The courses required for admission to optometry school are listed below, along with their Binghamton University equivalents. With the exception of the English, Psychology, and Mathematics, the remaining coursework is covered on the OAT. Therefore, you need to complete Biology, Chemistry, and Physics prior to taking the OAT. There are several ways in which you can create a course schedule in order to complete the course requirements in a timely manner. These, as well as other information, are discussed in the 2024-2025 First- and Second-Year Pre-Health Handbook
Online courses: Some ​professional​ schools do not accept online science courses, especially those with online labs. It is the student's responsibility to check the requirements for each school to which they are applying.
Links to individual schools can be found on the ASCO website.
Optometry School Curriculum Requirements
Subject |
Course Rubric & Number |
| Biology (1 year) | BIOL 113, BIOL 114, and BIOL 115* |
| Chemistry (1 year) |
Option A: CHEM 104, 105, & 106* Option B CHEM 107-108 Option C: CHEM 111 and 341 You must choose among options A, B, and C. You may not switch between sequences. Be sure to check with your intended major to learn if there is a preferred sequence for that major. |
| Organic Chemistry (1 year) | CHEM 231, CHEM 332 & CHEM 335 (lab) |
| Physics (1 year) | PHYS 121 & PHYS 122 (or PHYS 131 & PHYS 132) |
| Microbiology (1 semester) |
BIOL 314 (lecture) & BIOL 421 (lab) - Offered in Fall |
| English (1 year) | Any course in English (ENG), Rhetoric (RHET), Writing (WRIT), Creative Writing (CW) or Comparative Literature (COLI) departments. |
| Calculus (1 semester) | MATH 224 & 225 Occasionally, optometry schools require two semesters of calculus (MATH 224 & 225 and MATH 226 & 227). Students should verify admission requirements with each optometry school before applying. |
| Psychology (1 semester) | PSYC 111 |
| Statistics (1 semester) | MATH 147 or PSYC 243 or BME 340 (only available to students in the Biomedical Engineering Program) |
*Notes:
- BIOL 115 or its FRI equivalent.
- CHEM 106 or its FRI equivalent.
- Several optometry schools are now requiring biochemistry (BIOL 304 or BCHM 403) for admission.
Additional requirements/recommendations may include:
SUBJECT |
COURSE RUBRIC AND NUMBER |
| Biochemistry (1 semester) |
BIOL 304 or BCHM 403 or BIOL 403* |
