wide ▁by ▁initi ating ▁intern ation ally ▁recognized ▁research ▁programs ▁and ▁offering ▁more ▁than ▁ 9 0 ▁courses ▁in ▁optical ▁sciences . ▁The ▁college ▁offers ▁a ▁Bach elor ▁of ▁Science ▁degree ▁in ▁Opt ical ▁Sciences ▁and ▁Engineering , ▁Masters ▁and ▁Doctor al ▁degree ▁programs ▁in ▁Opt ical ▁Sciences , ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁a ▁dual ▁master ' s ▁degree ▁in ▁Opt ical ▁Sciences ▁and ▁Business ▁Administration . ▁The ▁college ▁also ▁offers ▁compreh ensive ▁distance ▁learning ▁courses ▁leading ▁to ▁a ▁Professional ▁Gr adu ate ▁Cert ificate ▁or ▁a ▁master ' s ▁degree ▁and ▁mark ets ▁non - cred it ▁short ▁courses ▁on ▁DVD ▁to ▁opt ics ▁profession als . ▁ ▁History ▁The ▁creation ▁of ▁the ▁Opt ical ▁Sciences ▁Center , ▁as ▁the ▁College ▁was ▁formerly ▁known , ▁was ▁proposed ▁by ▁the ▁Air ▁Force ▁Institute ▁of ▁Technology , ▁together ▁with ▁the ▁needs ▁in ▁Opt ics ▁Committee ▁of ▁the ▁Opt ical ▁Society ▁of ▁America ▁and ▁Dr . ▁A den ▁Me in el , ▁Director ▁of ▁Ste ward ▁Observ atory ▁at ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁Arizona ▁in ▁the ▁early ▁ 1 9 6 0 s . ▁The ▁Center ▁was ▁established ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 4 ▁thanks ▁to ▁the ▁financial ▁support ▁of ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁Arizona ▁Foundation ▁with ▁Dr . ▁A den ▁Me in el ▁as ▁its ▁first ▁Director . ▁The ▁first ▁research ▁contract s ▁given ▁to ▁the ▁College ▁came ▁from ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Air ▁Force . ▁Today , ▁the ▁College ▁has ▁partners hips ▁with ▁more ▁than ▁ 4 0 ▁corpor ations . ▁ ▁Notable ▁fac ulty ▁The ▁College