Pre-Optometry

General Information

Bachelor’s Degree RequiredYes
Entrance ExamOAT (Optometry Admission Test)
Entrance Exam ResourcesWhat is on the OAT (Princeton Review)
Seeing Through the OAT (Princeton Review)
What is Tested on the OAT (Kaplan)
Patient Care Experience &/or Shadowing Hours30+ Hours
Application SystemsOptomCAS
Application Timeline & ChecklistProgram Application Deadlines (OptomCAS)
Program DirectoryASCO Member Schools & Colleges
AOSA Schools
“Pre-Professional Resource Library”Coming Soon!
Professional Associations & AccreditationsAssociation of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO)
American Optometric Student Association (AOSA)
National Optometric Association (NOA)
American Academy of Optometry (AAOPT)
American Optometric Association (AOA)
Additional ResourcesApplicant & Prerequisite Information (ASCO)

Recommended Coursework (PDF)

Biology CoursesBIOL231 Human Anatomy & Physiology I w/ Lab (4)
BIOL232 Human Anatomy & Physiology II w/ Lab (4)
BIOL233 Human Anatomy & Physiology III w/ Lab (4)
BIOL323 General Microbiology w/ Lab (5)
Chemistry CoursesCHEM204 General Chemistry w/ Lab (5)
CHEM205 General Chemistry w/ Lab (5)
CHEM206 General Chemistry w/ Lab (5)
CHEM334 Organic Chemistry I (4)
CHEM335 Organic Chemistry II (4)
CHEM338 Organic Chemistry I Lab (1)
CHEM336 Organic Chemistry III (4)
CHEM339 Organic Chemistry II Lab (1)
CHEM450 Structural Biochemistry (4)
CHEM451 Metabolic Chemistry (4)
CHEM454 Biochemistry Lab (2)
Physics CoursesPHYS201 General Physics w/ Lab (4)
PHYS202 General Physics w/ Lab (4)
PHYS203 General Physics w/ Lab (4)
Math/Statistics CoursesMATH241 Survey of Calculus (4) or MATH251 Calculus (4)
STAT327 Statistics & Experimental Design (5) or STAT352 Statistics (4)
Social Science CoursesPSY201 General Psychology (4
English/Writing CoursesWR122 Argumentative Writing (4)
Strongly Suggested Electives/Additional CoursesN/A
NotesThe curriculum of the Pre-Optometry pathway is for those seeking admission to a school of Optometry to complete a Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree. Typically, students will complete a Bachelor’s degree in