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Vision Science—Bachelor of Science to Doctor of Optometry Direct Admit

Degrees: Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Optometry

Website: Bachelor of Science in Vision Science 3+4 Direct Admit

College/School: Rosenberg School of Optometry

Apply to UIW: Application for the Bachelor of Science in Vision Science Direct Admit program

Program Overview

The 3+4 Bachelor of Science in Vision Science to Doctor of Optometry program provides students the opportunity to complete the Bachelor of Science in Vision Science and the Doctor of Optometry degree over a 7-year period, instead of the traditional 8 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 3 years of undergraduate Vision Science coursework in order to be accepted into the Doctor of Optometry program (Phase II). Upon acceptance into the professional program and successful completion of the 1st Professional Year, the student will be retroactively granted a Bachelor of Science in Vision Science degree. At the successful conclusion of the 4-year block step professional program, the student will be awarded the Doctor of Optometry professional degree.

Please note that accepted undergraduate students will be expected to meet with the academic advisor and a professional program representative twice a semester for academic support services.

Admission Requirements

  • 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 (https://optometry.uiw.edu/admissions/index.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



Vision Science BS to OD Direct Admit Degree Plan

The Visions Science Bachelor of Science to Doctor of Optometry program requires 140.5 credit hours to complete. The Bachelor of Science degree will be awarded after successful completion of the first year of professional coursework.

UIW Undergraduate Core Curriculum

UIW core coursework is required. Review the Undergraduate Core Curriculum Here and review the degree plans for each concentration for scheduling of the core curriculum classwork. In addition, 45 Community Service hours are part of all bachelor's degree programs. See Community Service.

 

UIW Core Curriculum 
 Composition and Rhetoric  6 credit hours 
 Literature and Art 6 credit hours 
 Science and Mathematics 7 credit hours 
 History and Behavioral Science 6 credit hours 
 Philosophy and Religion  9 credit hours 
 Second Language  6 credit hours 
 Wellness and Physical Education  3 credit hours
  43 total core credit hours
   
 Community Service  45 clock hours (non-credit) 

MATH 1311, BIOL 2321, and BIOL 2121 satisfy UIW Core coursework requirements and degree program requirements.

Vision Science Curriculum

 A grade of C or better is required for all coursework.
VISC 1112Introduction to Vision Science and Optometry

1
VISC 3211Applied Vision Science

2
VISC 3291Clinical Internship I

2
VISC 3292Integrated Ocular Science

2
VISC 3212Neuroscience and the Visual System

2
Total Credit Hours:9

First Professional Year - Fall Semester

OPT 5411Clinical Optometry I

4.5
OPT 5412Principles of Optics

4
OPT 5413Human Anatomy and Histology

4
OPT 5315Fundamentals of Vision Science

3
OPT 5219Professional Optometric Practice I

2
OPT 5313Neuroanatomy

3
Total Credit Hours:22.5

First Professional Year - Spring Semester

OPT 5421Clinical Optometry II

4.5
OPT 5522Visual and Applied Optics

5
OPT 5423Clinical Ocular Anatomy and Physiology I

4
OPT 5225Clinical Immunology and Histopathology

2
OPT 5223Ocular Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics

2
OPT 5129Professional Optometric Practice II

1
OPT 5325Clinical Physiology

3
Total Credit Hours:21.5

Support Work

 A grade of C or better is required in all coursework.
MATH 1311Precalculus

3
MATH 2303Introduction to Probability and Statistics

3
BIOL 2321Anatomy and Physiology I

3
BIOL 2121Anatomy and Physiology I Lab

1
BIOL 3471General Microbiology

4
CHEM 1301Chemical Principles I

3
CHEM 1101Chemical Principles I Lab

1
CHEM 1302Chemical Principles II

3
CHEM 1102Chemical Principles II Lab

1
CHEM 2311Organic Chemistry I

3
CHEM 2111Organic Chemistry I Lab

1
CHEM 2312Organic Chemistry II

3
CHEM 2112Organic Chemistry II Lab

1
CHEM 4351/BIOL 4351Biochemistry I

3
PHYS 2305Physics I

3
PHYS 2105Physics I Lab

1
PHYS 2306Physics II

3
PHYS 2106Physics II Laboratory

1
SPCH 1311Public Speaking

3
Total Credit Hours:44

Total Credit Hours: 140.5