Western University of Health Sciences College of Optometry

309 E. Second St. Pomona, California 91766-1854 Phone: 909-469-5335 Email: admissions@westernu.edu http://www.westernu.edu

Western University located in Pomona, California was founded in 1977 and has been educating many health professionals through programs like the Doctor of Pharmacy and Master of Science in Nursing. The school was granted ‘Preliminary Approval’ by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education for its optometry program on February 15, 2008, and its charter class is set for the Fall of 2009.

The curriculum for the 4 year Doctor of Optometry program is designed to give students a hands-on approach starting late in their first year, and gives special emphasis on optometric rehabilitation, neuroscience, and neuro-optometry, with courses and hands-on training at patient facilities. The school has also invested in two new buildings, the Health Education Center and Patient Care Center that will be shared by students in the different fields. The school is planning on class sizes of around 70 students starting with the charter class.

Tuition

The tuition for the Western University College of Optometry for the 2009-2010 academic year was $27,700.00. At this rate for a standard curriculum, the total comes out to $110,800 for the 4 year Doctor of Optometry program. Please check the school for updated and accurate tuition and fees.

Education Requirements

Western U's College of Optometry does not require applicants to have a Bachelors degree, although it does strengthen applications, but requires at least 90 semester hours from an accredited institution that meets the pre-optometry courses. These courses include English, General Psychology, Calculus, and Biology with lab, Chemistry with lab, Organic Chemistry with lab, and a few others. These prerequisite courses must be completed prior to the spring term before matriculation, plus pass and no pass basis do not meet prerequisite standards, and grades of ‘C-‘ or lower are not acceptable.e.

Admissions Checklist

• School of Optometry Application- OptomCAS + Supplemental Application
• Prerequisite Course Worksheet
• Official academic transcripts
• OAT Scores
• 3 Letters of recommendation – one from an optometrist, one be from a professor, one from a pre-health advisor