Optometrist
THIS WEBSITE IS FOR CSU STUDENTS PURSUING CAREERS AS OPTOMETRISTS – CSU DOES NOT HAVE AN OPTOMETRY PROGRAM
Overview
Optometrists are independent, primary health care providers who examine, diagnose and treat disease and disorders of the eye and visual system. This includes:
Measurement and prescription for glasses and contacts
Diagnosis and treatment of eye coordination and focusing issues
Treatment of eye diseases such as glaucoma
Detection of systemic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure
Non-invasive surgical procedures
Areas of sub-specialty include low vision rehabilitation, pediatric eye care, and geriatric eye care, vision therapy, sports vision, and ocular disease.
CSU Recommended Coursework
| These courses are provided as GENERAL pre-requisites and may not represent a complete list of requirements. It is the student’s responsibility to check with each professional school in order to determine specific pre-requisites courses and equivalencies for each institution. | |
| Requirement | Recommended CSU Course(s) |
| General Biology, 2 semesters | LIFE 102 and LIFE 103 |
| General Chemistry, 2 semesters | CHEM 111/112 and CHEM 113/114 |
| Organic Chemistry, 1 semester | CHEM 245/246 |
| Biochemistry, 1 semester | BC351 |
| Human Anatomy, 1 semester w/ lab | BMS 301 |
| Physiology, 1 semester w/ lab | BMS 300/302 or BMS 360/302 |
| Microbiology, 1 semester w/ lab | MIP 300/302 |
| General Physics, 2 semesters w/ lab | PH 121 and PH 122 or PH 141 and PH 142 |
| English/Writing, 2 semesters | CO 150, CO 300/301 or JTC 300/302 |
| Calculus, 1 semester | MATH 155 or MATH 160 |
| Psychology, 1 semester | PSY 100 |
| Statistics, 1 semester | STAT201, 301, or 307 |
Programs and Preparation
Accredited Programs:
Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO)