ACOE_Self-Study

Elective time during the regular academic year and summers is devoted to graduate courses and research. This enables students to fulfill both OD and MS degree requirements within four years. Recent program enrollment can be found in Appendix III-4 . Master of Science students receive a broad education in a variety of areas of vision science as well as training in the concepts and methods used in both basic and clinical research. A total of 40 semester credit hours in courses or research is required. In addition, students must complete a thesis and oral defense. Specific curricular requirements can be found starting on page 13 of the Graduate Policy Document ( Appendix III-5 or at https://www.sunyopt.edu/pdfs/academics/GraduatePolicyDoc.pdf). The combined OD/MS degree program is designed for students interested in conducting independent, original research as an adjunct to their optometric education, including those aspiring to a career in academia. OD-PhD program Exceptional students in the OD-MS program may complete the PhD in Vision Science offered by the college. Completion of the program will extend past the completion of the OD program, at which time students will be enrolled as PhD students. Optometry students extending their research into the PhD are designated as fellows following graduation and are eligible for NIH programs supporting clinician-scientists (Loan Repayment and K grants). Since 2012, 6 students with Optometry degrees have enrolled in the PhD Program, 4 have completed the PhD, and two are currently enrolled. Graduates have all attained faculty or staff positions in academia, industry, or the military. The research projects have involved ophthalmic and vision research related to traumatic brain injury, visual attention, glaucoma, and mechanisms of accommodative errors. Combined Graduate-Residency program The graduate-residency program is a unique two-year program that allows new graduates interested in translational and clinical research to do an ACOE accredited residency in two-years while competing the MS in Vision Science. The program is designed so that the research and residency are in complementary areas creating clinician scientists with advanced clinical competency training. The research component of the program may be extended beyond completion of the MS to complete the PhD. Residency trained optometrists extending their research into the PhD are designated as fellows following graduation and are eligible for NIH programs supporting clinician-scientists (Loan Repayment and K grants). This program is in its third year and was recently accredited by the ACOE. Three students have been enrolled, the first graduated in 2018, the second is in his second year, and the third began the program in the summer of 2018. Current students are working on projects related to mechanisms of glaucoma and myopia control. Other Research Opportunities for OD Students The College holds a T35 training grant from the NIH, which funds 8 students to carry out research over a 10-week summer program. The purpose of the program is to introduce optometry

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