Suggested Schedule for students interested in
Optometry careers following the

CURRICULUM FOR THE B.S. IN BIOLOGY

This is a rigorous schedule created to help motivated, career-oriented students get into an Optometry program in the earliest time.  It differs little from the biology curriculum schedule except that most of your elective credit has been assigned to specific courses.  In a perfect academic schedule, students should have freedom to explore any new coursework they desire.  If you have expressed an interest in Optometry, then you need to worry about both your graduation requirements in the biology department and the admissions requirements of the school you hope to attend (not necessarily the same!).  The courses listed here will fulfill both requirements in most cases while staying within the 120 hour semester curriculum of the University System of Georgia.  Although most Optometry Schools and Colleges will accept applications after completing 90 semester hours of work at the undergraduate level, few accept many students who have not already completed a bachelor's degree.  Note that Optometry programs are extremely competitve.  Students should take a rigorous course schedule to better prepare for their budding Optometry careers.  You must maintain a semester credit load average of 15 hours of courses counting towards your graduation  in order to graduate at the end of four years.


FRESHMAN YEAR

Semester 1 (14 hrs):

  • ENGL 1101 Composition I (3 hrs)
  • MATH 1113 Pre-calculus (3 hrs)
  • CHEM 1211 General Chemistry I (4 hrs)[1]
  • BIOL 2010 Introductory Biology  (4 hrs)[2]
  • Start Volunteer Work Experience! [3]
Semester 2 (14 hrs):
  • ENGL 1102 Composition II (3 hrs)
  • CHEM 1212 General Chemistry II (4 hrs)
  • MATH 2261 (4 hrs)
  • Free elective (e.g.  MATH 2620 or BUSA 2100-Statistics  3 hrs)
  • RGTR 0196 and RGTE 0197 (0 hrs)
SOPHOMORE YEAR

Semester 3 (16 hrs)

  • CHEM 3401 Organic Chemistry I (4 hrs)
  • BIOL 2270 Zoology (4 hrs)[2]
  • ENGL 2110, 2120, 2130 OR 2140 World Literature (3 hrs)
  • POLS 1101 American Goverment I (3 hrs)
  • PERS #### elective (Area B) (2 hrs)
 Semester 4 (15 hrs):
  • CHEM 3402 Organic Chemistry II (4 hrs)
  • BIOL 3100 (Microbiology) (4 hrs)
  • BIOL 2230 Botany (4 hrs)[2]
  • HIST 2111 OR 2112 US History (3 hrs)
JUNIOR YEAR

Semester 5 (16 hrs):

  • BIOL 3200 Genetics (4 hrs)
  • CHEM 3601 Biochemistry (3 hrs)
  • PHYS 2211K  Physics I (4 hrs)
  • MCL 1001, 1002, or 1111 Foreign language I (Area C) (3 hrs)
  • PERS #### elective (Area B) (2 hrs) 
  • Apply to take OAT (1st try)
Semester 6 (14-15 hrs):
  • BIOL 3450 (Vertebrate Physiology) (4 hrs)
  • PHYS 2212K  Physics II (4 hrs)
  • Free elective (3-4 hrs)
  • MCL 1002 or 2001 Foreign language II (3 hrs)
 
SENIOR YEAR

Semester 7 (16 hrs)

  • BIOL 3300 Ecology (4 hrs)
  • BIOL 3-4### elective  (4 hrs)
  • BIOL 3-4### elective (4 hrs)
  • BIOL 4900 Biology Seminar (1 hr)
  • MCL 2001 or 2002 Foreign language III (3 hrs)
  • Apply to take OAT (1st or 2nd try)
  • Apply for graduation at Registrar's Office
Semester 8 (15-18 hrs):
  • BIOL 3-4### electives (3-4 hrs)
  • PSYC 2500 (Area E elective) (3 hrs)
  • SOCI 1101 (Area E elective) (3 hrs)
  • Free Elective (3-4 hrs)
  • Free Elective (3-4 hrs)
[1] The optometry curriculum is rich in math, chemistry, biology, and physics.  It is extremely important to start chemistry immediately to keep up with this curriculum schedule.  No prerequisites are needed for CHEM 1211 and it is the obvious choice to take first (with BIOL 2010).  You will need 2.5 years of sequential chemistry courses to graduate and for optometry admission.  If you do not get into a chemistry class in the first semester, you must have it by the second semester.  You should make up anything not taken during the summer semester(s) if possible.   Above all, keep trying if you fail to get in to a class! (Click here to read what to do if the courses you need are filled!)
[2] The VSU biology department passed in 2003, a requirement that all students must take as prerequisite for ALL upper level biology courses, BIOL 2010, BIOL 2230, and BIOL 2270 with a C or better before taking any 3 or 4000 level biology course.
[3] Previous Optometry experience is looked upon VERY favorably by admission boards at Optometry schools.  Students with experience in the field know better what is expected and required to run a professional office and business.  If they are still interested in the profession, they represent a better "risk" for acceptance because it is less likely this student will change their mind and drop out of the program of study.  Volunteer with Optometry professionals on a regular basis as much as you can and you will increase your chances of acceptance to an Optometry program.