Apparatus and method embodiments are provided for implementing a wavelength selective switch (WSS). The embodiments use combinations of switchable polarization grating (SPG) and LC cells and combinations of polymer polarization grating (PPG) and LC cells to achieve 1×N WSS systems. An embodiment optical switch includes a liquid crystal cell and a polymer polarization grating (PPG) cell adjacent to the liquid crystal cell. The PPG includes a glass substrate, a photo-alignment layer overlying the glass substrate and comprising photosensitive polymer that has been physically altered by exposure using two interfering light beams with opposite handedness of circular polarization, and a polymerized liquid crystal layer overlying the photo-alignment layer on an opposite side of the glass substrate, the polymerized liquid crystal layer has been physically altered by illumination using a uniform light beam.