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Optometry

Optometrists examine, diagnose, treat and manage diseases of the visual system, the eye and associated structures. Treatment may include corrective glasses or contacts, vision therapy and therapeutic drugs. Optometrists usually set up their own offices or work in group practices. The professional training requires four years in a school or college of optometry and leads to the doctor of optometry (O.D.) degree.

Most optometry schools have a prerequisite of at least 90 semester credits of college courses, including those listed below. Students have three options with regard to their preprofessional education: 1) They may spend three years at Iowa State taking the required courses and enter the optometry school without earning a bachelor's degree. 2) They may spend four years at Iowa State taking the required preoptometry courses as they earn a degree in zoology, biology, psychology, or other major prior to entering the professional school. 3) They may spend three or four years at Iowa State taking the required courses and meeting most of the requirements for a bachelor's degree, then transfer back to Iowa State a maximum of 32 semester credits from the optometry school in order to fulfill requirements for a bachelor's degree. A major in Bachelor of Liberal Studies will allow a student to spend three years at Iowa State fulfilling most of the requirements for a B.S. degree, then transfer credits from the first year of optometry school to complete requirements for major and elective courses.

The courses required for admission to optometry schools are the following:

• English (ENGL 104, 105)
• Biology (Biol 211, 211L; 212, 212L)
• Human anatomy and physiology (BIOL 255, 255L; 256, 256L—biological science majors may prefer to fulfill this requirement by taking BIOL 335 and 351)
• General chemistry (CHEM 163, 163L, 164, 164L or CHEM 177, 177L, 178, 178L)
• Organic chemistry (CHEM 231, 231L or the CHEM 331, 331L, 332, 332L series)
• Biochemistry (BBMB 301, 311 or BIOL 314, 314L required by certain programs)
• Physics with laboratory (PHYS 111, 112 or PHYS 221, 222)
• Mathematics (one semester of calculus will satisfy most optometry programs)
• Statistics (STAT 101 or 104)
• Psychology, 2 semesters (PSYCH 101, 230)
• Microbiology (MICRO 302, 201L)
• Additional courses in social sciences and humanities are required by certain professional schools.

Professional schools may change their prerequisites. Students are responsible for maintaining direct contact with specific professional schools for current prerequisite guidelines.

Some optometry schools award a bachelor's degree to students entering without one, provided that certain courses have been taken. These may include foreign language, English literature, social science, arts and humanities courses. Preference is given to applicants with bachelor's or higher degrees.

Applicants to an optometry school will take the Optometry Admission Test (OAT) about one year before planned entry. The OAT is a computerized exam offered on site at ISU’s Testing Center in the Student Services Building. Registration for the exam can be completed online at: www.opted.org/ Information regarding schools, their admission requirements, and the profession are available from the preprofessional adviser in 102 Carrie Chapman Catt Hall, phone (515) 294-4831. For further information visit the American Optometric Association, ASCO’s World Wide Web Site at www.opted.org.