MSCHE Self Study April 2021

graduate Studies and research. During the course of their dissertation research, students are urged to present their findings at scientific conferences such as the American Academy of Optometry (AAO), Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), Society for Neuroscience (SFN) or Vision Science Society (VSS). The College provides funds to cover travel expenses for each student to attend up to two meetings annually. After completion of the doctoral research project, the student creates a comprehensive written dissertation that is given to members of the thesis committee for review. At this point, an expert reader from an outside institution is asked to join the thesis committee to provide an objective review of the work. After the written dissertation is deemed acceptable by the thesis committee (following any necessary revision) there is an oral defense consisting of an hour ‐ long public presentation followed by a closed question and answer period with the student’s thesis committee, including the outside reader. Titles of recently completed PhD dissertations include Functional and Clinical Consequences of Asymmetries between On and Off Visual Pathways (2020); Top ‐ Down Control of Saccades in Visual Alignment and Search Tasks (2020); Geometries of Visual Cortex and 3D Perception (2019); An Analysis of the Neural Mechanisms Underlying Covert and Overt Spatial Attention (2019); Planning and Execution of Sequential Saccades in the Human Oculomotor System (2018); Color Perception in Context: Effects of Eye Movements, Adaptation, Lateral Interaction, Scission and Integration (2018); and Binocular Global Motion Perception: Stimulus Interactions in Random ‐ Dot Kinematograms (2018). MS in Vision Science The MS in vision sciences is typically awarded to students in the combined OD/MS or Residency/MS programs described below. Occasionally, we admit a student to study towards a sole MS degree. The requirements are the same as described below. Combined OD/MS in Vision Science The goal of the OD/MS program is to prepare optometrists for careers in academic optometry and optometric research. Program learning objectives, which are derivative of this goal, are given under Standard V. Students apply to the OD/MS program in the spring semester of their first year in the OD degree program and can begin taking required courses in that semester. Accepted students must pick a research mentor by April of the first spring semester and create a thesis committee by May. The student prepares a written thesis proposal that is reviewed and accepted by his/her thesis committee so that research work can begin the summer. Six new students enrolled in the program in 2019. The total number of OD/MS students is typically 15 ‐ 20. Students must complete forty semester ‐ hour credits and a research project as outlined in the Graduate Policy Document . A number of the required courses are part of the OD program (these provide basic background information analogous to the Introduction to Vision Science sequence completed by PhD students). The required coursework focuses on readings of original literature that builds upon the coursework material in the professional optometry program. Other

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