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Optometry Requirements

Southern College of Optometry

  • "Doctors 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." (Definition adopted by the American Optometric Association)

  • Completion of a bachelor's degree is strongly encouraged, and the Optometry Admission Test (OAT) is required for admission.

  • There is no particular major required to enter optometry training although a strong background in science is highly recommended.

Resources

 

Courses

 UofM Course

# of hours required by Southern
College of Optometry 

General Biology

BIOL 1110/1111 BIOL 1120/1121

8

Microbiology

BIOL 3500/3505

4

General Chemistry

CHEM 1110/1111
CHEM 1120/1121

8

Organic Chemistry

CHEM 3311/3301

4

Biochemistry

CHEM 4511*

3

General Physics

PHYS 2010/2011 PHYS 2020/2021

8

Calculus

Math 1830 or Math 1910

3

Statistics

Math 1530, Math 4611, SOCI 3311,
SCMS 2710, EDPR 4541

3

English Composition

ENGL 1010
ENGL 1020

6

General Psychology

PSYC 1030

3

Social Science Electives

Courses from Sociology, Psychology, Political Science, History, Economics, Anthropology, Geography, Religion,
or Philosophy

6

Cell Biology

BIOL 3130

Recommended

Comparative Anatomy

BIOL 3620

Recommended

Vertebrate Physiology

BIOL 3730

Recommended

*CHEM 3312/3302 (General Organic Chemistry 2) is required prior to taking Biochemistry.