Optometry Coordinated Degree Program Agreement
Requirements of the program:
Admission to any of the 23 optometry schools in the United States requires completion of at least three years of undergraduate coursework. Some schools give preference to applicants with a bachelor's degree. Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø's optometry program is not a graduation major, so a departmental major must be completed if the student intends to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
While requirements vary among different schools, Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø's pre-optometry program satisfies the pre-requisites of nearly all optometry schools in the country. The program requirements include BIOL-130, BIOL-140,BIOL-250, BIOL-343, BIOL-362; CHEM-131, CHEM-132, CHEM-123, CHEM-321; PHYS-151, PHYS-152; PSYC-100, PSYC-240; and MATH-160. Recommended supporting courses include advanced communication courses and additional social science coursework.
Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø has an articulation agreement with Illinois Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø of Optometry. Students may be accepted to the program during spring of their first year at Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø and must then maintain a minimum grade-point average and score above the average Optometry Admission Test (OAT) score of the prior year's incoming ICO class. Our agreement with ICO is a 3:4 program, meaning students can enter ICO following their third year at Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø. After their first year at ICO, students may transfer coursework back to Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø to complete the bachelor of arts degree. The 3:4 program is not restricted to Illinois residents. Students interested in optometry should confer with the advisor early in the first year of study.
Requirements of the Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Bachelor of Arts Degree; Student is responsible for:
- Completing a minimum of six (6) semesters of full-time enrollment at Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø;
- Completing a minimum of 90 credits at Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø (transfer and AP work cannot be included);
- See that all General Education coursework is complete prior to enrollment at the receiving institution;
- Seeing that all transfer coursework from the receiving institution meets all requirements of the Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø transfer policy (see catalog);
- Communicating with the Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø faculty advisor for particular advising needs;
- Applying to graduate within all published deadlines (see Academic Calendar) ;
- Arranging to have official transcripts sent directly to the Office of the Registrar before the intended date of graduation; and
- Adhere to all other degree requirements set forth in the Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Catalog.