An innovative multidisciplinary elective on optoelectronic materials and devices

An elective course in optoelectronic materials and devices is being developed in the Electrical Engineering Department at Bucknell University. To educate productive engineers who can compete in today´s economy, it is essential to introduce them to the important concepts underlying modern multidisciplinary technologies such as optoelectronics. This course was first offered in Spring 1994. The course goals are to provide an introduction to optoelectronic materials and devices and to aid the students´ professional development by addressing issues such as the ability to critically evaluate technical papers, conduct effective literature research, and successfully communicate information orally and in writing. The topics explored in the course include band structure, semiconductor alloys, carrier motion, optical processes, photodetectors, LEDs, laser diodes, and optical communication. A basic understanding of device physics is an essential prerequisite for this course to be a success. Variations to the typical lecture format include discussing articles from sources such as Business Week, Scientific American, and IEEE Spectrum, “surfing” on the World Wide Web, field trips, and trade magazines. In addition, students are encouraged to improve upon vital skills for engineers in today´s marketplace by researching a topic and presenting their findings orally and in writing. A difficult aspect of preparing a course on a new topic is the lack of a good textbook at the undergraduate level. Experiences with two recently published (1994) textbooks are described. Finally, the laboratory component of the course is considered