Optometry is a profession devoted to eye care. Optometrists examine people's eyes to diagnose vision problems and eye diseases. They prescribe eyeglasses and contact lenses, and provide vision therapy. To prepare for a career in optometry, a student must complete a Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree at a professional college of optometry. There are only 17 colleges of optometry in the United States. They all require a minimum of 60 semester hours of college work in order for the student to be eligible to apply for admission. In actual practice 95% of all successful applicants have a bachelor's degree. Most of our students attend the Illinois College of Optometry (ICO) after completing a bachelor's degree. ICO is a private professional college located in Chicago. It offers a four-year curriculum leading to the O.D. degree. Other regional colleges of optometry include Indiana University School of Optometry and the University of Missouri - St. Louis School of Optometry.
For additional information, please contact:
| Dr.
Kip L. McGilliard
Pre-Optometry Advisor Department of Biological Sciences Eastern Illinois University Charleston, IL 61920 Phone: (217) 581-6384 E-mail: klmcgilliard@eiu.edu |
Dr.
Jeff Laursen, Chairperson
Medical Professions Committee Department of Biological Sciences Eastern Illinois University Charleston, IL 61920 Phone: (217) 581-6390 E-mail: cfjrl@eiu.edu |
| General Biology w/laboratory (2 sem.) | BIO 1100* or BIO 1010, BIO 1300G* or ZOO 1020C |
| Microbiology w/laboratory | BIO 3300* or BOT 3300 |
| General Chemistry w/laboratory (2 sem.) | CHM 1310G, 1315G, 1410, 1415 |
| +Organic Chemistry w/laboratory (1 sem.) | CHM 2430, 2435, or 2440, 2435,2840,2845 |
| Physics w/laboratory (2 sem.) | PHY 1151G, 1152G, 1161, 1162 |
| +Math (through Calculus) | MAT 1330, 1400, 1441G or 1430*, 1440G* |
| Statistics | BIO 4750 or MAT 2250G or PSY 2610 |
| English Composition (2 sem.) | ENG 1001G, 1002G |
| +Psychology | PSY 1879G |
| +Social Sciences | Elective |
| +Some colleges require additional courses in these areas | * New course or new course number effective Fall 1999 |
It is also strongly recommended that students include courses in anatomy, physiology, genetics, speech, economics, and computer sciences.
The Optometry Admission Test (OAT) is required of all applicants and is given in February and October of each year.
Eastern Illinois University is not affiliated with any colleges of optometry and cannot guarantee admission to a professional school. Students who apply to colleges of optometry will be competing with students applying from other colleges and universities.
| Yes |
Return to Top of Page
Updated 11/03/00
Many thanks to Chris
McGilliard for his help in construction of this site.