Course Requirements
The choice of an undergraduate major while preparing for optometry school is not especially critical for successful admission, but the selection of certain coursework is important.
Certain basic requirements must be fulfilled before you can be accepted to optometry school. This is a GUIDE only. Students must consult with their advisors AND the appropriate optometry schools on a regular basis for revisions to course requirements and to identify and ensure completion of all required courses. These requirements include:
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1 year General Chemistry with labs
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1 year Organic Chemistry with labs
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1 year Physics with labs
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1 year Biology with labs
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1 course in Microbiology
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1 course in Psychology
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1 course in Communication
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Mathematics
Below are the CMU courses we recommend to meet these requirements:
General Chemistry: CHM 131 & 132,
8 credits
Organic Chemistry: CHM 345, 346, & 349,
8 credits
Physics: PHY 130, 131, 170, & 171,
10 credits
Biology: BIO 111 & 112,
8 credits
Microbiology: BIO 208 or BIO 320,
3 credits
Mathematics: MTH 132 & Statistics,
7 credits
Psychology: PSY 100,
3 credits
Communication: COM 101 or COM 195,
3 credits
Some optometry schools may have additional courses required or recommended. Review the admission requirements of the optometry schools you plan on applying in advance.
All required courses must be taken for a grade. Each school has its own policy regarding AP credit. Usually, AP credit in these areas should be followed with additional upper level work in the discipline including labs.
Additional Courses
To further strengthen you application and your ability to succeed in optometry school, here are some additional CMU courses you could take:
Anatomy: HSC 214 or BIO 337
Biochemistry: CHM 425 or CHM 521 & 522
Business Management or Accounting: BUS 100 or ACC 101
Developmental Biology: BIO 544
Genetics: BIO 211 or BIO 315
Physiology: HSC 215 or BIO 392