A Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree is a four-year doctoral program after completing an undergraduate degree. There are currently 16 accredited schools of Optometry in the United States (and one in Puerto Rico). Many UA preoptometry students choose to study at the Optometry school at UAB because of it's proximity and outstanding reputation.
Like most other health professions, there is no set undergraduate major or degree program required for admission to optometry school. A wide variety of programs may be planned that will both fulfill specific requirements for admission to optometry school and allow students to pursue their individual academic interests. Students preparing to enter optometry school should consult the catalogs of the optometry schools of their interest early in their undergraduate enrollment, in order to be informed of the exact requirements for entrance.
Although specific admission requirements vary, most optometry schools require that the undergraduate program include (a) one academic year of general biology (BSC 114:115 and BSC 116:117); (b) one academic year of inorganic chemistry (CH 101 and CH 102) and one academic year of organic chemistry (CH 231 and CH 232, CH 237); (c) English composition (EN 101 and EN 102); (d) mathematics through one semester of calculus (MATH 125) and statistics (PY 211); (e) one academic year of physics (PH 101 and PH 102); (f) two semesters of psychology (PY 101, etc.); (g) two courses in the social and behavioral sciences (sociology, economics, anthropology, history, political science, or additional psychology); and (h) one semester of microbiology (BSC 310). Optometry schools emphasize the need for applicants to have a broad general education. Within that context, applicants are urged to make some selections of courses from appropriate areas of chemistry (for example, CH 223, CH 340), biology (for example, BSC 300, BSC 315, BSC 400, BSC 424), and the areas of social sciences and humanities that prepare students for the humanistic, behavioral, and socioeconomic aspects of health care. Preoptometry students are also urged to take courses or gain experiences that develop speech communication skills. At The University of Alabama, these requirements and recommendations can be met in programs of study leading to a variety of majors and minors in the College of Arts and Sciences or other undergraduate divisions of the University.
Beginning with initial enrollment, pre-health professions students are advised by the Health Professions Advising Office concerning selection of courses during the first two years of undergraduate study. The coursework constituting the minimum admission requirements to the professional school should be completed as early as possible (normally during the first two years). For this reason, the basic program of study advised in the first two years is similar for all pre-health professions students. Variations may be dictated by differences in course placement determined by entrance examinations.
