Pre-Professional Studies
Optometry
Optometrists, or Doctor of Optometry, are independent primary health care providers who specialize in the examination, diagnosis, treatment and management of diseases and disorders of the visual system, the eye and associated structures, as well as the diagnosis of related systemic conditions. Doctors of Optometry provide vision care by prescription ophthalmic lenses, contact lenses, other optical aids and vision therapy, when indicated.
Doctor of Optometry receives four years of specialized professional education and clinical training at an accredited school of optometry, after completion of their undergraduate prerequisites.
Admission Requirements
The minimum entrance requirement for optometry school is three years of college . The majority of today's optometry students have a bachelor's degree or higher.
Student applicants are required to complete the optometry Admission Test (OAT) as a prerequisite to admission.
Applicants seeking admission to an optometry program should contact those schools they are interested in attending for information on specific prerequisites and admission requirements.
Course Requirements
- General Chemistry with the lab (C105-106, C125-126)
- Organic Chemistry (C341) and (C342) or (C343)
- Physics with the lab (P201-202) or (P221-222)
- Mathematics (M215)
- Biology with the lab (L101)
- Microbiology with the lab (M310-315)
- Advanced Biology (3 cr. hrs.)
- Statistics (K300)
- English Composition (W131)
- Social Sciences electives (6 cr. hrs.)
- Humanities electives (6 cr. hrs.)
- Psychology (6 cr. hrs.)
- Foreign languages (6 cr. hrs.)
Some optometry schools also require Anatomy or Physiology (P261-262) and Biochemistry (C483) whereas some others recommend these courses highly.
Websites
American Optometric Association
243 Lindbergh Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63141
314-991-4100
Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry
6110 Executive Blvd., Suite 514
Rockville, MD 20852
