Pre-Optometry (preopt)

In order to receive the doctor of optometry (O.D.) degree, you must complete a four-year program at a board-approved school of optometry. Most students interested in optometry first complete a liberal arts degree with a major in biology. A new option for interested students is the orthoptic major.  Orthoptics is a specialized area of eye care working mostly with children who have eye disorders and people of any age with eye muscle imbalance or double vision.

The following courses are required for admission to most schools of optometry:

BIOL 1710, 1720 Foundations of Biology I and II
BIOL 3120 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy or BIOL 2520 Human Anatomy
BIOL 3210 Biology of Microorganisms or BIOL 2200 Introduction to Microbiology
CHEM 1110, 1120 General Chemistry
CHEM 2010 Organic Chemistry I
ENGL 2305 Writing plus another ENGL course
MATH 1080 Statistical Analysis (or other Statistics)      
MATH 1130 Calculus I or MATH 1110, 1120 Functions with Calculus                           
PHYS 1110, 1120 Introductory Physics or PHYS 1080, 1090 Physics for the Health Sciences
PSYC 1001 General Psychology

Each optometry school has a slightly different set of prerequisite courses.  For further information, contact Dr. John Pellegrini of the Biology Department or Lisa Rovick, director of the orthoptic program.

Major Requirements: