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Optometry School Requirements

Course Requirements for Selected Optometry Schools

SUNY College of Optometry

SUNY College of Optometry

Minimum GPA: 3.2 recommended
Admission Exam: OAT required

Prerequisite Coursework:

  • 2 Semesters of General Biology (with Lab)
  • 2 Semesters of General Chemistry (with Lab)
  • 2 Semesters of General Physics (with Lab)
  • 2 Semesters of Organic Chemistry (with Lab)
  • 1 Semester of Calculus or Pre-Calculus
  • 2 semesters of English Composition and Literature
  • 2 Semesters of Social Sciences and Humanities
  • 1 Semester of General Psychology
  • 1 semester of Statistics
  • Cellular and Molecular Biology

Recommended Coursework:

  • 1 Semester of Microbiology
  • 1 Semester of Biochemistry
  • 1 Semester of Physiology & Anatomy

Effective from Next Application Cycle (2023~) :

  • Microbiology with lab and Biochemistry (lecture only) are required
  • Organic Chemistry II (with lab) is no longer required
  • Social Sciences and Humanities are no longer required

Required Application:

  • Optometry Centralized Application Service (OptomCAS)

Website: https://www.sunyopt.edu/admissions/od-admissions-requirements/


New England College of Optometry

New England College of Optometry

Minimum GPA: 3.00
Admission Exam:
OAT or GRE required

Prerequisite Coursework:

  • 2 Semesters of Biology (with Lab)
  • 2 Semesters of Chemistry (with Lab)
  • 2 Semesters of Physics (with Lab)
  • 1 Course of Organic Chemistry (with Lab)
  • 1 Course of Biochemistry
  • 1 Course of Microbiology
  • 1 Course of Calculus
  • 1 Course of Statistics
  • 1 Course of Psychology
  • 2 Courses of English

Required Application:

  • Optometry Centralized Application Service (OptomCAS)

Website: https://www.neco.edu/admissions/prerequisites-requirements/


Pennsylvania College of Optometry

Salus University

Minimum GPA: 3.2 recommended
Admission Exam: OAT required

Prerequisite Coursework:

  • 1 Year of General Biology or Zoology (with Lab)
  • 1 Year of General Chemistry (with Lab)
  • 1 Year of Organic Chemistry (with Lab) OR
    • 1/2 Year of Organic Chemistry (with Lab) + 1/2 Year of either Biochemistry OR Molecular Biology (with Lab recommended)
  • 1 Year of General Physics (with Lab)
  • 1/2 Year of Microbiology or Bacteriology
  • 1 Year of English Composition/Literature
  • 1 Year of Mathematics
    • *1/2 Year of Calculus fulfills the math requirement however 1 Year is recommended
  • 1/2 Year of Psychology
  • 1/2 Year of Statistics (Math Biology or Psychology)

Recommended Coursework:

  • Biochemistry
  • Histology
  • Physiology & Anatomy (highly recommended)
  • Cell Biology
  • Physiological Psychology
  • Genetics & Experimental

Required Application:

  • Optometry Centralized Application Service (OptomCAS)

Website: https://www.salus.edu/Colleges/Optometry-(1)/Doctor-of-Optometry-%E2%80%93-Traditional-Program/Application-Process.aspx


Illinois College of Optometry Program

Illinois College of Optometry

Minimum GPA: 3.15

Prerequisite Coursework:

  • 1 year of Biology with Lab
  • 1 semester of Microbiology with Lab
  • 1 year of General Chemistry with Lab
  • 1 semester of Organic Chemistry
  • 1 year of Physics with Lab
  • 1 year of English Composition/Literature
  • 1 semester of College Calculus
  • 1 semester of Statistics
  • 1 semester of Psychology
  • 1 semester of Social Science

Required Application:

  • Optometry Centralized Application Service (OptomCAS)

Website: https://www.ico.edu/about-ico


Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Optometry Program

MCPHS Optometry Program

Minimum GPA: 3.0

Prerequisite Coursework:

  • 1 year of Biology 1 & 2 with Lab
  • 1 semester of Microbiology with Lab
  • 1 year of General Chemistry 1 & 2 with Lab
  • 1 semester of Organic Chemistry with Lab
  • 1 year of Physics 1 & 2
  • 1 semester of Calculus
  • 1 year of English Composition
  • 1 semester of Statistics
  • 1 semester of Psychology
  • 1 semester of Social Sciences
  • 1 semester of Biochemistry

Required Application:

  • Optometry Centralized Application Service (OptomCAS)

Website: https://www.mcphs.edu/academics/school-of-optometry/optometry/optometry-od?inquiryid=9051fac0-dbb9-b474-0bb2-912a713dc701&transactionid=0b66985c-8502-347a-8e88-0ea3e7a705c6


Nova Southeastern University Doctor of Optometry Program

Nova Southeastern University

Minimum GPA: 2.8

The College of Optometry requires students to earn a grade of 2.0 or better in each of the following courses.

