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Muncie, IN 47306-0440
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Department of Biology
Pre-Optometry 
Curriculum
for
Applicants Entering I.U.  School of Optometry

Although many of our students choose to go to 
IU School of Optometry, 
general information for other schools is available online at www.opted.org

You may also consult the "Schools and Colleges of Optometry: Admissions Requirements" directory available in the Pre-Health Profession Office, 
located in Cooper Science Building, Room CL 232.

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INDIANA UNIVERSITY  SCHOOL OF OPTOMETRY
Bloomington, Indiana

The Indiana University School of Optometry has achieved national recognition for its preeminence in optometric education. Optometry is a major health science concerned with vision in all its aspects. Within the school are classrooms, a library, clinics, laboratories, and research and development activities. Additional clinical facilities are located in health care centers and Veterans Administration hospitals in other cities.

LOCATION
The School of Optometry is located on the Bloomington campus of Indiana University. This campus, with an enrollment of over 34,000, offers a wide range of cultural activities, major athletic events, and recreational opportunities. Bloomington is located 50 miles southwest of Indianapolis and has a population of 60,000 permanent residents.

ACCREDITATION
The School of Optometry is a member of the Association of the Schools and Colleges of Optometry and is accredited by the Council on Optometric Education of the American Optometric Association, the official optometric agency recognized by both the National Commission of Accrediting and the International Association of Boards of Examiners in Optometry.

DEGREES OFFERED
Associate of Science in Optometric Technology. This two-year program, providing training in both optometric technicianry and opticianry, is open to high school graduates.

Doctor of Optometry. This degree requires fulfillment of a baccalaureate degree, including all pre-optometry requirements, and satisfactory completion of the four-year professional curriculum. Graduates are prepared to diagnose and treat optical defects and commonly occurring eye diseases by using glasses, contact lenses, drugs and medicines.

Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy. Those who hold M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Visual Sciences pursue careers in optometric education and vision science research with universities, the armed forces, and in private corporations.

EXPENSES
Educational expenses for a first-year student are estimated at $24,000 for an Indiana resident and $39,000 for non-residents. This includes tuition, fees, room and board, books, supplies, and equipment. These costs may vary depending on housing arrangements and other cost-cutting options.

HOUSING
On-campus housing is available; however, most School of Optometry students live in apartments throughout the community. Students seeking on-campus housing should contact: Halls of Residence, 801 N. Jordan, Bloomington, IN 47405 or phone 812-855-5601.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Financial assistance is available in the form of student loans. Specific information can be obtained from: Office of Student Financial Assistance, Indiana University, Franklin Hall 208, Bloomington, IN 47405 or phone 812-855-0321. The priority date for submitting applications for financial assistance is March 1 for the following academic year. Late applicants will receive awards on a funds-available basis.

RESIDENCY STATUS
Prospective students from out-of-state should be aware that the criteria for establishing Indiana residency to qualify for resident fee rates is very strict. Except under specific circumstances, persons who have moved to Indiana for the primary purpose of attending school will not be able to qualify for in-state fees during their academic career.

ADMISSION
A new class begins each fall. Applications are to be submitted by January 1. Both the October and February test dates of the Optometry Admission Test may be used for admission for the following August. Applications filed between January 1 and July 1 will be processed as received, and selections will be made as long as vacancies exist. Applications may be submitted two semesters in advance of completion of the pre-optometry requirements and will be considered if transcripts show a reasonable possibility that all requirements will be met. Applicants are judged academically by high school rank, college grades, and OAT test scores. Among these criteria, the college grades carry slightly more weight than the others. The average GPA of those admitted during the past three years is 3.4 with OAT scores >325. Personal attributes are determined by character recommendations, interview reports, accounts of participation in extracurricular activities, work experience, recognitions received, and the narrative explaining how optometry became their career choice.

THE CURRICULUM 
Like all students training to become health career professionals, optometry students need a variety of clinical experiences. Students at Indiana University’s School of Optometry are fortunate to receive clinical education and training that earn national recognition.

The professional curriculum leading to the Doctor of Optometry degree requires four years of study following undergraduate education. During the first two professional years, course work is concentrated in the basic health sciences (anatomy, physiology, pathology, biochemistry, and pharmacology), as well as optics, visual science, and clinical techniques.

The third and fourth years emphasize patient care, with training in primary eye care and specialty services. These specialty areas reflect the contemporary practice of optometry, i.e. contact lenses, binocular and low vision, and surgical/medical treatment services. Indiana University is able to offer its optometry interns this broad spectrum of clinical experience by means of rotations through various Veterans Administration hospitals, eye referral centers, military installations, and the school’s own campus clinics in Bloomington and Indianapolis.

Students entering the Indiana University School of Optometry 
with a bachelor's degree must have the following courses
                                                                       

  Other recommended courses include Biochem (CHEM 360), Histology (ANAT 430), Research (BIO 498), and Business (ECON 116, BUSAD 101 or MGT 200).

* Psysc 284 prerequisite will be waived .
**May be exempt if 2 or more years of  a single foreign language 
were completed in high school with an average grade of C or above)