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The Optometrist:
Optometrists are independent primary health care providers who examine, diagnose, treat and manage diseases and disorders of the eye. In addition to prescribing and fitting glasses and contact lenses, optometrists are trained to evaluate any patient’s visual condition and to determine the best treatment for that condition.
The Pre-requisites:
The necessary prerequisite courses vary significantly among institutions. However, most optometry school programs require:
|
Requirement** |
Wabash Course (Credits) |
Course Title |
Semester Offered |
Course Prerequisite |
|
1 Year Biology |
Bio 111 (1) |
General Biology |
Fall |
--- |
|
|
Bio 112 (1) |
General Biology |
Spring |
Bio 111 |
|
1 Semester Microbiology |
Bio225 (1) |
Microbiology |
Fall |
Bio 111 and Bio112 |
|
1 Year Inorganic |
Chem 111 (1) |
General Chemistry |
Fall |
--- |
|
Chemistry |
Chem 231 (½) |
Quantitative Chem |
Spring |
Chem 111 Math 111 |
|
|
Chem 241 (½) |
Descriptive Chem |
Spring |
Chem 222 |
|
1 Semester Organic Chemistry |
Chem 221 (1) |
Organic Chem I |
Spring |
Chem 111 |
|
1 Year Physics |
Physics 111 (1) |
General Physics |
Fall |
Math 111 |
|
|
Phy 112 or 113 (1) |
General Physics |
Spring |
Physics 111 |
|
1 Semester Calculus |
Math 111 (1) |
Calculus I |
Fall, Spring |
Placement Exam |
|
1 Semester Statistics |
Math 217 (1) |
Introduction to Statistics |
Spring |
Math 111 |
|
1 Semester Psychology |
Psy 101 (1) |
General Psychology |
Fall, Spring |
none |
|
1 or 2 Semester(s) |
Eng 101 (1/2-1) |
Composition |
Fall |
Dept. permission |
|
English |
Eng 201 (1/2) |
Composition: The Essay |
First half Spring |
--- |
|
Composition |
Eng 410 (1) |
Advanced Composition: Acad. and Prof. writing |
Spring |
Jr. or Sr. or Dept. permission |
|
|
Eng 411 (1) |
Advanced Composition: Bus. And Tech. Writing |
Spring |
Jr. or Sr. or Dept. permission |
* * There is variation among optometry schools with some requiring many more specific courses such as Anatomy, Physiology, and Biochemistry so it is very important that you investigate the prerequisites at the optometry school of your choice.
Students can learn more about core prerequisite course requirements for each optometry school program at the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) web site (http://www.opted.org)
There is not a centralized application process for optometry school programs so you must apply to each school individually. The standardized test required for entrance into all optometry school programs is the Optometry Admission Test (OAT).
Typically, a student needs a minimum GPA of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale to be a competitive candidate.
The Education and the Degree:
Optometry school takes four years to complete. All optometry school students are also required to pass a national board examination (NBEO Part1) before they can graduate from optometry school.
Indiana University School of Optometry - Admission Requirements
|
Requirement |
Wabash Course (Credits) |
Course Title |
Semester Offered |
Course Prerequisite |
|
1 Year Biology |
Bio 111 (1) |
General Biology |
Fall |
--- |
|
|
Bio 112 (1) |
General Biology |
Spring |
Bio 111 |
|
1 Semester Microbiology |
Bio225 (1) |
Microbiology |
Fall |
Bio 111 and Bio112 |
|
1 Semester Advanced Biology |
Bio 221 (1) or
Bio 315 |
Comparative Anatomy or
Organismal Physiology |
Fall
Fall, alternate years |
Bio 112
Bio 212 or permission |
|
1 Year Inorganic |
Chem 111 (1) |
General Chemistry |
Fall |
--- |
|
Chemistry |
Chem 231 (½) |
Quantitative Chem |
Spring |
Chem 111 Math 111 |
|
|
Chem 241 (½) |
Descriptive Chem |
Spring |
Chem 222 |
|
1 Semester Organic Chemistry |
Chem 221 (1) |
Organic Chem I |
Spring |
Chem 111 |
|
1 Year Physics |
Physics 111 (1) |
General Physics |
Fall |
Math 111 |
|
|
Phy 112 or 113 (1) |
General Physics |
Spring |
Physics 111 |
|
1 Semester Calculus |
Math 111 (1) |
Calculus I |
Fall, Spring |
Placement Exam |
|
1 Semester Statistics |
Math 217 (1) |
Introduction to Statistics |
Spring |
Math 111 |
|
1 Semester Psychology |
Psy 101 (1) |
General Psychology |
Fall, Spring |
none |
|
1 Semester |
Eng 101 (1/2-1) |
Composition |
Fall |
Dept. permission |
|
English |
Eng 201 (1/2) |
Composition: The Essay |
First half Spring |
--- |
|
Composition |
Eng 410 (1) |
Advanced Composition: Acad. and Prof. writing |
Spring |
Jr. or Sr. or Dept. permission |
|
|
Eng 411 (1) |
Advanced Composition: Bus. And Tech. Writing |
Spring |
Jr. or Sr. or Dept. permission |
* As of Academic Year 2006-07.
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