Overview

Calvin's pre-optometry program includes prerequisite courses for acceptance to optometry school. Classes you will take include anatomy, physiology, microbiology, chemistry (general and organic), biochemistry, physics, calculus and statistics.  You'll also have opportunities to travel to India, China or Belize to learn about healthcare in other cultures.

Careers in Pre-Optometry

• Pediatric Optometrist
• Vision Therapist
• Retinal Specialist
• Geriatric Optometrist
• More

See job placement rates for Calvin grads.

Student involvement

Volunteer at local hospitals and senior centers; Attend lectures sponsored by the biology and chemistry departments; Spend the summer assisting a professor with research; Intern at Van Andel Institute; Work in the West Michigan Regional Lab on campus.

Course Requirements 2012-13

Pre-Optometry

Students wishing to become optometrists complete a BA or BS degree at Calvin before entering optometry school to complete four additional years of study culminating in the doctor of optometry (OD) degree. Requirements for admission to optometry schools vary, but all require the following:

• BIOL-123 The Living World: Concepts and Connections
• BIOL-224 Cellular and Genetic Systems
• One course from:
  • BIOL-207 Medical Microbiology
  • BIOL-336 General Microbiology
• CHEM-104 General Chemistry II
• CHEM-261 Organic Chemistry I
• One course from:
  • CHEM-262 Organic Chemistry II
  • CHEM-253 Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry
• PHYS-221 and PHYS-222 General Physics
• One course from:
  • MATH-132 Calculus for Management, Life, and Social Sciences
  • MATH-171 Calculus I
• MATH-143 Introduction to Probability and Statistics
• ENGL-101 Written Rhetoric
• one literature course
• at least one social science course (PSYC-151, SOC-151)

Many schools also recommend physiology, anatomy, biochemistry, and a business or economics course. These requirements may be met within the context of a biology major or group science major at Calvin. Students should consult the website of the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (www.opted.org) and work with the pre-optometry advisor, J. Ubels, to plan a course of study that meets the requirements of the optometry schools to which they intend to apply. All applicants to optometry school are required to take the Optometry Admission Test (OAT), which is given on computer and may be taken at any time. Most students take the OAT after completion of the junior year of college. Application deadlines at the various optometry schools range from January 1 to April 1.

Scholarships

Dollar amounts reflect awards given for the 2012-13 academic year.

Dr. Paul and Mrs. Doris Dirkse Health Care Scholarship

• award amount: $1,900
• junior or senior
• good academic record
• financial need considered; Christian character; motivation; potential for service
• apply through the Calvin Portal

West Michigan Optometric Scholarship

• award amount: $1,500
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required; intending to pursue a career in optometry
• apply through the Calvin Portal

View all scholarship opportunities

Faculty

Carolyn Anderson Assistant Professor of Chemistry Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry DH 335 cea3@calvin.edu (616) 526-6343 Eric Arnoys Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry DH 233 earnoys@calvin.edu (616) 526-6051 David Benson Associate Professor of Chemistry Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry DH 303 deb22@calvin.edu (616) 526-7699 Ronald Blankespoor Professor of Chemistry Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry DH 227 blan@calvin.edu (616) 526-6174 Curtis Blankespoor Professor of Biology Department of Biology DH 123 cblankes@calvin.edu (616) 526-6498 Randall DeJong Assistant Professor Department of Biology DH 109 rdejong@calvin.edu (616) 526-7625 Roger DeKock Professor Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry DH 301 dekock@calvin.edu (616) 526-6344 David Dornbos Associate Professor Department of Biology DH 205 dld9@calvin.edu (616) 526-8578 Herbert Fynewever Associate Professor Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry DH 229 hrf3@calvin.edu (616) 526-7711 Loren Haarsma Associate Professor Department of Physics and Astronomy SB 260 lhaarsma@calvin.edu (616) 526-8517 Paul Harper Associate Professor Department of Physics and Astronomy SB 161 pharper@calvin.edu (616) 526-6408 Arlene Hoogewerf Professor Department of Biology DH 105 ahoogewe@calvin.edu (616) 526-8668 Rich Nyhof Professor Department of Biology DH 111 nyhr@calvin.edu (616) 526-6347

Pam Plantinga Teaching Staff Department of Mathematics and Statistics pplantin@calvin.edu (616) 526-8643 Randall Pruim Professor Department of Mathematics and Statistics NH 284 rpruim@calvin.edu (616) 526-7113 Thomas Scofield Associate Professor Department of Mathematics and Statistics NH 281 scofield@calvin.edu (616) 526-6856 Anding Shen Associate Professor, on leave fall 2012 Department of Biology DH 209 as28@calvin.edu (616) 526-6025 Kumar Sinniah Professor Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry DH 225 ksinniah@calvin.edu (616) 526-6058 Chad Tatko Assistant Professor Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry DH 307 cdt2@calvin.edu (616) 526-7584 Peter Tigchelaar Professor Department of Biology DH 107 ptigch@calvin.edu (616) 526-6346 John Ubels Professor Department of Biology DH 213 jubels@calvin.edu (616) 526-6219 Randall Van Dragt Professor Department of Biology DH 113 vdra@calvin.edu (616) 526-6497 Douglas Vander Griend Associate Professor Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry DH 231 dav4@calvin.edu (616) 526-8729 John Wertz Assistant Professor Department of Biology DH 131 jwertz59@calvin.edu (616) 526-7621 Amy Wilstermann Associate Professor Department of Biology DH 129 amw26@calvin.edu (616) 526-7620