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3 + 4 Bachelor of Science Vision Science to Doctor of Optometry

The Rosenberg School of Optometry at the University of the Incarnate Word Rosenberg School of Optometry offers a direct admit program. The 3+4 Bachelor of Science in Vision Science / Doctor of Optometry program will provide a student the opportunity to complete the Bachelors of Science in Vision Science and the Doctor of Optometry degree over a seven year period instead of the traditional eight year track.

This curriculum is an accelerated program for the advanced undergraduate student who is ultimately interested in a Doctor of Optometry terminal degree. The successful undergraduate student will qualify to enter this program upon admission to the University with specific criteria (Phase I). The student will need to maintain and meet additional requirements throughout their three years of undergraduate Vision Science coursework in order to be accepted into the O.D. program (Phase II).  Upon acceptance into the professional program and successful completion of the 1st Professional Year, the student will be retroactively granted a B.S. in Vision Science degree. At the successful conclusion of the 4-year block step professional program, the student will be awarded a Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) professional degree. Please note that accepted undergraduate students will be expected to meet with the Academic Advisor & a Professional Program representative twice a semester for academic support services.

Please see Phase I Requirements and Phase II Requirements below:

  • 1140 SAT / 25 ACT
  • 3.7 High School Cumulative GPA / 3.7 High School Math and Sciences GPA
  • Student must be prepared to begin in Pre-Calculus 1st semester, Freshman Year
  • 3.3 Undergraduate CUM GPA / 3.3 Undergraduate Math and Sciences GPA
  • Students must meet this requirement upon application to the professional program
  • Optometry Admissions Test (OAT): 320 Academic Average / 320 Total Science
  • All subsections of the OAT should be at a 300 or higher
  • Successful completion of a minimum of 90 semester credit hours
  • Successful completion of prerequisite requirements with a ‘C’ or better
  • Completion of application process (http://optometry.uiw.edu/admissions/apply.html) to include submission of OptomCAS and official OAT scores
  • Interview
  • Minimum of two Letters of Recommendation (LOR) to include one LOR from an optometrist and one LOR from an academic advisor or faculty member

To fulfill the requirements for the VS 3+4 major, the student must complete the following:

First through third undergraduate years

1. UIW Core Curriculum (see the 4-year program)

2. Vision Science Curriculum (Grade of C or better is required)

VISC 1112Introduction to Vision Science and Optometry

VISC 3211Applied Vision Science

VISC 3291Clinical Internship I

VISC 3292Integrated Ocular Science

VISC 3212Neuroscience of the Visual System

3. First Professional Year - Fall Semester

OPT 111

OPT 112

OPT 113

OPT 114

OPT 115

OPT 119

4. First Professional Year - Spring Semester

OPT 121

OPT 122

OPT 123

OPT 125

OPT 126

OPT 128

OPT 129

5. Support Work (Grade of C or better is required)

SPCH 1311Public Speaking

MATH 2303Introduction to Probability and Statistics

MATH 1311Precalculus

or

3 hours general elective based upon mathematics credits earned and advisor approval (3)

BIOL 3411/3411LCell Biology and Lab

BIOL 3471/3471LGeneral Microbiology and Lab

CHEM 1301/CHEM 1302Chemical Principles I and II

CHEM 2311/CHEM 2111Organic Chemistry I and Lab

CHEM 2312/CHEM 2112Organic Chemistry II and Lab

CHEM 4351/CHEM 4151Biochemistry I and Lab

PHYS 2305/PHYS 2105Physics I and Lab

PHYS 2306/PHYS 2106Physics II and Lab

PHYS 2106Physics Laboratory II

NUTR 2341Introduction to Nutrition

BMGT 3340Management Theory and Practice