The present invention, in one embodiment contemplates a polarization insensitive optical circuit constructed of an input/output signal separator, such as an optical circulator or a 1×2 or 2×2 coupler or N×M coupler, a polarization sensitive operator, and a polarization rotator reflector. In an alternate embodiment, the invention contemplates a polarization insensitive optical circuit comprising a polarization rotator reflector, and a polarization sensitive operator which may comprise for example a first polarization rotator, an operator/coupler, and a polarization beam combiner. Preferably at least one of the components in the optical circuit is constructed integrally from the substrate upon which the optical circuit is based. For example the polarization rotator and/or polarization sensitive operator of the present invention may be monolithic.