Academic Catalog

Doctor of Optometry (OD) – Traditional Program

The Traditional Program for the Doctor of Optometry degree at Salus University, Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) follows a legacy that began in 1919, when PCO created a four-year degree program that set the standard for all other institutions of optometry that exists today.

The Traditional Program offers PCO students a cohort curriculum and includes the early clinical experience and extensive externships for which the College is recognized. Other features of this program include small group learning experiences, traditional semester breaks, and a learning environment in which what students learn in the classroom is practiced in the labs and applied to actual patients under the guidance and supervision of faculty.

The Traditional Program can be enhanced with electives courses and/or a post-graduate residency program. Qualified students gain additional expertise in expanding areas of patient care provided by optometric leadership in the health care system.

Innovation continues to drive PCO’s Traditional Program. This is reflected in exciting updates continually made to the core curriculum to reflect changes in the profession of Optometry. By anticipating how optometry’s role in the 21st century health care arena will continue to evolve, the curriculum is carefully crafted in a dynamic way to utilize cutting edge educational approaches and incorporate key competencies to provide students with the skills needed for independent, contemporary practice.

Admissions

Salus University Pennsylvania College of Optometry actively seeks applicants from every state in the nation as well as worldwide. Students currently attending represent many states, as well as Canada and several other countries.

Application Processing & Review

Pennsylvania College of Optometry accepts applications only through the Optometry Centralized Application Service (OptomCAS).  

The processing of applications by OptomCAS begins the end of June, one year prior to the year of desired enrollment.  Applications must be submitted on or before March 31 of the year of desired enrollment.

   Student application reviews begin when an application is verified by OptomCAS

   Interviews are scheduled and initiated, beginning in September

   Candidates meeting the requirements are admitted on a rolling basis until class capacity is reached

It is to an applicant’s advantage to apply as early as possible to ensure priority consideration for admission.

It is recommended that applicants with less than a 2.5 (C+) overall grade point average should consult the Office of Admissions prior to applying.

Criteria

To be considered, an applicant must:

   Submit a properly completed application to the Optometry Centralized Application Service (OptomCAS) at www.optomcas.org. Detailed instructions regarding the completion of the application and the essay are provided on the OptomCAS website.

   Complete the supplemental application process (Traditional OD Program applicants only) by arranging to take the online Casper Assessment Test (Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics). For detailed instructions, please refer to the Required Supplemental Application Process section on the Salus website. Taking the Casper between July and December of the application cycle is highly recommended.

   Submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended (or currently attending) directly to OptomCAS.

   Complete admissions prerequisites (listed below) at the college level with a grade of ‘C-’ or better. Prerequisite courses must be completed prior to starting the program, not prior to application.

   Arrange to take the Optometry Admissions Test (OAT) prior to June 1 of the desired entering year; taking the OAT between July and December of the application cycle is highly recommended.

   Information and registration for online testing: www.opted.org

   Applicants now have the option to take the General GRE (Graduate Record Exam), MCAT (Medical College Admission Test), DAT (Dental Admission Test), or PCAT (Pharmacy College Admission Test) in lieu of taking the OAT.  Please contact the Office of Admissions with any questions.

   If taking the GRE, scores can be sent directly to OptomCAS, using Designated Institution (DI) Code: 4566.

       The admission exam must be taken within three years, prior to the start of the OptomCAS application cycle to which you are applying. Score reports past three years will not be considered.

  Three letters of evaluation are required and should be forwarded directly to OptomCAS. Any three of the following options will be accepted in order to fulfill the letter requirement:

   A Pre-Professional Committee letter of evaluation (consult with your college/university pre-professional advisor regarding the policy for providing letters of recommendation for pre-professional applicants).

   One committee letter will fulfill the entire letter requirement.

   Letter from a teaching faculty member who has taught you in a course (science teaching faculty letter is strongly recommended).

   Letter from a teaching assistant only accepted if co-signed by faculty member.

   Letter from your pre-professional or faculty advisor.

   Letter from a practicing optometrist for whom you have shadowed or worked.

   Letter from a healthcare professional or work supervisor who is able to assess your qualifications for professional education and future career in optometry.

   Additional letters outside of the above options will enhance the file but will not fulfill our required letters of evaluation.

   Complete a minimum of 25 hours shadowing/observation in the field of optometry or ophthalmology.

   International Students, please review any additional requirements below.

   All credentials submitted on behalf of an applicant become a part of that applicant’s file with the University and cannot be returned.

   Students will be required to meet University compliance requirements upon matriculation. 

