The courses offered within the Merced College Laser Electro-Optics Technician Program will provide you with the knowledge and ability to succeed as a technician in the fast growing laser/optics field. Job opportunities abound for those who successfully complete the program. The curriculum provides hands-on learning experiences through the use of instrumentation, skill development, and specific laboratory techniques commonly used in the laser and optics field. These classroom experiences take place under the direction of knowledgeable instructors leading to employment success.

How do you enter LEOT-30, the first course offering?
There are no pre-requisites enter LEOT-30, as this is an introductory course. However, to be successful in the laser electro-optics program you will need to gain knowledge and experience in Electronics, Physics, and Mathematics. See your counselor for more details.
How long will it take to complete the program?
Prepared students can complete the program in as few as four semesters.
What are my options upon successful completion of the Laser Electro-Optics Program?
You could find employment and careers in fields such as: Telecommunications, Medicine, Biotechnology, Consumer Electronics, Industrial Lasers, and Laser Research and Development or transfer to a four-year institution.
What are the starting salaries of individuals with a Laser Electro-Optics background?
Starting salaries vary, however, it is not uncommon for individuals to start at $30,000 to $40,000 per year.
Are jobs available in our local area?
The Laser and Optics industry in California is growing rapidly with as many as 7,000 new jobs projected by 2005. Many of these jobs are available within 120 miles of Merced. With the opening of UC Merced, positions should be available locally.

L.E.O.T. skills as illustrated by the following:

• Clean, maintain, align, mount, install, operate, demonstrate, classify, and identify: laser systems, optical components, power meters, and energy meters.
• Operate and demonstrate database, spreadsheet, graphics, and word processing software.
• Demonstrate and use appropriate safety procedures
• Align, mount, install, operate, classify, and identify fibers, detectors, couplers, connectors and cables associated with fiber optic systems.
• Analyze, assess, evaluate, calibrate, test, mount, install, operate, and demonstrate fiber optic systems.
• Calibrate, test, clean, maintain, mount, install, operate, and demonstrate semiconductor detectors, detector arrays, and detector amplifiers.
• Operate, demonstrate, clean, maintain, align, install, and repair material processing systems.
• Troubleshoot laser and optical systems in a variety of settings.

Photonics
Photonics is the generation, manipulation, transport, detection, and use of light information and energy whose quantum unit is the photon.

Photon
A small amount of energy released from an excited atom. This energy has a frequency and moves through space at the speed of light. The energy may interact with other atoms and be measured.

Electronics defined the twentieth century, photonics will define the twnety-first century.