Chapter VI. Graduate Programs
School of Optometry
Doctor of Optometry (O.D.)
Admissions
Admission to the School of Optometry is a competitive process. In addition to the scholastic requirements, applicants will be considered for admission based on academic and personal qualifications.
Eligible applicants will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Successful completion of prerequisite coursework (minimum 90 semester hours)
- Academic achievement (GPA)
- Competitive scores on the Optometry Admission Test (OAT):
- Letters of recommendation
- On-campus interview conducted by a member of the admissions committee
Prerequisites
Required Courses
Biology with lab* 2 semesters
Inorganic Chemistry with lab 2 semesters
General Physics with lab 2 semesters
College Mathematics 2 semesters
(At least 1 semester of Calculus)
Organic Chemistry with lab 1 semester
Microbiology with lab
(Or Bacteriology with lab – 1 semester)
Biochemistry or Molecular Biology 1 semester
Psychology 1 semester
Statistics 1 semester
English 2 semesters
*2 semesters of General Biology with lab OR 1 semester of General Biology with lab and 1
semester of any of the following courses with lab: Cell Biology, Physiology, Anatomy, or Genetics.
Additional Required Courses (for students entering without a Bachelor’s degree)
Humanities 2 courses
Behavioral & Social Sciences 2 courses
Recommended Courses (but not required)
Physiology Recommended
Anatomy Recommended
Ethics Recommended
Note. As part of the School of Optometry’s accreditation process, this basic information may be subject to modification in the coming year.
Contact Information
For more information, please contact the UIW School of Optometry at 210-883-1190 or optometry@uiwtx.edu, or the Office of Optometry Admissions at 210-883-1193. Additional information may be found on the website at http://www.uiw.edu/optometry .