Pre-Optometry Roadmap
Start your journey to becoming an optometrist.
Optometry is the primary health profession dedicated to caring for vision. Through academic and clinical training, optometrists acquire the knowledge and skills needed to diagnose, treat, and prevent problems of the visual system. Providing health education, managing curative or preventive regimes, and supplying vision care to special groups of patients are all part of an optometrist's work.
Pre-Optometry Roadmap at UNL
Optometry Prerequisite Classes
Depending on the school you plan to attend, you may need additional prerequisite courses. Meet with an advisor for more information.
Typical Optometry School Requirements
Biology – 2 semesters
Anatomy – 1 semester
Physiology with lab – 1 semester
Microbiology – 1 semester
Chemistry – 2 semesters
Organic Chemistry – 2 semesters
Biochemistry – 1 semester
Physics with lab - 2 semesters
Calculus – 1 semester
Statistics – 1 semester
Psychology – 1 semester
English – 2 courses
Social Science – 1-2 courses
What to Take at University of Nebraska Lincoln
Some classes require prerequisites. Meet with an advisor for help planning your courses.
Biology – LIFE 120/120L or LIFE 121/121L
Anatomy – BIOS 214
Physiology with lab – BIOS 213/213L
Microbiology – BIOS 312/314
Chemistry – CHEM 109A/L & CHEM 110A/L or 113A/L, 114, & 221L
Organic Chemistry – CHEM 251/253 & 252/254 or 261/263 & 262/264
Biochemistry – BIOC 401/401L or 431
Physics with lab – PHYS 141 & 142 or 211/221 & 212/222
Calculus – MATH 104 or 106
Statistics – STAT 218, EDPS 459, ECON 215, or PSYC 350
Psychology – PSYC 181
English – ENGL 150, 151, 254, or 354
Social Science – Any SOCI, PSYC, POLS, HIST, ECON, ANTH, GEOG, RELG, or PHIL
Suggested Science Sequencing
Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
Semester 3 | Semester 4 |
Semester 5 | Semester 6 |
**Take the OAT 12-15 months prior to entering Optometry school | |
Semester 7 | Semester 8 |
Specific admission requirements vary at optometry schools. Students should consult with schools of interest directly to determine their admission requirements. A list of each school’s requirements is also available at optometriceducation.org. The above is a list of generally accepted requirements, with specific UNL courses that will fulfill the requirement.
OAT Exam Recommended Courses:
LIFE 120/120L
LIFE 121/121L
BIOS 213/213L
CHEM 109A/L & 110A/L or 113A/L & 114A/L
CHEM 251/253 & 252/254 or 261/263 & 262/264
BIOC 401/401L (if didn’t take the 2nd Organic Chem class)
PHYS 141 and 142 or 211/221 and 212/222
For more information on the OAT exam, visit ada.org/en/oat.
Meet with an Explore Center advisor to develop your OAT preparation plan.
Extracurricular Involvement and Activities:
Pursuing optometry school requires more than just coursework. Your extracurricular activities, employment, and healthcare experiences like shadowing and volunteering will contribute greatly to your success in this field. See your pre-health advisor in the Explore Center to plan extracurricular activities that will prepare you for this program.
Application and Admission
Application: Students apply through the centralized application service, OptomCAS. See optomcas.org for application process information. Applications are generally accepted beginning in August or September of the academic year preceding the anticipated date of enrollment. Deadlines for applications also vary. For all specific application and admission deadlines, students must contact the school of interest directly.
Entrance Exam: Most schools require applicants to take the Optometry Admission Test (OAT), which is a computer-based exam. Information about the OAT is available at ada.org/en/oat.
Additional admission requirements: Letters of recommendation are generally required and vary by school.
Plan Your Path to Optometry School
View Health School Application Timeline
- Meet with a Pre-Health advisor to create a comprehensive academic and co-curricular plan
- Research application requirements
- See specific school websites for any specific application requirements which may vary by school
- Meet with a representative of the school for specific questions and guidance
- Take the Optometry Admission Test (OAT) (https://oat.ada.org/en/guide)
- Apply to Optometry schools
- Most schools use OptomCAS
- Applications are accepted beginning the August or September of the academic year preceding the anticipated date of enrollment
- Complete Bachelor's Degree (required by most schools) and required prerequisite courses
- Attend Optometry school (3-4 years)
Suggested Academic Preparation
- Bachelor’s degree – required by many programs and any UNL major is a great option
- Completion of pre-requisite courses
- Competitive academic record
- GPA in both science and non-science courses
- OAT score
Local Professional Schools
There are no schools of optometry in the state of Nebraska. Search for optometry colleges and schools at the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry website.
Current Students
Current students: Meet with a Pre-Health advisor to talk more about your Pre-Health goals.
Are you a non-UNL student looking for information about Pre-Health? Click here