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Historically most training in optics was done at the graduate level. It was assumed that a basic grounding in physics or engineering was required and that the demand could be met by the established programs. Recently, however, with the emergence of an entire new optical technology, the training in optics has taken place at a number of different levels. As doctoral research encompassed devices and techniques that were the basis of this new technology, newly minted PhD's, including the author, joined the faculties in the usual fields of studies, but brought with them their enthusiasm for and knowledge of things optical. Going beyond the usual sophomore sequence on image formation and the standard single upper level course in geometrical and physical optics, these new faculty members, began to develop new courses and laboratories that brought some of their optics into the standard undergraduate curriculum. This paper is an attempt to assess the current range of optical training in programs within the traditional non-optics curricula. For the purpose of economy and focus, I have restricted this overview to those institutions that have award bachelor degrees in physics and electrical engineering. While there are other optics programs at other levels, the description and analysis of this selected group will, I think, provide a reasonable description of the type of training being done today. The assessment was carried out by means of a questionnaire sent to 30 schools that award bachelor degrees in physics and electrical engineering. Other data was found in the SPIE publication, "Optics in Education"1. In addition, Ken Cupery of Eastman Kodak made available to me his database, a substantial effort. I extracted those programs from Ken's database and attached the results of my own questionnaire to it. Of the 30 schools I queried I received responses from 21 of them. Two of these indicated that the program was no longer in business, so the results will be based on 19 responses. I am certain I have missed some programs. I apologize to anyone who was overlooked.
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