Offered by Health Science Programs

Pre-Optometry

The requirements for admission to colleges of optometry vary. A suggested program of study is listed below, but the student should check with the college of optometry of his/her choice for its specific requirements. A minimum of three years (90 hours) of pre-optometric study is required. However, in most cases a baccalaureate degree*** should be completed before matriculating into a college of optometry, especially since admission to a optometry school is not guaranteed. The student is also expected to submit scores from the Optometry Admissions Test (OAT).

The State of Nebraska, concerned with providing an educational opportunity in optometry as well as adequate optometric staffing, has contracted with the following professional schools of optometry to ensure available space and/or provide for partial tuition remission for qualified applicants. Nebraska residents who wish to pursue a degree in optometry may apply for financial assistance through a contract program between the University of Nebraska and seven optometry schools nationwide. Up to 15 students per year are awarded a contract seat to help offset tuition at these Colleges of Optometry (with number of seats available):

University of Houston College of Optometry, Houston, TX (2)

Indiana School of Optometry, Bloomington, IN (3)
University of Missouri-St. Louis College of Optometry, St. Louis MO (1)
Northeastern State University College of Optometry, Tahlequah, OK (1)
Pacific University College of Optometry, Forest Grove, OR (1)

Pennsylvania College of Optometry, Philadelphia, PA (2)

Southern College of Optometry, Memphis, TN (3)

2 seats are available at large at the seven contract institutions.
 

A suggested program of study is as follows:

Take ONE of the following options:

Take 2 courses:

BIOL 103GS, General Biology - 4 hours

BIOL 215GS, Human Physiology - 4 hours (Prereq: A college Biology course)

OR take 2 courses:

BIOL 225, Anatomy and Physiology - 4 hours (Prereq: CHEM 145 or CHEM 150 or CHEM 160; three years of high school science including biology and a minimum score of 20 on the ACT or equivalent or a college science course)

BIOL 226, Anatomy and Physiology - 4 hours

Take one of the following:

BIOL 211, Human Microbiology - 4 hours

BIOL 400, Microbiology - 4 hours (Prereq: 8 hours of Biology)

Take all of the following:

CHEM 160GS, General Chemistry - 3 hours   (see prerequisites)

CHEM 160LGS, General Chemistry Laboratory - 1 hour

CHEM 161GS, General Chemistry - 3 hours

CHEM 161LGS, General Chemistry Laboratory - 1 hour

CHEM 351, Biochemistry - 4 hours

CHEM 360*, Organic Chemistry - 4 hours

CHEM 360L*, Organic Chemistry Laboratory - 1 hour

CHEM 361*, Organic Chemistry - 4 hours

CHEM 361L*, Organic Chemistry Laboratory - 1 hour

* Some colleges of optometry will accept CHEM 250 in lieu of CHEM 360 & 361

MATH 102**, College Algebra - 3 hours

MATH 103, Plane Trigonometry - 3 hours

MATH 115, Calculus I with Analytic Geometry - 5 hours

STAT 241, Elementary Statistics - 3 hours

PHYS 205GS, General Physics - 5 hours

PHYS 206GS, General Physics - 5 hours

PSY 203GS, General Psychology - 3 hours

ENG 101GS, Expository Writing I - 3 hours (Prereq: ENG 100A or English ACT score of 15 or above)

ENG 102GS, Expository Writing II - 3 hours (Prereq: ENG 101GS or ACT English score of 30 or above)

SPCH 100GS, Fundamentals of Speech Communication - 3 hours

ENG 250-254GS, Literature - 3 hours

**Students with sufficient preparation may enter the mathematics program at a higher level, however some schools do require two courses in mathematics. Most schools require a course in calculus.

Strongly recommended:

FSID 110GS, Introduction to Nutrition - 3 hours

BIOL 465, Physiology - 3 hours (Prereq: BIOL 106GS, BIOL 309, CHEM 161GS, CHEM 161LGS and organic chemistry)

Students should check with the specific school(s) to which they intend to apply to ensure that all requirements are fulfilled. Requirements vary among schools, especially in regard to mathematics, microbiology, and general biology. Some schools also require additional electives in the social and behavioral sciences.

***Students pursuing a program of study in pre-optometry are expected to choose a major so that they can be working towards a baccalaureate degree concurrently with the pre-optometry program. This requires a major/minor combination or a comprehensive major as well as completion of the UNK general studies requirements and other degree requirements as set forth in the college catalog. (Students who are accepted into optometry school prior to completing a baccalaureate degree at UNK may be eligible to receive a BS degree in Health Science if they have completed all General Studies requirements and have at least 90 semester hours completed in pre-opt studies.)