2026-2027 Curriculum Guide for the Pre-Optometry Program (POPT) - Admission Courses and Advising

Sep 17, 2026

Uploaded by Sage

University of Indianapolis Shaheen College of Arts & Sciences provides the 2026-2027 curriculum guide for the Pre-Optometry Program (POPT). The guide explains how students complete optometry-admission prerequisites and prepare for the OAT, including the need to choose a university major alongside required courses. It outlines advising and admission criteria, application timing and process, then lists required course sequences by year (freshman through junior). It also notes recommended courses and guidance contacts.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Advising

Criteria for Admission to Optometry School

Application for Optometry School

Courses Required for the Pre-Optometry Program

Freshman Year

Sophomore Year

Junior Year

Courses Recommended for the Pre-Optometry Program

Updated 03/25 University of Indianapolis – Shaheen College of Arts & Sciences 2026-2027 Curriculum Guide for the Pre-Optometry Program (POPT) Professional Studies Concentration The Pre-Optometry Program As a student interested in a career as an optometrist, you must complete a number of courses required for admission to the optometry graduate program. These courses also will help you prepare for the OAT (Optometry Admission Test), a test that you will take as part of the optometry admissions process. (These prerequisites are listed on the reverse side of this sheet.) The courses required for admission to optometry school do not comprise an undergraduate major; therefore, you must also select a major in at least one academic discipline. You may select any major offered at the University of Indianapolis, but you should consider one that will allow you to complete both major courses and optometry prerequisites simultaneously. Your faculty advisor and Academic Advisor in CASA can assist you in making your choice of a major. Advising You will be assigned a faculty member in your major area who will serve as your faculty advisor. S/he will advise you regarding major and general education core requirements. Dr. Joe Burnell (Chemistry), Dr. Doug Stemke (Biology), or Dr. Dean Wiseman (Biology) are the pre-professional advisors who will assist you in fulfilling optometry prerequisites. Each semester you should consult with one of these preprofessional advisors, as well as with your faculty advisor, to ensure that you are making satisfactory progress in all phases of your program. Criteria for Admission to Optometry School Admission to medical school is highly competitive. An applicant must have at least a B+ average, must achieve a competitive score on the OAT, and must have the recommendation of undergraduate faculty members responsible for the pre-optometry program. Your success in achieving a high grade point average, scoring well on the OAT, and receiving high recommendations from faculty members will be determined by your total college experience. Application for Optometry School Application for optometry school must be made in the fall prior to the year you wish to be accepted. The OAT should be taken preceding application. Application for the OAT ([http://www.ada.org/en/oat](http://www.ada.org/en/oat)) is made on-line through the ASCO (Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry-[https://optometriceducation.org/](https://optometriceducation.org/)). Applications to ASCO member medical schools are made on-line through the OptomCAS application service ([http://www.optomcas.org/](http://www.optomcas.org/)). Application to non-ASCO member medical schools or schools not participating in OptomCAS are made directly to the institution involved. Courses Required for the Pre-Optometry Program The curriculum represented is based on the material on which candidates are tested on the OAT and on minimum requirements for the Indiana University School of Optometry. This is the program to which the largest number of University of Indianapolis students apply. These courses should be representative of the admissions requirements for most programs, but students interested in applying to other schools should contact those schools directly to determine requirements specific to those programs. Freshman Year Semester I ● CHEM 150 General Chemistry I (3) and CHEM 151 General Chemistry Lab I (1) Semester II ● BIOL 165 Introduction to Cell Biology (4) ● CHEM 160 General Chemistry II (3) and CHEM 161 General Chemistry Lab II (1) ● MATH 190 Calculus I (4) Updated 03/25 Sophomore Year ● CHEM 250 Organic Chemistry I (3) and CHEM 251 Organic Chemistry Lab I (2) ● BIOL 225 Introduction to Genetics (4) ● MATH 220 Elementary Statistics (4) ● MATH 245 Statistics for the Sciences (4) or MATH 220 Elementary Statistics (4) ● PSY 120 Introduction to Psychology (3) Junior Year ● BIOL 220 General Microbiolog

FAQs

What prerequisites must pre-optometry students complete before applying to optometry school?

Students must complete required courses listed as admission prerequisites for optometry school and also prepare for the OAT, which is part of the optometry admissions process.

How does advising work in the Pre-Optometry Program?

Students are assigned a faculty advisor in their major area and consult pre-professional advisors each semester to ensure progress in major and program requirements.

When should students apply for optometry school and take the OAT?

Optometry school applications must be made in the fall prior to the year the student wishes to be accepted, and the OAT should be taken preceding the application.

Sep 17, 2026

Uploaded by Sage