Pre-Optometry
Essential Courses
| Course # | Title | Credit Hours | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|---|
| BI 105 | Biological Diversity and Ecology | 3 | None |
| BI 121 | Biology Lab I | 1 | BI 105 (corequisite) |
| BI 106 | Structure and Function of Cells and Organisms | 3 | BI 105 and CH 105 |
| BI 122 | Biology Lab II | 1 | BI 105 and BI 121 (prerequuisites) |
| CH 105 | Organic Chemistry Concepts I | 3 | None |
| CH 116 | Organic Chemistry Lab I | 1 | CH 106 (corequisite) |
| CH 106 | Organic Chemistry Concepts II | 3 | CH 105 (with C or better) |
| CH 118 | Organic Chemistry Lab II | 1 | CH 106 |
| CH 232 | Intro to Inorganic Chemistry | 4 | CH 105 and CH 116 |
| CH 250 | Analytical Chemistry | 4 | CH 232 |
| BI 207 | Dynamics Of Biological Processes | 4 | BI 106, CH 106, and CH 232 |
| PC 200 | General Physics I | 3 | PC 206 (corequisite) |
| OR | |||
| PC 202 | Introductory Physics I | 3 | MA 130 and PC 206 (corequisites) |
| PC 206 | Physics Lab I | 1 | PC 200 or PC 202 (corequisite) |
| PC 201 | General Physics II | 3 | PC 200; PC 207 (corequisite) |
| OR | |||
| PC 203 | Introductory Physics II | 3 | PC 202 and MA 130; PC 207 (corequisite) |
| PC 207 | Physics Lab II | 1 | PC 201 or PC 203 (corequisite) |
| MA 220 | Intro. to Probability & Statistics | 4 | MA 130 |
| OR | |||
| BI 305 | Biostatistics | 4 | BI 106 or EES 100 |
| OR | |||
| ND SS 214 | Statistics for Social Sciences | 4 | None |
| MA 130 | Calculus I | 4 | None |
| PY 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 | None |
| BI 231 | Microbiology I | 3 | BI 106 and CH 106; BI 232 (corequisite) |
| BI 232 | Microbiology I Lab | 1 | BI 231 (corequisite) |
| OR | |||
| BI 331 | Microbiology II | 3 | BI 210; BI 222; BI 332 (corequisite) |
| BI 332 | Microbiology II Lab | 1 | BI 331 (corequisite) |
| EN ___ | English Course (in addition to CWS) | 3 | Varies |
Important Notes:
- Strongly recommend Biochemistry and Neurobiology. Also recommend Calculus II, anatomy, physiology, molecular biology, genetics, experimental and physiological psychology, foreign language (especially Spanish), sociology, economics, business courses, communication courses, and ethics.
- These courses reflect program requirements for our affiliation the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University only. Although this course list will be sufficient for most other programs, make sure to check requirements of other schools in which you are interested no later than your sophomore year.
- This course list does NOT represent a POE, nor does it cover College requirements. Design a POE in consultation with your advisor. Note: If you are in a 3 +_ program, course work during the first year of professional school can count toward upper level POE requirements.
- Make sure to have an advisor on the Health Professions Committee, preferably Dr. James Borgardt.
- In addition to your course work you are urged to gain some experience in optometry either during the school year or over the summer.
REQUIREMENTS
Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University
Regular Progression (4 years at Juniata) OR 3 + 4 B.S./O.D Program
| Classes | Credits |
|---|---|
| General Biology with Lab | 1 year |
| General Chemistry with Lab | 1 year |
| Organic Chemistry with Lab | 1 year |
| or | |
| Organic Chemistry with Lab (1/2 year) and 1/2 year of either Biochemistry or Molecular Biology with Labs optional but recommended | 1 year |
| English composition or literature | 1 year |
| Calculus I* | 1/2 year |
| Microbiology with Lab | 1/2 year |
| General Physics with Lab | 1 year |
| Psychology | 1/2 year |
| Statistics (math, biology, or psychology) | 1/2 year |
*or one year of any other college level math (algebra, pre-calculus, etc.) One year of Calculus is highly recommended to satisfy math requirement.
Require 90 credits minimum.
Recommend but do not require biochemistry, Calculus II, anatomy, physiology, histology, molecular biology, genetics, and experimental and physiological psychology.
Competitive credentials: In general science and overall GPA of 3.1-3.3; OAT scores of at least 300 in each subsection.
For PCO at Salus, any prerequisite course receiving a grade of D+ or lower must be repeated (they do not consider + /- grades). Other schools may require a retake for prerequisites of C- or lower.
3 + 4 PCO/Salus students; minimum GPA of 3.1 and OAT scores of at least 300 in each subsection; take the OAT NO LATER than June12 of the junior year. Apply the summer after junior year through OptomCAS.
Helpful websites:
Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry - http://www.opted.org
American Optometric Association - www.aoa.org
Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University- www.salus.edu.
General Information: http://www.explorehealthcareers.org/en/Index.aspx
SUGGESTED CORE PROGRESSIONS FOR Pre-OPTOMETRY*
*If you are planning to study abroad or if you are in accelerated program consult with your Health Professions advisor to plan your course progression
Bolded courses are offered only in the indicated semester and/or require a specific sequence due to Juniata prerequisites. Non-bolded courses are either offered in both semesters or represent open-ended choices, making them more flexible in when they can be taken. Course progressions after the freshman year are not carved in stone. Your particular course sequence may be different, depending on your situation. Consult with your advisor.
| FALL | SPRING | |
|---|---|---|
| Freshman Year | BI 105 | Biology Lab II |
| Biology Lab I | Organic Chemistry Concepts II (if C or better in OCC I) | |
| Organic Chem Concepts I | Organic Chem Lab I | |
| Calculus I |
| FALL | SPRING | |
|---|---|---|
| Sophomore Year | BI 106 | Analytical Chemistry |
| Intro to Inorganic Chem | BI 207 | |
| Organic Chem Lab II | English | |
| Psychology |
| FALL | SPRING | |
|---|---|---|
| Junior Year | Physics I and Lab | Physics II and Lab |
| Microbiology and Lab | Statistics | |
| OAT Preparation* | OAT Preparation |
*Both semesters of the year you plan to take the exam.
If you do an accelerated program plan to finish most or all of the prerequisite courses the year before your final year at Juniata. If you have one or two courses to complete your final year at Juniata, you could be conditionally accepted to professional school based on your academic record up to that point and on successful completion of the remaining prerequisite courses.
If you study abroad the SAFEST strategy is to take ALL prerequisite courses for professional school in the U.S., which may require you to take courses in the U.S. over the summer, preferably at a 4 year institution. However, if this is extremely difficult for your situation, check with the professional schools you wish to attend to see if they will accept courses taken abroad and if so, get their response in writing. Also if you have a Biology POE and will not have BI 207 by the time you go abroad, check with the Biology Department to see if there is a Cell and Molecular course you can take abroad that will enable you to take upper level biology offerings at Juniata your senior year that require BI 207 (ex. Physiology, Immunology, and Microbiology)
Be mindful of your POE courses, which are NOT indicated here. For example, if you have a Biology POE, you will need to take Freshman seminar the spring of your freshman year, Frontiers of Biology the fall of your sophomore year, and Biology 207 at your earliest opportunity after completing Introduction to Inorganic Chemistry.
