VISC 3291 Clinical Internship I
This course is the first installment course in a 3-course series. The course is designed to introduce the undergraduate vision science student to the roles, behaviors, functions and daily activities of the professional optometrist. Working in small groups with professional optometry students and under the supervision of a professional staff/faculty member, the students will learn and be involved in the art and science of history taking, pre-examination workups, assessment of symptoms, generation of differential diagnosis, activities in the optical dispensary, aspects of vision therapy, diagnosis and treatment of learning-related vision disorders and school vision screening activities. The students will be required to learn the characteristics of basic vision disorders and ocular diseases and the operations and benefits of new diagnostic technologies. The students will have the opportunity to attend the weekly clinical/research seminars and grand rounds with the professional optometry students. This internship program will also provide an opportunity for the undergraduate intern to interact with the optometry faculty and professional students in a clinical, patient-based environment. Interns will learn how to exhibit appropriate professional conduct, observe competence in patient care and commitment to lifelong learning, as well as to develop an understanding of professionalism and ethics in healthcare.