 

Prerequisites

An applicant must have completed a minimum of 90 semester hours or 135 quarter hours of credit from an accredited undergraduate college or university. These credits must include the pre-optometry courses listed below completed with a 'C-' or better.

An applicant need not have completed all prerequisites prior to filing an application but must be able to complete all outstanding prerequisites prior to enrolling.

Prerequisite credits completed 10 or more years prior to the anticipated entrance date will be reviewed for approval on an individual basis.

   General Biology or Zoology (with labs) – one year

   General Chemistry (with labs) – one year

   Organic Chemistry (with labs) – one year or

   ½ year Organic Chemistry with lab, plus ½ year of either Biochemistry or Molecular Biology (lab highly recommended)

   General Physics (with labs) – one year

   Microbiology or Bacteriology (lecture only) – ½ year

   English Composition or English Literature – one year

   Mathematics – one year

   (½ year Calculus fulfills math requirement; however, one year of Calculus highly recommended)

   Psychology – ½ year

   Statistics (Math, Biology, or Psychology) – ½ year

We encourage, but do not require, additional upper level science coursework in such areas as Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Genetics, Histology and Experimental and Physiological Psychology. Anatomy and Physiology course work is highly recommended.

Required Supplemental Application Process – Casper Assessment Test

Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University now requires a supplemental application for the Traditional OD Program.

For the supplemental application process, all applicants to the Traditional OD Program are required to complete the Casper Assessment Test via Acuity Insights Assessments. Taking the Casper between July and December of the application cycle is highly recommended.

The last date to take the test for the 2023/2024 cycle is April 9, 2024.

Casper is a standardized, online assessment that measures different competencies and attributes that we believe are important for successful students and graduates of our program. This assessment will complement the other tools that we use for applicant review and evaluation. In implementing the Casper via Acuity Insights Assessments, we are trying to further enhance fairness and objectivity in our selection process. For detailed information on how to complete the Casper Assessment Test, please refer to the Salus website.

International Students & Practitioners

International Transcripts

For applicants who have attended foreign and French-Canadian schools, please provide the Office of Admissions with the following information:

   A course-by-course credential review from an approved agency, such as World Education Services, which evidences all post-secondary studies completed. Please consult agency’s web site for requirements to complete the evaluation.

   An official evaluation may be sent from the agency directly to OptomCAS.

   Instructions for submitting a foreign credential evaluation.

English Language Proficiency

Fluency in written and spoken English is essential for success in a Salus University academic program as well as to help ensure patient/client/student safety and/or effective communication with members of a healthcare or education team.

Official results from the TOEFL iBT, TOEFL Essentials, IELTS or Duolingo examination are required of all non-native English speakers. One of these approved exams must be taken within two years prior to the start date of the entering class to which an applicant seeks admission.

While we recommend that applicants submit TOEFL iBT, TOEFL Essentials, IELTS or Duolingo, exceptions will be considered for foreign applicants who meet one of the following criteria*:

1. successfully completed a degree or diploma held from an accredited, post-secondary institution where the coursework was entirely in English, and provide evidence that it was conducted in English; or

2. successfully completed, and provide evidence of, an approved English language learner’s program

*Note: All exemption materials and other appeals are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and subject to the admission committee’s final discretion. Should any exceptions not be accepted toward the English language requirement, the Office of Admissions will inform the applicant of an alternative to fulfill it.

Admissions Selection Process

For more information regarding the admissions selection, interview and matriculation process, please refer to the Salus website.

Deferment of Admission

An accepted student with unforeseen, extenuating circumstances prohibiting them from matriculating may request a deferment of admission in writing. The request must be directed to both the Dean of Student Affairs and the Dean of PCO, made via the Office of Admissions.

For deferment consideration, the following is required:

   A deferment request must be submitted in writing by May 15, before the August start of the academic year. Please note, submission of a deferral request by the deadline does not guarantee approval.

   Official documentation verifying the extenuating circumstance.

   All non-refundable deposit fees and the matriculation supplement must be received (as directed in the University’s official Letter of Acceptance).

If deferment is approved:

   Admission will be extended to August matriculation of the next academic year.

   A deferment will not extend beyond one admission cycle.

   The student must contact the Office of Admissions, in writing, by April 1 of the deferred admission calendar year regarding his/her intention to resume enrollment.

   The student will be required to meet with a member of the Admissions Committee prior to matriculation (this may be done in person or via phone/online).

If deferment is denied:

   A student has the option to withdraw acceptance from the Program, and reapply through OptomCAS for future admission.

For questions regarding this policy, please contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@salus.edu.

