Optometry
Optometry Schools
Doctors of Optometry examine, diagnose, treat, and manage diseases of the eye. Training requires four years at a professional school of optometry preceded by a bachelor's degree or at least 90 credits of undergraduate education including the five prerequisite courses while individual schools may require psychology, statistics, microbiology or additional courses. The required admissions test is the Optometry Admissions Test (OAT). For recently admitted students (2006), the average GPA was 3.42 with a range of 3.0 to 3.64 and the average OAT was 327 with a range of scores from 286 to 352.
For information you may contact the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry, 6110 Executive Boulevard, Suite 690, Rockville, MD 20852. There are 19 schools of optometry in the US. One school located in New York State, the SUNY College of Optometry, is public and located in New York City.
Your Record
From the time you begin college, you are assembling a complete dossier with which to apply to these professional schools. Each of the requirements is a part of the whole. For Optometry schools your record will include:
- At least 90 college credits or a Bachelor's degree
- Prerequisite courses
- OAT Admissions test
- Prehealth Committee letter or references
- Health related experience
Course Requirements
Start planning as a freshman to meet the following course requirements: A minimum of one year each of Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Biology, and Physics, all with a year of lab; one year of English; and one year of Math is recommended. Below are the UB courses which we recommend you take in order to meet these requirements:
| Chemistry | CHE 101-102, 105-106, or 107-108 | 10 credits |
| Organic Chemistry | CHE 201-202 or 251-252 | 10 credits |
| Biology | BIO 200-201 | 9 credits |
| Physics | PHY 101-102 w/labs 151-152 PHY 107-108 or 117-118 w/lab 158 |
9-10 credits |
| English | ENG 101-201 (If any waived take 3 or 6 credits of English literature) |
6 credits |
|
Mathematics (Recommended) |
MTH 121-122 OR 141-142 | 8 credits |
- Check with individual schools for additional requirements.
- Optometry Schools often require psychology, statistics, microbiology, biochemistry, and physiology.
Timetables
- A Working Plan
- Your Plan Form (PDF)
Last updated: November 07 2009 07:53:58.