Prerequisite Coursework:

  • 3 Semester Hours of Mathematics: Calculus
  • 8 Semester Hours of Physics with Lab
  • 8 Semester Hours of Biology with Lab
  • 8 Semester Hours of General Chemistry with Lab
  • 4 Semester Hours of Organic Chemistry with Lab
  • 3 Semester Hours of Microbiology
  • 3 Semester Hours of Biochemistry
  • 3 Semester Hours of Anatomy and Physiology
  • 15 Semester Hours of Social/Behavioral Sciences/Humanities
  • 6 Semester Hours of English (composition, literature, etc.)

Required Application:

  • Optometry Centralized Application Service (OptomCAS)

They encourage, but do not require, additional upper level science coursework in such areas as Biochemistry, Anatomy, Physiology, Histology, Cell Biology, Genetics and Experimental and Physiological Psychology.

Website: https://optometry.nova.edu/od/admissions/index.html


The Ohio State University College of Optometry

Ohio State University College of optometry

Minimum GPA: No specified minimum

Prerequisite Coursework:

  • English Composition (1 course)
  • Inorganic Chemistry with Lab (usually 2 courses)
  • Organic Chemistry, no Lab required (1 course)
  • Biochemistry (1 or 2 courses)
    If your institution divides biochemistry into a two
    series course, you need to take both courses.
  • Physics with Lab (2 courses)
  • Mathematics—Calculus (1 course)
  • Biology with Lab (2 courses)
  • Physiology (1 or 2 courses)
    Physiology course work must cover all of the systems
    of the body.
  • 15 Semester Hours of Social/Behavioral Sciences/Humanities
  • Microbiology with Lab (1 course)
  • Introductory Psychology (1 course)
  • Humanities (2-3 courses)
  • Social Sciences (2-3 courses)

Required Application:

  • Optometry Centralized Application Service (OptomCAS)

They encourage, but do not require, additional upper level science coursework in such areas as Biochemistry, Anatomy, Physiology, Histology, Cell Biology, Genetics and Experimental and Physiological Psychology.

Website: https://optometry.osu.edu/admissions-requirements


The list of Hunter College Courses is meant as a catalogue of courses in selecting appropriate and corresponding courses to an allied health professions school's admissions requirements. This catalogue of courses is not meant to detail pre-requisites for admission to all health professions schools. Again, this catalogue of courses is listed to assist students in their course planning.

Course Pre-Requirements for each individual school are listed within the school's text box; students may refer to the individual school's requirements and compare to the corresponding Hunter College course.

disclaimer: This information is an overview and should in NO WAY substitute for personally reviewing requirements for each school.

Corresponding Science Courses for the
Health Professions at Hunter College:

  • BIOL 100 General Biology I (with Lab) (spring and summer)
  • BIOL 102 General Biology II (with Lab) (fall)
  • BIOL 120 Anatomy and Physiology I (fall)
  • BIOL 122 Anatomy and Physiology II (with lab) (spring)
  • BIOL 203 Genetics (spring)
  • BIOL 230 Microbiology (spring)
  • BIOL 270 Intro to Neuroscience (fall)
  • BIOL 300 or CHEM 376 Biochemistry

  • CHEM 102 General Chemistry I Lecture
  • CHEM 104 General Chemistry II Lecture
  • CHEM 106 General Chemistry Lab I and II
  • CHEM 222 Organic Chemistry I Lecture
  • CHEM 223 Organic Chemistry I Lab
  • CHEM 224 Organic Chemistry II Lecture
  • CHEM 225 Organic Chemistry II Lab

  • PHYS 110 General Physics I (with Lab)
  • PHYS 120 General Physics II (with Lab)

  • MATH 150 Calculus I
  • MATH 155 Calculus II
  • STAT 213 Statistics

  • ENGL 120 Expository Writing
  • ENGL 220 Introduction to Writing about Literature (or any writing-intensive course)
  • Medical Terminology—no corresponding course at Hunter. You must ePermit the course.

Social Science Courses

  • ECO 100 Introduction to Economics
  • SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology
  • PSYCH 100 Introduction to Psychology (or introduction to any of the behavioral sciences)
  • PSYCH 150 Developmental: The Development of the Life Span (or introduction to any of the behavioral sciences)
  • Public Speaking—any course where you are required to give classroom presentations
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