Introduction - Optical Properties of Solids.- The Dielectric Function at Optical Frequencies- A First Look.- Introduction to the Electronic Band Structure of Solids.- Microscopic Theory of the Dielectric Function.- Excitons and Excitonic Effects in Semiconductors.- Optical Measurements.- Hall Effect Measurements of 2D Electron Gas and 2D Materials.- Optical and Electrical Properties of van der Waals 2D Nanoscale Materials.- The Optical and Electrical Properties of Topological Materials.