Program Prerequisites

Prerequisite Courses

Course	# of Hours
Biological Sciences with Labs A	8 Hours
Fundamentals of Chemistry with Labs A	8 Hours
General Physics with Labs A,B	8 Hours
Calculus C	3 Hours
Jr/Sr-Level Human Anatomy and/or Human Physiology D	3 Hours
Jr/Sr-Level Human Systems-Focused Biology D	5 Hours
Organic Chemistry with Lab>	4 Hours
Biochemistry	3 Hours
Microbiology with Lab A	4 Hours
Statistics	3 Hours
Psychology	3 Hours

A Courses should be equivalent to those required for biological science degree majors.
B Course should have an optics section dedicated to the study of wave theory and the propagation of light. Calculus based physics not required; trigonometry or algebra based physics is acceptable.
C A three-hour course in calculus is required; it is recommended (but not required) that applicants take one or more courses in algebra, trigonometry, pre-calculus and/or analytical geometry in addition to calculus.
D Eight hours of junior/senior-level human science-related biology courses are required. A minimum of three of these eight hours must come from junior/senior-level physiology or anatomy (freshman/sophomore-level A&P courses will not satisfy these requirements). Acceptance of other biology courses to satisfy prerequisites is at the discretion of UHCO’s admissions committee. Students are recommended to receive prior approval from the Director of Admissions. Courses such as molecular biology, cell biology, genetics, neuroscience, immunology, virology, and endocrinology are acceptable. Courses such as plant physiology, botany, ecology, biodiversity, or biotechnology are not acceptable.

*** A Bachelor's degree is required prior to matriculation for admission to the professional program at the University of Houston College of Optometry.

*** Prerequisite coursework must be completed within five years of the date of application.

*** Letters of recommendation must be requested via and submitted directly to OptomCAS. UHCO requires two letters of recommendation, one of which must be from an academic mentor. This mentor could be a professor, an advisor, a coach, or any other individual capable of speaking to the applicant’s academic preparedness in regard to their professionalism, dedication, intuition, character, integrity, wisdom, teamwork, responsibility, humanity, etc. The other letter of recommendation is strongly recommended to come from an optometrist with whom the applicant has worked or shadowed. A minimum of 20 hours of direct optometric experience is also required from at least two settings (e.g., shadowing/work experience from two optometric practices, ideally in varying modalities).

*** The College of Optometry requires that newly admitted applicants complete and successfully pass a Criminal Background Check (CBC) prior to matriculation. Offers of admission are contingent upon this CBC and upon the UHCO Admissions Committee’s review of its findings. Additionally, UHCO students complete two external clinical rotations, and all US federal clinics (VA, military, Indian Health Service) require a CBC. This CBC is separate and in addition to the one completed as part of the admissions process. The CBC occurs approximately 6-12 weeks prior to the date the externship begins and as determined by the site.