Curriculum

First Year

Fall Semester (2S)

OPT-7030Health Care, Professionalism, and Diversity

2

OPT-7101Biochemistry and Genetics

1.5

OPT-7103Systemic Pathology and Physiology

2

OPT-7105General Anatomy and Histology

1

OPT-7106Ocular Anatomy and Histology

2.5

OPT-7400Head and Neck Anatomy with Laboratory

2.5

OPT-7530Optics 1: Foundation of Light and Lenses

2.5

IPE-7701Evidence Based Practice

1

OPT-8630Clinical Skills 1

2

OPT-8640Patient Care 1

0.5

Total Credit Hours:17.5

Spring Semester (4S)

OPT-7130Systemic Pharmacology 1

2

OPT-7405Neuroanatomy with Laboratory

2.5

OPT-7406Ocular Physiology and Biochemistry

2

OPT-7407Systemic Immunology and Microbiology

1

OPT-7408Public Health Optometry and Research Methods

1.5

OPT-7531Optics 2: Applications of Optical Principles

2.5

OPT-7600Vision Science and Perception 1 with Laboratory

1

OPT-8631Clinical Skills 2

3.5

OPT-8641Patient Care 2

0.5

Total Credit Hours:16.5

 

Second Year

Summer Semester (1S)

OPT-7131Systemic Pharmacology 2

1

OPT-7340Anterior Segment Disease 1

1.5

OPT-7409Neurologic Examination and Imaging with Laboratory

1

OPT-7410Diagnostic Imaging and Technology with Laboratory

1

OPT-7601Vision Science and Perception 2 with Laboratory

2

OPT-7730Clinical Problem Solving 1

1

OPT-8632Clinical Skills 3

1.5

OPT-8642Patient Care 3-Optical Clerkship

1.5

Total Credit Hours:10.5

Fall Semester (2S)

OPT-7109Ocular Immunology and Microbiology

1

OPT-7140Ocular Pharmacology 1

1.5

OPT-7341Anterior Segment Disease 2

2.5

OPT-7402Ocular Motility with Laboratory

2

OPT-7404Neuro-Ophthalmic Disease 1 with Laboratory

1.5

OPT-7500Optics 3: Physical Optics with Laboratory

2

OPT-7602Vision Science and Perception 3 with Laboratory

1.5

OPT-7732Clinical Problem Solving 2

1

OPT-8530Contact Lens 1-Soft Contact Lenses

1.5

OPT-8635Clinical Skills 4

2.5

OPT-8643Patient Care 4

1

Total Credit Hours:18.0

Spring Semester (4S)

OPT-7141Ocular Pharmacology 2

1

OPT-7350Posterior Segment Disease 1

2.5

OPT-7414Neuro-Ophthalmic Disease 2 with Laboratory

1

OPT-7507Optics 4: Physiological Optics with Laboratory

2.0

OPT-7603Vision Science and Perception 4 with Laboratory

1.5

OPT-7734Clinical Problem Solving 3

1

OPT-8500Pediatric & Infant Vision with Laboratory

2.5

OPT-8531Contact Lens 2 - Rigid Contact Lenses

3

OPT-8644Patient Care 5

3.5

Total Credit Hours:18.0

 

Third Year

Summer Semester (1S)

OPT-7320Binocular Vision 1 with Laboratory

2

OPT-7342Systemic Medicine and Disease 1

2

OPT-7351Posterior Segment Disease 2

1.5

OPT-7424Neuro-Ophthalmic Disease 3

1

OPT-7710Practice Management

1

OPT-7736Clinical Problem Solving 4

1

OPT-8645Patient Care 6

5

Total Credit Hours:13.5

Fall Semester (2S)

OPT-7300Management of the Glaucomas

1.5

OPT-7301Ocular Emergencies and Differential Diagnoses

1

OPT-7321Binocular Vision 2 with Laboratory

2.5

OPT-7343Systemic Medicine and Disease 2

2

OPT-7510Ophthalmic Lasers

1

OPT-7737Clinical Problem Solving 5

1

OPT-8501Low Vision and Vision Rehabilitation with Laboratory

2.5

OPT-8636Advanced Clinical Skills

1

OPT-8646Patient Care 7

6

Total Credit Hours:18.5

Spring Semester (4S)

OPT-7502Environmental & Sports Vision

1

OPT-7509Minor Surgical Procedures

1.5

OPT-8540Integrated Decision Making/NBEO Prep

2

OPT-8647Patient Care 8

2.5

OPT-8800Externship 1

5.5

Total Credit Hours:12.5

 

Fourth Year

Fourth Year

OPT-8801Externship 2

10

OPT-8802Externship 3

10

OPT-8803Externship 4

10

OPT-8804Externship 5

10

Total Credit Hours:40

 

Total Credit Hours: 165.0