UAB School of Optometry

1716 University Boulevard Birmingham, Alabama 35294-0010 Phone: 205-975-0739 Fax: 205-934-6758 Email: admissions@icare.opt.uab.edu http://main.uab.edu/Sites/optometry/

The University of Alabama at Birmingham, UAB, School of Optometry, since its inception of a Doctor of Optometry program in 1969, has had some of the smallest class sizes, around 40 to 50 students, compared to other optometry schools. The school offers a Doctor of Optometry degree, along with graduate studies that lead to Masters of Science in Vision Science and a Ph.D. in Vision Science. There are also residency and continuing education programs for students looking to further their education. Students at the UAB School of Optometry are exposed to an excellent faculty that is well published through periodicals, papers, and 26 different textbooks. The facilities are also top notch, with the Center for the Development of Functional Imaging (CDIF), UAB Eye Care Center, and the Center for Low Vision Rehabilitation (CLVR).

The UAB School of Optometry has a class size of around 45 students, and has been quite competitive with a ratio of 5 to 1 for applications and acceptances. The school gives preference to applicants from Alabama and states participating in the Southern Regional Educational Board (SREB), and has limited spots for applicants from other states. There were 209 applications for the 2008-2009 term, with 66 accepted and 45 students enrolled. The 2008-2009 entering class had a mean overall GPA of 3.56 and an OAT Total Science score of 326, which is one of the highest compared to other optometry schools for that year. Students also get diverse experience through different ages, and cases through rotations through Community Outreach programs like the Eye Can Learn, Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind (AIDB), Community Vision Van, and the Rural Alabama Diabetes and Glaucoma Initiative.

Tuition

The UAB School of Optometry participates in the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB), and students from Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina who are accepted into the SREB contract program pay in-state tuition. For the 2008-2009 academic year, tuition for residents was $13,341 and $40,023 for non-residents for 1st through 3rd years, and $10,005 for residents and $30,015 for non-residents for the 4th year. Calculating at this rate, the total tuition for the 4 year Doctor of Optometry program comes out to $50,028 for residents and $150,084 for non-residents. Please check the school for updated and accurate tuition and fees.

Education Requirements

The UAB School of Optometry does not require applicants to have a Bachelors degree, but requires at least 90 semester hours from an accredited institution to meet its prerequisite courses, some of which are listed below. Applicants must have attained a grade of at least a ‘C’ in these courses.

• One year of Biology with labs
• One course of Microbiology
• One course of Biochemistry
• One year of General Chemistry with labs
• One half year of Organic Chemistry with a lab
• One year of Physics with labs
• One course of Calculus
• One course of Statistics
• One year of English
• One course of Psychology
• One year of Social and Behavioral Science

Admissions Checklist

• School of Optometry Application- OptomCAS
• Essay/Personal Statement
• Official academic transcripts
• OAT Scores
• Letters of recommendation – from Pre-professional Committee or if there is none 4 letters of recommendation of from faculty members or optometrist

2008 ICO Entering Class Profile

• Total Applications: 2008
• Number of Applicants Accepted: 209
• Number of Students Enrolled: 66
• # of Enrolled with Bachelors degree: 45
• # of Males Enrolled: 12
• # of Females Enrolled: 33
• # of States Represented: 12
• Overall Average GPA: 3.56
• Average OAT AA Score: 326
• Average OAT Total Science Score: 327
• # of Residents Applied: 116
• # of Residents Accepted: 41
• # of Non-residents Applied:93
• # of Non-residents Accepted:25
• Residents 1st Year Tuition and Fees: $17520
• Non-residents 1st Year Tuition and Fees: $44203
• Offers Advanced Standing: No

UAB School of Optometry Residency

UAB Optometry Residency in Family Practice Optometry - Birmingham, AL

UAB Optometry Residency in Pediatric Optometry - Birmingham, AL

UAB Optometry Residency in Cornea and Contact Lenses - Birmingham, AL

Affiliated Optometric Residency

Birmingham VA Medical Center Residency in Geriatric and Low Vision Rehabilitation - Birmingham, AL

Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center Residency in Hospital-Based/Primary Care Optometry - Tuscaloosa, AL

Omni Eye Services Residency in Ocular Disease - Atlanta, GA

VisionAmerica Residency in Ocular Disease - Birmingham, AL