Vision Science, PhD

Introduction

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This program is open to high-achieving students worldwide who are interested in fundamental vision science, human factors related to vision, and translational research that can be applied to eyecare. It is designed to engage students to explore the broad field of vision science through basic, translational, or clinical research. The curriculum provides fundamental knowledge about all facets of vision and visual performance, including (but not limited to) physiological optics, anatomy and physiology of the human eye, visual perception/cognition, visual neuroscience, eye diseases, public health vision care, sports vision, eye movements, visual search, visual function in learning, and human-computer interaction, as well as other aspects of applied vision. Students will engage in laboratory-based and clinical-relevant research and be exposed to the basic concepts and techniques central to their specialized research topics. The program was created to provide high-quality optometric education and customized rigorous research training. The overarching program goals are to develop students into highly proficient clinicians and talented researchers who are well-prepared for careers in vision science, whether in academia, industry, or leadership in government-supported or non-profit organizations.

Degree Requirements

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Overview

To receive a PhD in Vision Science, students must satisfy the following requirements. Students are encouraged to publish papers and present research at conferences, which is essential for achieving their professional goals.

• Fulfill course requirements with satisfactory performance and maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or higher: The minimum credit requirements vary based on students’ backgrounds. Additional coursework may be deemed necessary by the VSG Committee and the student’s advisor.
• Conduct an early research project: This can be satisfied with a committee-approved master’s thesis or a peer-reviewed research publication.
• Demonstrate proficiency in research skills as evidenced by passing the Laboratory Study course.
• Pass the written and oral comprehensive knowledge examination in four topical areas of vision science.
• Pass the Ph.D. Dissertation Proposal Exam. Present the dissertation proposal for the Ph.D. Qualification Exam, obtain approval from the dissertation advisor and the research committee before data collection.
• Submit a manuscript to a peer-reviewed journal for publication before the dissertation defense.
• Successfully present and defend the Ph.D. Dissertation Project in public, and deposit it to Pacific University Library CommonKnowledge.

Additional Requirements

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Early Research 

Students must conduct and present a research study before applying for the Ph.D. Candidacy Exam. This requirement can be met by successfully defending a Master’s thesis, submitting a Master’s thesis in a vision-science-related field before entering the program, or submitting a manuscript accepted by or published in a peer-reviewed journal with the student being the first author or the corresponding author. The previous Master’s thesis or peer-reviewed paper must be reviewed and approved by the VSG Committee.

Comprehensive Knowledge Examination 

PhD students must pass the Comprehensive Knowledge Examination (in written and oral forms) to ascertain the breadth of their comprehension of fundamental knowledge in vision science. After completing all advanced seminars and the research methodology course, the student may request to take the exam. The Comprehensive Knowledge Exam Committee is tasked with designing the exam for the student and shall comprise all instructors of the following courses or equivalent:

• VSC 704 - Clinical Research Methodology  
• VSC 811 - Advanced Seminar in Vision & Optics  
• VSC 821 - Adv Sem in Ocular Anatomy & Physio  
• VSC 831 - Adv Sem in Eye Diseases & Public Health  
• VSC 841 - Adv Sem in Ocular Func & Vis Perf  

The Comprehensive Knowledge Examination includes a written exam and an oral exam. The written exam is conducted first, and the oral examination shall be administered one month after the written examination. 

Ph.D. Candidacy (Qualification) Examination

In consultation with the student, a research advisor is appointed to advise the student’s dissertation progject. The research advisor works with the student and the program director to form a Doctoral Dissertation Committee to guide the student’s dissertation work. The dissertation committee requires at least four members with expertise related to the student’s dissertation topic, including:

• The research advisor, who shall serve as the committee chairperson;
• Three or more committee readers;
• At least two of the committee members (including the advisor) should be members of the College of Optometry faculty;
• At least one external committee member who is not a member of the College of Optometry faculty will serve as a referee to evaluate the dissertation defense process. If a non-optometry faculty member cannot serve on the dissertation committee, a College of Optometry faculty will be substituted.

All committee members must be members of the graduate faculty at Pacific University. The Director of the VSG Program approves all dissertation committees. Changes of committee members must be requested by the student in writing and approved by the VSG Committee.

After passing the Comprehensive Knowledge Exam, a student may submit a dissertation research proposal for the Ph.D. Candidacy Examination to the student’s dissertation committee. The proposal should be formatted as a grant application (e.g., a National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Research Service Award pre-doctoral fellowship application) and include the following (or equivalent) elements:

• Specific aims: Describe the main research questions, and the hypotheses, and outline experiments to test them.
• Background and significance: Include a focused literature review on the topics and rationale for the importance of the research.
• Preliminary data or pilot study results: Describe the relevant preparation and research findings the student has conducted as the foundation of the research paradigm or testing of the proposed hypotheses.
• Research design and methods: Describe the details of the planned research. The research design and methods should be described separately if multiple studies are involved.

