
THIRD SEMESTER:
MTH 212 Calculus III  
4
PHY 261 University Physics II
4
CHE 151 General College Chemistry I  
4
CROSS REGISTER at UR: OPT 241 Geometrical Optics
Click here for Cross-registration information. See form below.
4
                                                                                                                                                                                                             
16
FOURTH SEMESTER:
CHE 152 General College Chemistry II
4
MTH 225 Differential Equations
4
ENG 105 Introduction to Literature
3
SUNY Gen Ed - WHGA or WLANG: Take ENG 230, GEG 102, HIS 110/153/154, PHL 108/109 or SPA 101
3
CROSS REGISTER at UR: OPT 261 Interference and Diffraction
Click here for Cross-registration information. See form below.                                                                                                                                                                                                        
4
18
TOTAL CREDITS
65
Notes:

AP, IB, CLEP, & Transfer courses: Credits showing as accepted by MCC may not be transferable. See University of Arizona Credit By Exam Policies. Contact the University of Arizona with questions.

GPA of XXX or higher is advised for acceptance to U of A. GPA of 2.0 is required for MCC graduation.

See the Optics Department Chair for course substitutions.

Optical Systems Technology AAS (OT01) will be the degree the student is audited against and awarded from MCC. Documentation source: MCC Career Services. 10/23/2025

While every effort is made to ensure accurate information, students are strongly advised to verify course transferability with the four-year institution as they will make the final determination of transfer credit.