MSCHE/ACOE Self Study

6.2.2 The professional program requires that the accepted applicants have completed all the prerequisites and at least an equivalent of three academic years of postsecondary education in an accredited institution prior to beginning the program. To be considered for admission to the OD program, a minimum of three years (90 quarter hours) at an accredited institution is required (page 18 of the online published College catalog http://www.sunyopt.edu/images/College_Catalog.pdf). A baccalaureate degree is recommended and for the class entering in 2009, 92% had completed this degree. The prerequisite courses are:

 One year of general biology with lab  One year of general chemistry with lab  One year of general physics with lab  One year of organic chemistry with lab  One semester or quarter of calculus  One year of English composition and literature  One semester or quarter of psychology  One year of social sciences  One semester or quarter of statistics  Microbiology (not required, but strongly recommended)

Acceptable performance on these prerequisites (as well as in other undergraduate courses) and the Optometry Admissions Test (which includes the subject areas of biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, reading comprehension, and quantitative reasoning) provides evidence that matriculated students have acquired and demonstrated college-level proficiency in general education. (Please note that the College offers no undergraduate degrees.) According to the 2010

Professional Student Survey, more than 79% of respondents strongly agreed or agreed that “I feel that my undergraduate prerequisite courses prepared me adequately for the optometry program.”

The SUNY College of Optometry offers the Affiliation (3/4) Program as an alternative to the traditional route of entry into the professional OD program. Highly qualified undergraduate students from 35 affiliated colleges and universities work to complete both their undergraduate degrees as well as their doctor of optometry degrees within a seven year period—instead of the usual eight—thus saving one year of tuition, travel, and expenses. In each of 2008, 2009 and 2010, seven students who participated in the Affiliation Program matriculated in the OD program.

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