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3 + 4 Bachelor of Science Vision Science to Doctor of Optometry

The Rosenberg School of Optometry at the University of the Incarnate Word Rosenberg School of Optometry offers a direct admit program. The 3+4 Bachelor of Science in Vision Science / Doctor of Optometry program will provide a student the opportunity to complete the Bachelors of Science in Vision Science and the Doctor of Optometry degree over a seven year period instead of the traditional eight year track.

This curriculum is an accelerated program for the advanced undergraduate student who is ultimately interested in a Doctor of Optometry terminal degree. The successful undergraduate student will qualify to enter this program upon admission to the University with specific criteria (Phase I). The student will need to maintain and meet additional requirements throughout their three years of undergraduate Vision Science coursework in order to be accepted into the O.D. program (Phase II).  Upon acceptance into the professional program and successful completion of the 1st Professional Year, the student will be retroactively granted a B.S. in Vision Science degree. At the successful conclusion of the 4-year block step professional program, the student will be awarded a Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) professional degree. Please note that accepted undergraduate students will be expected to meet with the Academic Advisor & a Professional Program representative twice a semester for academic support services.

Please see Phase I Requirements and Phase II Requirements below:

  • 1140 SAT / 25 ACT
  • 3.7 High School Cumulative GPA / 3.7 High School Math and Sciences GPA
  • Student must be prepared to begin in Pre-Calculus 1st semester, Freshman Year
  • 3.3 Undergraduate CUM GPA / 3.3 Undergraduate Math and Sciences GPA
  • Students must meet this requirement upon application to the professional program
  • Optometry Admissions Test (OAT): 320 Academic Average / 320 Total Science
  • All subsections of the OAT should be at a 300 or higher
  • Successful completion of a minimum of 90 semester credit hours
  • Successful completion of prerequisite requirements with a ‘C’ or better
  • Completion of application process (https://optometry.uiw.edu/admissions/index.html) to include submission of OptomCAS and official OAT scores
  • Interview
  • Minimum of two Letters of Recommendation (LOR) to include one LOR from an optometrist and one LOR from an academic advisor or faculty member

To fulfill the requirements for the VS 3+4 major, the student must complete the following:

First through third undergraduate years

1. UIW Core Curriculum (see the 4-year program)

2. Vision Science Curriculum (Grade of C or better is required)

VISC 1112Intro Vision Science/Optometry

VISC 3211Applied Vision Science

VISC 3291Clinical Internship I

VISC 3292Integrated Ocular Science

VISC 3212Neuroscience/Visual System

3. First Professional Year - Fall Semester

OPT 111Basic Optometry

OPT 112Principles of Optics

OPT 113Gross Anatomy and Histology

OPT 114Fund of Vision Science

OPT 115Clinical Physiology

OPT 119Orientation/Optometry/Ethics

4. First Professional Year - Spring Semester

OPT 121Intermediate Optometry

OPT 122Visual and Applied Optics

OPT 123Clinical Ocular Anatomy

OPT 125Clin Immunology/Histopathology

OPT 126Neuroanatomy

OPT 128Ocul Biochem/Molecular Genetic

OPT 129Healthcare Syst/Communications

5. Support Work (Grade of C or better is required)

COMM 1311Public Speaking

MATH 2303Intro/Probability & Statistics

MATH 1311Precalculus

or

3 hours general elective based upon mathematics credits earned and advisor approval (3)

BIOL 3311Cell Biology

BIOL 3471General Microbiology

CHEM 1301Chemical Principles I

CHEM 2311Organic Chemistry I

CHEM 2312Organic Chemistry II

CHEM 4351Biochemistry I

PHYS 2305Physics I

PHYS 2306Physics II

PHYS 2106Physics II Laboratory

NUTR 2341Introduction to Nutrition

BMGT 3340Management Theory and Practice