Pre-Optometry Pre-Professional Program

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URL: nmu.edu/bulletin/pre-optometry-program-15

Students are encouraged to complete a bachelor’s degree at Northern by pursuing a regular major in fields related to optometry, such as biochemistry, biology, mathematics, physics, chemistry or psychology. A bachelor’s degree is often required; however, some schools will accept students after 90 completed credits (with completed pre-requisites). Prerequisites typically include general biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, microbiology, biochemistry I, calculus, statistics, a writing-intensive English course, and psychological sciences courses. Many institutions prefer upper-division or advanced-level biology and science electives (e.g., anatomy, physiology, cell biology). It is important to make a list of potential optometry school pre-requisites early in your academic career.

For department information or additional degree requirements, go to the Pre- Professional Programs department page.

For related information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/optometrists.htm

Advising for students interested in this program is done by:

Danny LeBert
Associate Professor, Biology
dlebert@nmu.edu
906-227-2207
2328 Weston Hall

Required Courses

COM 100 - Public Address [EFFC] 4 Credits or
COM 110 - Interpersonal Communication [INTT] 4 Credits
BI 111 - Introductory Biology: Principles [SCII] [LAB] 4 Credits
BI 112 - Introductory Biology: Diversity 4 Credits
BI 203 - Medical Microbiology 5 Credits
BI 213 - Human Anatomy and Physiology 1 3 Credits
BI 213L - Human Anatomy and Physiology I Lab (LAB) 1 Credits
BI 214 - Human Anatomy and Physiology 2 3 Credits
BI 214L - Human Anatomy & Physiology II Lab (LAB) 1 Credits
CH 111 - General Chemistry I [SCII] [LAB] 5 Credits
CH 112 - General Chemistry II 5 Credits
CH 450 - Biochemistry I 4 Credits
MA 111 - College Algebra [QUAR] [MATH] 4 Credits
MA 115 - Precalculus [QUAR] [MATH] 4 Credits
MA 161 - Calculus I [QUAR] [MATH] 4 Credits
DATA 109 - Introduction to Statistics [QUAR] [MATH] 4 Credits

Physics Courses

Choose 10 credits from the following groups:

PH 201 - College Physics I [SCII] [LAB] 5 Credits and
PH 202 - College Physics II [SCII] [LAB] 5 Credits
or
PH 220 - Introductory Physics I [SCII] [LAB] 5 Credits and
PH 221 - Introductory Physics II [SCII] [LAB] 5 Credits
Behavioral Science Electives 6 Credits

Notes:

Each optometry school may have “hidden” or unexpected pre-requisite courses. It is important that you check the pre-requisites for each potential program early in your academic career. For example, Ferris State University highly recommends a speech course. This is especially true if you are attempting a 3+4 program, where you will finish your bachelor’s degree during your optometry program. This should be discussed in detail with your assigned student success specialist and the pre-optometry advisor.