Pre-Optometry
Students interested in a career in optometry typically require four years of training at a professional school of Optometry to earn a Doctor of Optometry (OD). Admission into the optometry schools requires:
- a bachelor’s degree or at least 90 credit hours of undergrad work, including five required courses (listed below),
- a good OAT (Optometry Admission Test) score,
- successful completion of the prerequisite courses,
- co-curricular activities including a commitment to the service, volunteerism, and shadowing experience.
Students should work with the Pre-health Advisor throughout their college years to stay on track with academic and co-curricular preparations. Students applying to Optometry schools receive a letter of evaluation from the Pre-health Advisor, which must be submitted with all other application materials.
Course Requirements
Admission requirements vary by Optometry school, but most schools usually require the following courses:
|
Course Name
|
Hilbert Course #
|
Credits
|
|
Two semesters of General Biology with Lab (required)
|
BI 140, BI 141
|
8
|
|
Two semesters of General Chemistry with Lab (required)
|
CH 140, CH 141
|
8
|
|
Two semesters of Organic Chemistry with Lab (required)
|
CH 311, CH 313
|
8
|
|
Two semesters of General Physics with Lab (required)
|
PY 140, PY 141
|
8
|
|
Two semesters of English/Writing (required)
|
EN 101, EN 102
|
6
|
|
Biochemistry (highly recommended for OAT)
|
BI 320
|
4
|
|
Statistics (highly recommended for OAT)
|
MA 200
|
3
|
|
Human Anatomy & Physiology (recommended)
|
BI 420, BI 421
|
8
|
|
Calculus (recommended)
|
MA 205
|
3
|
|
Psychology (recommended)
|
PSY 101
|
3
|
|
Microbiology (recommended)
|
BI 220
|
4
|