Southern Oregon University

• 2007 - 2008 Catalog

Preparation for admission to optometry schools includes successful completion of prescribed coursework and an acceptable score on the nationally administered Optometry Admissions Test (OAT). Enrollment is limited, and admission is competitive at optometry schools, which require a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution before acceptance or at some time early in the course of professional study. The pre-optometry program at SOU is designed to prepare students for admission to the School of Optometry at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. Because requirements for other schools of optometry are similar, students may prepare for the school of their choice by slightly modifying the courses taken. Contact Dr. Roger Christianson in the Department of Biology as soon as possible to discuss this program and schedule an appointment.

Pacific University admits qualified students to their professional optometry program after they complete a minimum of 135 quarter credits, with the understanding that the bachelor’s degree must be completed within two years of admission to the professional program. SOU offers a three-year course of study that prepares students for admission to the professional program at Pacific University and allows students to complete the fourth year of the bachelor of science degree in the biomedical sciences option in biology by successfully completing the first year of the professional optometry program at Pacific University. The requirements of this joint program are below:

1. Complete all requirements for the biomedical sciences option in the biology major, except 4 credits of upper division electives, the physiology core requirements, and the capstone. Upper division electives must include Microbiology (BI 351 and 353) and a full year of upper division Human Anatomy and Physiology (BI 330).
   
2. Complete all baccalaureate degree requirements (with the exception of #5 in the Baccalaureate Degree Requirements on page 15).
   
3. Complete additional requirements for acceptance into the professional optometry program at Pacific University (e.g., psychology, math, and writing).
   
4. Students are awarded the bachelor of science degree in biology with a biomedical sciences option upon successful completion of the first year of the professional optometry program at Pacific University and demonstration of this to the SOU registrar.
   

Suggested Program

First Year

Principles of Biology (BI 211, 212, 213)	12
General Chemistry (CH 201–206)	15
University Seminar (USEM 101, 102, 103)	12
Mathematics (MTH 243, 251)	8
Total credits	47

Second Year

Genetics (BI 341)	4
Cell Biology (BI 342)	4
Developmental Biology (BI 343)	4
Organic Chemistry (CH 331, 332, 337, 338)	11
General Psychology (PSY 201, 202)	8
Technical Writing (WR 327)	4
Humanities (Arts and Letters) University Studies	12
Approved electives	4
Total credits	51

Third Year

Evolution (BI 446)	4
Microbiology (BI 351, 353)	6
Topics in Biology: Human Anatomy and Physiology (BI 330 I, II, III)	12
Biology upper division elective	2–4
General Physics (PH 201, 202, 203 and 224, 225, 226)	12
Upper division University Studies	9–12
Total credits in program	143–148