EIU Pre-Health Professions

Pre-Optometry

To prepare for a career in optometry, a student must complete a Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree at a professional college of optometry. All colleges of optometry require a minimum of 60 semester hours of college work in order for the student to be eligible to apply for admission. In actual practice, 90 percent of all successful applicants will have a bachelor's degree. The Optometry Admission Test (OAT) is required of all applicants.

Pre-optometry students are also strongly recommended to include courses in anatomy, physiology, genetics, speech, economics and computer sciences.

Eastern Illinois University is not affiliated with any colleges of optometry and cannot guarantee admission to a professional school. Students who apply to colleges of optometry will be competing with students applying from other colleges and universities.

For additional information on pre-optometry studies, please visit the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry.

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