Once passing the Qualification Examination, the student is advanced to PhD Candidacy and may embark on his or her final step of doctoral dissertation research as approved by the dissertation committee.

Manuscript Submission to a Peer-reviewed Journal

Publishing is an essential part of the academic career for all graduate students. PhD students must submit at least one manuscript to a peer-reviewed journal approved by the student’s research advisor no later than one week before their defense date. This requirement pushes the student to go through the manuscript preparation process under the guidance of the advisor and research committee. Failure to comply will result in the cancellation of the defense exam, which can be scheduled upon completion of the requirement.

Dissertation Writing, Defense, & Deposit

The final examination for the degree is a defense of the research in front of the dissertation committee and the public and its write-up report. The PhD candidate must present the results of an original research study and give evidence of excellent scholarship and proficiency in critically relevant research techniques.

When applying for dissertation defense, a PhD candidate must indicate how the research proficiency of their research topics has been fulfilled. This can be shown as completion of VSC 862  with a satisfactory grade and, when applicable, mastery of other relevant research skills (e.g., computer programming skills, advanced statistical methods, neuroimaging techniques, etc.). The candidate’s dissertation committee will evaluate the candidate’s research proficiency as part of the dissertation defense.

After successfully passing the dissertation defense, the student must deliver to the Director of the graduate program and the university library an electronic file of the dissertation approved by the student’s Dissertation Committee, along with a scanned signature page signed by the Committee members before the degree is conferred.

Program Details

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Program Length

Degree completion takes at least three years, but varies depending on whether the student enters with a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, or any advanced standing (e.g., an OD degree or a post-undergraduate degree in a vision science related field). The total time allowed to complete the PhD degree requirements is seven years. Students entering PhD without an MS degree should complete the MS requirements within five years and the PhD degree requirements within seven years from the student’s enrollment for graduate study. Students who fail to reach the milestones may be removed from both degree programs.

Academic Progress Evaluation

PhD students should make satisfactory progress toward their degree, evaluated by the Academic and Professional Standards Committee and the Vision Science Graduate Committee. 

Students completing the Proposal Exam should meet with their research committee at least once per semester. The committee will determine whether the student has made adequate progress and report this to the program director and the Vision Science Graduate Committee. Any changes to the project’s aims, as detailed in the Dissertation Proposal, should be provided and approved by the Dissertation Committee at these meetings and submitted to the program director. The students may be asked to demonstrate their research progress and proficiency in research communication through public oral presentations. Students receiving unsatisfactory evaluations from their advisor and the Vision Science Graduate Committee may be sent to the Academic and Professional Standard Committee for performance review.   

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the PhD in Vision Science program’s degree requirements, students will have the following skills: 

1. Mastery of Knowledge: Graduates will demonstrate fundamental knowledge in a broad range of topics in vision science as well as advanced expertise in specific scientific and clinical domains, understand the mechanisms and interactions between the visual, environmental, and etiological factors of chosen visual conditions, and be able to articulate, synthesize, and apply the learned concepts and skills to establish clearly defined lines of empirical research inquiries.
2. Critical Thinking: Graduates will demonstrate the ability to assess theoretical hypotheses, empirical evidence, and statistical outcomes by evaluating the underlying philosophy, evidence, and biases in their scientific and clinical applications, form well-reasoned perspectives and scientific theories, and apply evidence-based medicine principles at scientific discovery and clinical innovation. 
3. Mastery of Research Skills: Graduates will demonstrate the ability to apply theories and knowledge to identify the research question, master the analytical and methodological skills to conduct research activities, and use clinical and laboratory equipment to collect, analyze, and interpret the data. Graduates will also demonstrate written and oral communication skills sufficient to publish in peer-reviewed journals, present and lead scientific discussions at a conference, and propose well-rounded research to attract research grants.
4. Competency in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion:  Graduates will demonstrate the ability to promote personal and social participation in effective citizenship, demonstrate leadership in encouraging new and diverse perspectives based on differences in areas such as cultural and socioeconomic background, design or improve an environment to recognize and mitigate one’s own biases, and implement inclusive values in both research inquiries and organizational missions. Graduates can apply their competency in healthcare and research contexts with diverse populations.
5. Leadership: Graduates will establish personal and scholarly goals in advancing scientific and clinical inquiries for the well-being of broad society and community eyecare, demonstrate a mastery of skills and knowledge at a level required for higher education teaching in their fields and mentoring students in their learning and career development, and participate in professional organizations to further these goals.

Admission

Program Admission Information