Recommended Biology Degree/Concentration
While you can major in any subject and still be eligible for optemetry school, the academic requirements that you need to meet to earn a Biology B.S. degree are very well aligned with the prerequisites for pharmacy school (see table below). At CSUEB we have several Biology B.S. Concentrations to choose from and any of them would be suitable for students interested in pursuing veterinary school. Concentrations commonly selected by pre-optometry students are the Physiology, Cell and Molecular Biology, and Microbiology concentrations.
Optometry School Prerequisites
The prerequisite courses required by optometry schools vary from institution to institution. So, it is important for you to do your due diligence and research the requirements for the institution(s) you are interested in applying to. With this said, below we suggest a curriculum designed to provide you with the prerequisites for optometry school, prepare you for the required entrance exam (the PCAT), and provide you a solid foundation for the introductory year of veterinary school while allowing you to fulfill biology major. Courses marked with an (*) are required or strongly recommended by most optometry schools while the unmarked courses are required by only some optometry schools.
Prerequisite Details
Requirement
|
Recommended # of Semesters
|
Relevant CSUEB Course(s)
|
| Biology or Zoology with Lab* |
2 semesters |
BIOL 140A & BIOL 140B |
| Microbiology* |
1 semester |
BIOL 330 |
| Anatomy |
1 semester |
BIOL 270 & BIOL 271^ |
|
Physiology with Lab*
|
1 semester
|
BIOL 370 or BIOL 270 + BIOL 271^
|
| General (Inorganic) Chemistry with Lab* |
2 semesters |
CHEM 111 + 111L + CHEM 112 + 112L |
| Organic Chemistry with lab* |
1 semester |
CHEM 230 or CHEM 331 & 332
|
| Biochemistry* |
1 semester |
CHEM 340 or CHEM 441 |
| Physics with Lab* |
2 semesters |
PHYS 125 + 126 |
| College Mathematics* |
2 semesters |
MATH 120(5) + 130 MATH 130 + 120(5) + 130 |
| Statistics* |
1 semester |
STAT 303
|
| Psychology* |
1 semester |
Can take PSYC 100 as area D1-2 course |
| English* |
2 semesters |
Your GE-A2 and 2nd Composition English Courses |
| Shadowing* |
Depends on school (min 10-40 hrs) |
N/A
|
^ Note that BIOL 270 + 271 do not satisfy most CSUEB Biology major concentration requirements. Further, you could take a standalone anatomy course and/or a standalone physiology course at a community college. However, if Physiology is required for your Biology concentration here at CSUEB, we recommend that you take BIOL 370 to satisfy both your major/concentration and your optometry school requirements and a standalone anatomy course at a community course. Taking just one course of the BIOL 270 + 271 series will not be enough to cover the optometry school prerequisite reqiurement.
Related CSUEB Student Clubs/Organizations
There are currently no active Pre-Pharmacy Clubs at CSUEB. You may want to check the CSUEB Student and Clubs Organization site from time to time to see if one has started one. Or, to consider starting one yourself, click here.
Additional Resources
Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry
Optometry College Application Service (OptomCAS)
U.C. Berkeley Career Engagement, Field: Optometry
U.C. Davis, Health Professions Advising Page: Field: Optometry
