Professional Optometry Degree Program (OD)
Preoptometry Requirements
A total of 90 semester hours of college credit is required as a minimum for early admission to the School of Optometry; however, a bachelor’s degree is strongly recommended. Preoptometry requirements must be completed by the time the student enters the School of Optometry. Students who already have a bachelor’s degree with a major in a science field are often fully prepared for admission to the School of Optometry. Those with degrees in nonscience fields may find additional course work required. Students must take their preoptometry course work from an accredited institution. Grades lower than a C in any preoptometry requirement will not be accepted. Each course meets just one requirement. All preoptometry requirements must have been completed within 10 years from the time when the student hopes to start the Doctor of Optometry program.
Students entering with a bachelor’s degree must have completed the following courses:
| Subject Area | Min. sem. cr. hrs. req'd. |
Comparable IU courses |
| Biology/Zoology | ||
|
4 | L 112 and L 113 |
|
3 | see recommended list below |
|
4 | M 380 or M 250 and M 255 |
| Chemistry | ||
|
4 | C 341 or C 342 and C 343 |
|
8 | C 117/C 127 and N 330 or C 118 |
| Mathematics | ||
|
3 | M 211 or M 119 or M 119 and X 201 |
| Physics | ||
|
8 | P 201 and P 202 |
| Statistical Techniques and/or Experimental Design |
3 | STAT S 300, PSY K 300 or K 310 SPEA K 300 or Econ E 370 or Math K310 |
| Psychology, Introductory | 3 | P 101 |
| Writing Skills - two courses; English Composition W131 or 132 and an additional course with a strong writing component |
6 | W 131 or 132 and the Intensive Writing Requirement |
Students entering the Indiana University School of Optometry without a bachelor’s degree must have completed the following courses in addition to the above:
| Subject Area | Min. sem. cr. hrs. req'd. |
| Arts and Humanities | 6 |
| Foreign Language | 6 |
| Social and Historical Studies | 6 |
| Additional Credits | as needed |
| Total Credits | 90 |
Of the 90 credit hours, at least 20 must be at the 300-400 level. A maximum of 60 semester hours may be taken at a community college.
| Credit Hours Required | IU Courses | |
| Advanced Biology: | ||
| Vertebrate or Human Anatomy with lab | 5 | ANAT-A 215 |
| Physiology with lab | 5 | PHSL-P 215 |
| Biochemistry (300+ level if possible) | 3 | BIOL-M 350/CHEM-C 483 |
| Other Recommended Elective Courses: | ||
| Anatomy and Physiology of the Eye | 3 | OPT-V 201 |
| Small Business Management | 3 | BUS-X 100 |
| Explore Entrepreneurship | 3 | BUS-W 212 |
| Medical Terminology | 2 | CLAS-C 209 |
| Histology | 4 | ANAT-A 464 |
| Ethics | 3 | PHIL-P 140 |
| Independent Research | 1-3 | 490 Series |
None of the specified courses may be taken on a Pass/Fail basis. The credit hours required in the individual subjects are considered absolute minimums, which must be met or exceeded. If the credit hours in any subject total fewer than the minimum specified, the student should complete the next higher course in that subject. Quarter hours convert to semester hours by the following scale:
3 quarter hours = 2 semester hours4 quarter hours = 3 semester hours
5 quarter hours = 3.33 semester hours
6 quarter hours = 4 semester hours
For further information, contact the Office of Student Administration, School of Optometry, Indiana University, 800 E. Atwater Avenue, Bloomington, IN 474053680; (812) 855-1917; e-mail iubopt [at] indiana [dot] edu.