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Academic Catalog 2024-2025
Optometry, OD
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Introduction
The Doctor of Optometry program offers a comprehensive curriculum that highlights key aspects of the profession while emphasizing its traditional strengths and distinctive features. The faculty at the College of Optometry acknowledge the significance of active learning within the classroom, where students engage actively in their educational journey. By integrating active learning methodologies, the aim is to foster deeper understanding, problem-solving abilities, enthusiasm for learning, and a lifelong commitment to study. These techniques are implemented through a variety of strategies, both online and in traditional classroom and laboratory settings, to enrich the educational experience.
We offer a four-year doctoral program in optometry. Graduates are fully qualified to practice in any state in the nation, with the curriculum exceeding the minimal educational requirements of any state.
We pride ourselves on our clinically oriented program, focusing on the graduation of a comprehensive practitioner with expertise in general optometry, contact lenses, pediatrics, low vision, vision therapy, systemic disease, and ocular disease. Graduates have the opportunity to explore specialties such as neuro-rehabilitation, sports vision, and more.
Pacific University College of Optometry is an accredited institution of the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) of the American Optometric Association (AOA).
Degree Requirements
The curriculum is adjusted periodically to reflect the most current Catalog at the time coursework is taken. Curriculum and sequence of courses are subject to change, and do not constitute a contract between an applicant or a student and Pacific University. When changes are made, a revised curriculum is made available to students advising them of the new requirements. Options for extenuating circumstances and for a smooth transition to the new requirements will be provided. No core courses may be challenged for credit by examination.
Required and elective courses may be given at various locations and times, and students are expected to bear the costs to attend. Many factors enter into class scheduling and, as a result, elective courses listed may not be available while others, not yet listed, are available. Every attempt is made to assign schedules that are convenient for the student. However, there are times when individual student preferences cannot be accommodated and program goals must take precedence in the assigning of lecture, laboratory, and elective times.
First Professional Year
Prerequisites: admission to the entering optometry class or approval from the course instructor and the Associate Dean for Academic Programs.
Second Professional Year
Prerequisites: advancement to the second year by the faculty or approval from the Academic and Professional Standards committee and the Associate Dean for Academic Programs.
Third Professional Year
Prerequisites: satisfactory completion of all course work of the first two years of the curriculum and advancement to the third year by the faculty. The Academic and Professional Standards committee and the Associate Dean for Academic Programs must approve exceptions to this policy; clinic courses also require the approval of the Associate Dean for Clinical Programs.
Electives
Students are required to complete a minimum of three elective credits, chosen from those offered by the College of Optometry. Elective credits must be completed prior to graduation. Alternatively, with prior authorization, it may be possible to substitute courses taken: as an independent study; at Pacific University outside of the College of Optometry; or, at other institutions with credits transferable to Pacific University (the costs of any courses taken at other institutions are the responsibility of individual students).
Fourth Professional Year
Students will provide supervised and direct patient care as Interns during the fourth year. Interns will have supervised clinical practice in affiliated hospital settings, health care centers, and public or private eye and vision care centers. Primary care and/or specialized health care services are unique to each site.
Bachelor’s Degree
Students must earn a bachelor’s degree prior to graduating with the Doctor of Optometry degree. In many cases, the bachelor’s degree is earned prior to matriculation. The admissions committee may admit students to complete a Bachelor of Science in Visual Science while the student is enrolled in the OD program. All requirements for the bachelor’s degree must be completed by the beginning of the third professional year.
Some institutions with pre-professional programs may accept courses from the College of Optometry for the bachelor’s degree requirements for that institution. In the case where Pacific University’s professional courses in optometry are used to satisfy another institution’s graduation requirements, written notice of such an arrangement is required.
Externship Rotations
All students are required to participate in off-campus externships for a portion of their clinical training. Living and transportation costs incurred during these assignments are the responsibility of the student. Every attempt is made to assign clinic schedules that are convenient for the student. However, there are times when individual student preferences cannot be accommodated.
Promotion
Students must receive a passing grade in all courses and be recommended for promotion by the faculty in order to move from the first to second year, and second to third year. All unsatisfactory grades require remediation in a timely manner, and remediation must occur according to specific written plans.
For promotion from the third to the fourth year, students must satisfactorily complete all courses in the first, second, and third years of the curriculum, have been awarded a bachelor’s degree, and be recommended for promotion by the faculty. The status of students failing to meet these requirements is determined by the College’s Academic and Professional Standards Committee (see Academic and Professional Standards Manual).
Program Learning Outcomes
The College of Optometry faculty have approved program learning outcomes (http://opted.org/files/2011_AttributesReport.pdf). These define and describe the learning outcomes and attributes expected of students graduating from our program.
PLO-1 Knowledge Acquisition & Critical Thinking:
Graduates acquire the disciplinary knowledge of clinical competencies required to practice optometry and demonstrate foundational problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
PLO-2 Application:
Graduates demonstrate successful application of the didactic, laboratory, and clinical abilities that will allow them to competently examine, diagnose, treat, and manage patients within the field of optometry.
PLO-3 Communication:
Graduates demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills that allow productive, effective, and respectful engagement with all patients, healthcare professionals and all individuals involved with patient care.
PLO-4 Community Engagement and Service:
Graduates show active engagement in optometric community service and demonstrate knowledge of underlying principles of service and understanding needs of diverse communities locally and globally.
PLO-5 Equitable, Diverse, and Inclusive Perspectives:
Graduates demonstrate knowledge of optometry’s role in addressing individual, cultural and socioeconomic differences, including how equity, diversity, and inclusion can impact healthcare and other aspects of life.
Program Details
Pacific Priority
Pacific University undergraduate students can save a seat in the optometry program through the Pacific Priority guaranteed grad school admission program. Apply as soon as you deposit to become a Pacific undergraduate student or during your undergraduate years. Learn how.
Degree Conferral
Eligible candidates for a May degree conferral must apply for the degree by January 15. All students receiving degrees are required to participate in the May Commencement ceremony. The degree is conferred with distinction upon graduates who have maintained a grade point average of 3.8 or higher in the professional curriculum and have not received substandard or failing grades in the professional didactic and clinical curriculum.
Full-time Status
Candidates for the Doctor of Optometry degree generally are required to enroll as full-time students during each of the four professional years. A full-time student is defined as taking no fewer than 9 credits per semester during the first three years and no fewer than 11 credits per session during the fourth year.
Transfer Courses
All core courses required for the Doctor of Optometry degree should be completed successfully while the degree candidate is a matriculated student at the Pacific University College of Optometry. Courses taken elsewhere, or taken while the degree candidate is not matriculated at Pacific University, may be difficult to substitute for core courses.
Grading
In addition to letter grades, the following grades are used:
- P (Pass) = equivalent to C or above
- HP (High Pass) = equivalent to B work that is consistently above proficiency standards in patient care
- H (Honors) = equivalent to A work that is demonstrated by exemplary achievements in patient care
Instructors may issue an alternative grade (e.g. work in progress, incomplete, etc.) as defined by the Registrar’s Office. The instructor and student should complete an approved contract from the Registrar’s Office with a timeline for the completion of all work; it is expected that all course requirements will be completed by the end of the following semester.
Once a grade has been submitted to the Registrar it is changed only in the case of recording errors. Faculty members submit Grade Change forms to the Associate Dean of Academic Programs for approval.
National Board of Examiners in Optometry Policy
Candidates for the National Boards of Examiners in Optometry from our institution are required to release their scores to Pacific University College of Optometry. Scores will be used solely for program assessment.
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