Medical Professions Advisement Program: Pre-Optometry

Medical Professions Advisement Program

Office of Medical Professions Advisement Program
PO Box 70592
Johnson City, TN 37614
Phone: (423) 439-5602
Web address: https://www.etsu.edu/cas/mpa/

The Medical Professions Advisement Program in the College of Arts and Sciences provides advisement counseling to students entering East Tennessee State University in preparation for careers in the following health-related fields: chiropractic, dentistry, medicine (allopathic or osteopathic), optometry, pharmacy, physician assistant, podiatry, and veterinary medicine. These pre-professional programs are not undergraduate majors at ETSU, but are programs of study that prepare students for application to professional programs. Many professional programs prefer/require that students earn an undergraduate degree before acceptance into their programs. Therefore, the student, medical professions counselor, and major advisor work in conjunction to develop a plan of study that fulfills the requirements for an undergraduate degree and prerequisite courses for the students professional school(s) of choice. Students are encouraged to choose majors that interest them and supports their career and personal goals. Questions concerning health-related pre-professional programs of study should be directed to the Office of Medical Professions Advisement Program at (423) 439-5602. For more information visit: https://www.etsu.edu/cas/mpa/.

Pre-Optometry

The Pre-Optometry program of study prepares students for application to a four-year Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree program. The majority of students accepted to a school of optometry have completed a bachelor’s degree.

Although prerequisite courses vary among optometry schools, the following courses (at a minimum) are recommended for students seeking admission to most programs.

Additional Information

Different schools may require different prerequisite courses. It is the responsibility of the student to research his/her schools of interest and verify that the required courses are completed before taking the required entrance exam(s) and applying to professional schools. There are additional courses that could help students become more competitive. Please consult with your Pre-Optometry counselor to select a course sequence that best aligns with your goals.