Er(DBM) 3 Phen(DBM=dibenzoylmethane; phen=1,10-phenanthroline)-doped PMMA-GMA (poly-methyl-methacrylate-glyciclyl- methacrylate) copolymer is prepared, the absorption spectrum and photoluminescence spectrum are analyzed. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the photoluminescence spectrum is about 85nm. The Judd–Ofelt theory is used to analyse the absorption spectrum of Er 3+ and obtain the intensity parameters: Ω 2 =4.08×10 −20 cm 2 , Ω 4 =0.77×10 −20 cm 2 and Ω 6 =0.70×10 −20 cm 2 .The line strengths, predicted spontaneous transition probabilities and the radiative lifetime are calculated with the J–O intensity parameters. The calculated radiative lifetime of excited 4 I 13/2 state of Er 3+ is 12.4ms. Ridge waveguide is fabricated using reactive ion etching. Based on the parameters we calculated, Er(DBM) 3 Phen-doped PMMA-GMA is a potential material for polymeric optical waveguide amplifiers.