Certificate in Advanced Manufacturing & Integrated Photonics
Photonics, the technology of light-based devices, is rapidly expanding. But the supply of qualified workers is inadequate to fulfill industry hiring needs, particularly personnel involved in assembly, quality control, testing, repair and technical work. A new credit-based certificate program – offered by the Stonehill College-Bridgewater State University Partnership for Integrated Photonics in collaboration with MIT's AIM Photonics Academy – is designed to equip program participants with the skills and experience needed to thrive in this burgeoning market.
15-Month night/weekend certificate program: This certification is a 15-month, 27-credit program to prepare students – with little or no background in the field – for careers as technicians in the integrated photonics industry. One of the program's key strengths is the learning and networking potential of the program faculty's strong industry connections and reputation in STEM fields.
The courses provided by the Stonehill-Bridgewater Partnership will be offered primarily during evenings and weekends, to accommodate students with full-time jobs, at both the Stonehill and Bridgewater campuses. There will be heavy emphasis on hands-on work - generally two hours in the lab for every hour in the classroom. Students also experience a unique MIT photonics boot camp over the course of several one-day field trips.
Backed by the support of the U.S. Office of Naval Research
The Certificate program offered by the Stonehill-Bridgewater Partnership for Integrated Photonics is supported by a $770,000 sub-grant as part of a $1.8 million grant from the U.S. Office of Naval Research grant to AIM Photonics Academy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
A Distinct Advantage in a Growing FieldThe certificate program will benefit traditional college students who could earn both an academic degree and a technical certificate in integrated photonics, a big advantage when seeking employment after graduation. The program also holds promise for students at community colleges and vocational high schools as well as workers seeking retraining, veterans entering the private sector and underrepresented populations.Apprenticeship Provides Experience and Connections
The three-month apprenticeship requirement lasts the entirety of the final semester. Through a concurrent capstone project, students gain practice at applying the skills learned in previous courses and develop workplace experience and industry contacts helpful when it comes time to move into the workforce. Apprenticeships help to guarantee that students are leaving school with skills that employers desire.
To enroll or to learn more about the program: