Embodiments of the invention describe polarization insensitive optical devices utilizing polarization sensitive components. Light comprising at least one polarization state is received, and embodiments of the invention select a first optical path for light comprising a first polarization state or a second optical path for light comprising a second polarization state orthogonal to the first polarization state. The optical paths include components to at least amplify and/or modulate light comprising the first polarization state; the second optical path includes a polarization rotator to rotate light comprising the second polarization state to the first polarization state. Embodiments of the invention further describe optical devices including a polarization mode converter to convert light comprising a first and a second polarization state to light comprising different spatial modes of the first polarization state; light comprising the different spatial modes of the first polarization state is subsequently amplified and modulated.