Doctor of Optometr (OD) PROGRAM

The professional program leading to the Doctor of Optometry (OD) at the SUNY College of Optometry is four years in duration. Advance and standing options are available for qualified students.

The curriculum integrates the basic biological and vision sciences that form the foundation of clinical practice teaches the fundamentals of optometric practice and develops critical thinking and the application of evidence-based practice in clinical care.

Patient care begins early in the program and continues throughout all four years with increasing responsibilities under our clinical faculty's supervision at the University Eye Center (UEC) and through fourth-year externships that include sites around the country and abroad.

The optometry program goals are to graduate optometrists who are knowledgeable, clinically competent, professional, and ethical. In addition, we seek to prepare our students for the future of optometric practice by teaching them to think critically as life-long learners who understand the scientific basis of the profession and apply the fundamentals of evidence-based practice to patient care. Our program is also designed to provide opportunities to customize learning to student interests on advanced topics through elective courses and select advanced clinic assignments.

By graduation, students in our OD program will have demonstrated knowledge of the programmatic learning objectives, their application to evidence-based clinical optometry, and the professionalism and ethics expected in healthcare professionals.