Optometry School Academic Preparation

Optometry School Academic Preparation(PDF)

These courses meet the requirements for most optometry schools and for preparation for the OAT. Optometry schools generally do not accept AP credit or on-line courses for these required courses. Be sure to check each optometry school’s requirements.

 

No optometry school requires a science major, nor are science majors given extra consideration in the admission process. Becoming a competitive optometry school applicant also requires more than a solid GPA and OAT score. Be sure you are meeting regularly with your HPAO advisor.

 

One year General Chemistry with Labs

CHEM 200                  General Chemistry
Prerequisites: Knowledge of introductory chemistry as demonstrated by completion of CHEM 100 with a grade of C or better, or satisfaction of the Entry-Level Mathematics requirement and qualification on the Chemistry Department Placement Examination.

CHEM 201                  General Chemistry
Prerequisite: CHEM 200 or 202 with grade of C or better

One semester of Organic Chemistry with Lab

CHEM 232/232L         Organic Chemistry
Prerequisite: CHEM 201 with grade of C or better and credit or concurrent enrollment in CHEM 232L

 

One year of Biology with Labs

BIOL 203/203L            Principles of Cell & Molecular Biology
Prerequisite: Credit/ concurrent registration in CHEM 200 or 202 and satisfaction of the English placement test requirement

BIOL 204/204L            Principles of Organismal Biology
Prerequisite: Satisfaction of the English placement test requirement. Recommended completion of BIOL 203/203L

 

One semester of Microbiology

BIOL 350      or BIOL 211              General Microbiology

Prerequisites: Biology 203, 203L, 204, 204L; Chemistry 232, 232L

 

One semester of Biochemistry

CHEM 365                  Biochemistry, Cell & Molecular Biology

Prerequisites: BIOL 203, 203L and CHEM 232, 232L

 

One semester of Anatomy with Lab

BIOL 212                     Human Anatomy

Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in Biology 100, 203, or 211.

 

One semester of Physiology with Lab

BIOL 261                     Human Physiology

Prerequisites: Biology 212. Credit or concurrent registration in Chemistry 102 (or Chemistry 100 and credit or concurrent registration in Chemistry 130).

                        OR

BIOL 336                     Principles of Human Physiology

Prerequisite: Completion of the General Education requirement in Foundations of Learning II.A.2. Life Sciences. If a biological sciences course is not taken to satisfy General Education II.A.2. Life Sciences, a college course in biological sciences is required.

BIOL 436                     Human Physiology Laboratory

Prerequisite: Credit or concurrent registration in Biology 336 or 590

                        OR

BIOL 590                     Physiology of Human Systems

Prerequisite: Biology 366, Chemistry 365, Physics 180B, 182B

BIOL 436                     Human Physiology Laboratory

Prerequisite: Credit or concurrent registration in Biology 336 or 590

 

One year of Physics with Labs

PHYS 180A/182A       Fundamentals of Physics I/Lab
Prerequisite: Satisfaction of the Entry-level Mathematics requirement. Recommended concurrent registration in PHYS 182A

PHYS 180B/182B       Fundamentals of Physics II/Lab
Prerequisite: Satisfaction of the Entry-level Mathematics requirement, PHYS 180A.  Recommended concurrent registration in PHYS 182B

                        OR

PHYS 195/195L          Principles of Physics/Lab
Prerequisites: High school physics or PHYS 180A. MATH 150 with a minimum grade of C

PHYS 196/196L          Principles of Physics/Lab
Prerequisites: PHYS 195. MATH 151

 

One year of Math and Statistics (one semester of each)

MATH 124                   Calculus for Life Sciences

Prerequisites: Knowledge of algebra, geometry, and trigonometry as demonstrated by either (1) satisfactory completions of MATH 141 with a grade of C (2.0) or above; or (2) satisfaction of the Entry-Level Mathematics requirement and qualification on the Mathematics Departmental Precalculus Proficiency Examination. Proof of completion of prerequisites required.

                        OR

MATH 150                   Calculus I

Prerequisites: Knowledge of algebra, geometry, and trigonometry as demonstrated by either (1) satisfactory completions of MATH 141 with a grade of C (2.0) or above; or (2) satisfaction of the Entry-Level Mathematics requirement and qualification on the Mathematics Departmental Precalculus Proficiency Examination. Proof of completion of prerequisites required.

                        AND

Generally any statistics course except business statistics. Be sure to check each course’s prerequisites.

STATS 250 or ECON 201 or PSY 280 or BIOL 215

 

Courses required by some schools (Be sure to check pre-requisites)

BIOL 485                     Principles of Immunology (Required by UC Berkeley)

Prerequisite: BIOL 203, BIOL 203L, CHEM 365, credit or concurrent registration in BIOL 366