This short course is intended as a supplement to other more general electronics classes. Class length is variable, to meet instructors' time constraints: five to ten 1-hour periods, plus two 2-hour experimental sessions.

The course begins with 'The History of Fiber Optics,' followed by sections describing fiber optic communications systems and their individual components. Also included are a list of additional reading references and a helpful fiber optic glossary. Experimental sessions involve students in assembling and testing a fully functional fiber optic digital communication link with separate transmitter and receiver modules.