MSCHE/ACOE Self Study

These data are consistent with feedback that the dean has received from the Class of 2013 that the modifications put in place to improve implementation of the new curriculum have been effective. It will be important to continue to carefully monitor implementation through the mechanisms described previously. An example of how input solicited from students by the dean is used at the Track Coordinator meeting is the placement Neuroanatomy . Initially, this course was offered in the second module (Module B) of the fall semester of the first year. Gross anatomy was taken concurrently with this course, and with the substantially increased workload of the optometry curriculum (compared to their undergraduate experiences), entering students felt overwhelmed. Following discussions with the track coordinators and review by the faculty-elected Curriculum Committee, the dean relocated Neuroanatomy to the summer following the second year where the course load is lighter and students are better acclimated to the rigors of the professional curriculum. Additional adjustments to the course sequence for better integration between courses and to lighten the student work load as much as possible may be considered by the track coordinators and Curriculum Committee. 2.6 Basic science instruction provides a foundation of knowledge in physical, biological and behavioral sciences essential for clinical optometric care. Courses in the basic sciences are taught by content experts who hold an OD, PhD or both. Courses designated by B are offered by the Department of Biological Sciences and those demarked by V are in the Department of Vision Sciences (http://www.sunyopt.edu/academics/od_curriculum.shtml). Courses in Biological Sciences are considered to be basic science while certain courses in Vision Sciences are basic (e.g., optics and basic visual processes), while others (e.g., contact lenses, vision therapy, methods and procedures, ophthalmic optics) are clinical in nature. All courses have learning objectives that are included in the syllabus. Syllabi can be found on the College’s course management system, Moodle and will be available on-site. One of the goals of the new curriculum is to facilitate the meaningful integration of the basic and clinical sciences. Traditionally, basic science material tends to be front-loaded in the first part of the optometric curriculum, while clinical material is emphasized later on. To facilitate integration, an integrative track has been added in which students participate in clinical activities and subsequently discuss their experiences in small group meetings groups facilitated by at least one faculty member. This track, which also has a lecture component in the first two years, runs through the first three years of the curriculum. (Please refer to Appendix B-8a for the curriculum grid.) Discussions at the regularly scheduled track coordinator meetings indicate this approach has helped students develop the outlook and skills to better apply their understanding of the basic sciences to patient care.

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